Foot Arthritis Management: 5 Invaluable Benefits of Custom Orthotics 

While virtually everyone has heard of arthritis, many don’t know it’s the leading cause of disability in the United States. That’s one reason May is Arthritis Awareness Month. 

As a podiatrist, Dominick Mastracco, DPM, FACFAS, of Mastracco Foot & Ankle in North Canton, Ohio, knows that custom orthotics offer his patients invaluable benefits when dealing with symptoms of arthritis. We’ve prepared a list of five of these advantages you gain by including orthotics in your arthritis management plan. 

Many types of arthritis

You’ve probably heard of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, since these are the two most common arthritic conditions. It’s not as well known that there are over 100 types of the disease. Since the word arthritis itself describes inflamed joints, many individual conditions fit under its banner.

When it comes to your feet, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are common, and you may also suffer from types of arthritis including: 

• Gout
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Post-traumatic arthritis (following an injury)

While orthotics can help with arthritic foot problems, these can also help with symptoms from other joints, such as the ankles, knees, and hips. 

5 invaluable benefits of custom orthotics

Even the most comfortable and expensive shoes represent a compromise, since the maker knows nothing of the unique conditions of your feet. Some shoes may give you good support, but custom-made orthotic inserts give you support that’s dialed into the specifics of your feet and gait. 

You’ll receive the cushioning and support that meets your personal needs, replacing the generic insoles of your shoes to rebalance and reset the way your foot functions. In the case of arthritis symptoms, orthotics give you access to these five benefits: 

1. Reduced strain on joints

The cushioning in custom orthotics absorbs some of the forces your feet face from daily living. This added layer of shock absorption is enhanced by personalized arch support that can rebalance your entire body. 

Flat or high arches each impact joints in your ankles and feet as well as higher up. Flat arches introduce knocked knees, for instance, and slight misalignments of the feet can alter posture up your legs and beyond. 

2. Improved foot mechanics

If you naturally walk with an inefficient gait, orthotics can introduce corrections to rebalance every step. Even when you’re standing, orthotics improve posture, making the biomechanics of your body more balanced and efficient. 

3. Less pain

Normal compensations you make when arthritis affects your feet can bring in other muscles and soft tissues for support, putting pressure on parts of your feet. The cushioning and weight redistribution effects of orthotics can immediately relieve pain from pressure points in your feet. 

4. Better balance

With your arches fully supported and your weight redistributed, your overall balance naturally improves, and it’s easier for your body to maintain stability, even with the effects of arthritis. 

5. Fewer complications

Foot conditions like bunions, calluses, and corns often result from uneven loads on your feet. The balancing effect of orthotics reduces your risk of these foot problem side effects. 

We offer several types of custom orthotics to further extend the personalized fit of your inserts. Contact Mastracco Foot & Ankle by phone or online to schedule your orthotic fitting today.