Reasons Orthotics Hurt Your Arch
Many patients require the use of custom orthotics to help them live a healthy, normal life. But, as with anything related to a medical device or process, there may be difficulties along the way.
One common problem that patients experience is pain in their arch. Today, we’re going to look at some of the reasons why orthotics may be causing this pain and how your patient can prevent such issues.
To get started, let’s first look at some of the most common reasons why your orthotics may be hurting his or her arch:
Not Properly Fitted
The most obvious reason orthotics may hurt your arch is because the apparatus has been improperly fitted. The good news is that you can avoid this very easily by asking your specialist to work with a reputable designer to create a customized orthotic for you. The best prosthetics companies are those that use 3D previews and printing to get the perfect fit. This will severely decrease the chances of experiencing pain or discomfort.
Improper Footwear
Patients are often surprised at the variety of footwear they can choose from. The problem is that some of them don’t always use the type that they should. If you have any comfort issues from footwear, you should consult your doctor to correct the problem. By working together, you will be more comfortable and pleased with your orthotic device.
Not Breaking the Orthotic In
Another reason why an orthotic device may cause pain is because it hasn’t been broken in yet. Just like a traditional pair of shoes, a newly purchased orthotic will typically get more comfortable as the wearer uses it. That being said, a patient should limit how long they wear the orthotic each day when it first gets fitted. If you don’t allow your body to adjust, this could be painful.
How to Prevent Arch Pain from Orthotics
Now that we understand a few of the reasons orthotics could cause foot arch pain, let’s take a look at how this can be avoided:
Break Them In Slowly
We touched on this above, but it bears repeating because this is one of the easiest ways to prevent arch pain with orthotics. Too many patients try to wear their orthotics for the entire day until they go to sleep at night. This may cause discomfort. The better strategy is to wear them for a few hours at a time, with breaks in-between, whenever possible.
Avoid Strenuous Activity
There’s no doubt that your doctor encourages you to return to normal activity as much as you can. However, you’re probably also very aware that strenuous activity right from the get-go can be problematic. An orthotics patient should avoid strenuous activity, at least for a while after the initial fitting, to prevent pain.
Remove the Orthotics at Night
Many patients are very aware that they need to remove their orthotics at night, but it’s one of those things that can be easy to forget. Perhaps you’ve had a really long day, and you pass out to sleep. This may be okay occasionally, but pain and discomfort can occur if the orthotics are worn for long periods of time. Taking off your orthotics at night is a convenient way to prevent potential pain in the arches of your feet.
Get the Orthotics Adjusted
The truth is, prosthetics and orthotics are both mechanical in nature. Even the most well-built device may get a bit out of whack, so to speak, after it’s been used for a while. If this is a possibility, you should return to your physician and have the orthotic adjusted. In some cases, the doctor may need to consult with the original designer to have something changed.
Maintain the Orthotics Properly
We understand that everyone is busy, and caring for an orthotic device is one of the last things that a patient really wants to do. However, any type of prosthetic or orthotic that isn’t being properly cared for may cause issues somewhere down the road. Orthotics should be cleaned and checked for damage or any other issues on a daily basis. This will help prevent problems with pain, breakdown, etc.
Contact Grace for Help with Orthotics
Grace Prosthetic Fabrication can assist you with correcting arch pain caused by orthotics. We can also create a custom orthotic that will help prevent physical discomfort. If you have any questions about our prosthetics or orthotics, give us a call at (800) 940-5347 today.
