Orthotics: Shaped by your Shoes

Shoes can do more than help us get to our destination and compete in our favorite sports. The wear pattern on the bottom of your shoes could be telling you something is wrong. Dr. Stratton says for runners who put in a lot of mileage, Newton’s law of equal and reactive forces pushes three times your body weight through your foot compared to walking. At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before your bones, ligaments, and cartilage break down. To get to the bottom of it, start by looking at your shoes.

The patterns and what they mean

With a healthy foot pattern, your shoes would have wear on the middle of the heel. Someone with overpronation shows wear on the inside edges of the heels and balls of the feet. This is common among people with flat feet.

A flat arch causes your foot to roll in under your body weight. People with supination have wear on the outside edge of the heels and balls of the feet because the arches are raised too much. Wear on the side of your big or little toe is a sign of a wide foot.

What are the health indicators?

Having overpronation can lead to tightening of the calf muscles and inside swelling of the ankle joint. This foot pattern can also lead to hip pain, tendonitis, and soft tissue damage. Supination can cause ankle sprains, worn-down knee cartilage, and bone injuries. When your body weight falls unevenly on your big or little toe, the joints become unstable and can cause bunions and ingrown toenails.

What can you do?

Orthotics (removable devices worn inside shoes) can correct your foot movement, reduce injury risk, and relieve pain by adding extra support and shock absorption when you step.

If you are experiencing any uncomfortable or painful symptoms or want to know if orthotics may be right for you, schedule an appointment today. We can help you learn about proper foot support, shock absorption, and balance structures for optimal and efficient walking patterns to help you live pain-free.

Call Dr. Stratton at 602-284-5530 or email mike@strattonsportsmed.com