What are orthotics?

Orthotics are prescription inserts that you wear inside your shoes. They provide extra padding and support for the hard and soft tissues in your feet and ankles.

Suppose you experience foot or ankle pain regularly and it doesn’t respond to conservative treatment, like ice, rest, or anti-inflammatory medication. In that case, orthotics may be the solution you’ve been looking for.

What types of problems can benefit from orthotics?

At Alpine Foot & Ankle, Dr. Shelton uses orthotics to treat a wide range of foot and ankle problems, including:

• Arthritis
• Bursitis
• Bunions
• Diabetes
• Flat feet
• Hammertoes
• Heel spurs
• High arches
• Heel pain
• Plantar fasciitis

You might also benefit from orthotics if you lead a physically active lifestyle and are concerned about the risk of a sports injury.

What are the types of orthotics?

At Alpine Foot & Ankle, Dr. Shelton partners with Sole Supports to offer several types of orthotics, including:

Rigid “functional” orthotics

Functional orthotics are made from materials like plastic and carbon fiber. They’re stiff and fit comfortably inside of low-heeled, close-toed shoes. Functional orthotics relieve strains on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your feet.

Soft “accommodative” orthotics

Accommodative orthotics are bulkier than functional orthotics. As a result, you wear them outside of your shoes or with prescription footwear. Functional orthotics are made from padded materials. They relieve pressure on weight-bearing areas, like your heels or the balls of your feet.

What does getting orthotics involve?

At Alpine Foot & Ankle, getting orthotics takes two visits.

First orthotics visit

Before recommending orthotics, Dr. Shelton reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms. Then, he examines your feet, toes, and ankles, looking for redness, swelling, or bruising. Dr. Shelton gently presses on specific areas of your feet to pinpoint the source of your discomfort. He might also order X-rays, a CT scan, or an MRI to get a better look at the hard and soft tissues in your feet.

If Dr. Shelton identifies an underlying problem, like a bunion or plantar fasciitis, he takes three-dimensional scans of your feet. Then, he sends your scans to a Sole Supports lab that designs and manufactures your custom orthotics.

Seconds orthotics visit

When the Sole Supports lab finishes your orthotics, you return to Alpine Foot & Ankle. Dr. Shelton has you try your inserts on and makes adjustments as necessary, ensuring a perfect fit.

To see if you’re a candidate for orthotics, make an appointment at Alpine Foot & Ankle by calling the office or booking online today.