Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain. It occurs when the plantar fascia—the thick band of tissue supporting the foot's arch—becomes inflamed and causes sharp pain at the bottom of the heel or along the arch. The pain of plantar fasciitis is most pronounced first thing in the morning or after an extended period of rest.
At St. Cloud Foot & Ankle Center, our podiatrists have found that custom orthotics can be a good plantar fasciitis treatment option. Below, our St. Cloud podiatrists discuss how custom orthotics deliver the precise support needed to properly address the biomechanical issues underlying this painful condition.
Precise Support Is Key to Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
The plantar fascia requires precise support to heal properly, and not all shoe inserts provide this kind of support. Without custom orthotics designed specifically for your foot structure, the plantar fascia will continue to experience strain with each step, which can prolong your recovery or lead to chronic issues.
Patients who receive proper, personalized foot support through custom orthotics typically recover faster and are less likely to suffer from recurring plantar fasciitis than those who do not. This is because plantar fasciitis often stems from biomechanical issues that require individualized correction. For example:
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Flat feet or high arches place extra stress on the plantar fascia with each step.
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Carrying extra weight increases pressure on your feet.
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Standing on hard surfaces for hours at a time increases plantar fasciitis risk.
Generic solutions rarely address the specific biomechanical factors causing your condition. For most patients, custom orthotics represent not just a treatment option but an essential component of comprehensive plantar fasciitis care. They provide the foundation for healing by correcting the underlying causes rather than masking symptoms while the problem continues.
Limitations of Over-the-Counter Inserts
While over-the-counter inserts might provide minimal relief for very mild cases of plantar fasciitis, they rarely result in optimal outcomes. For most patients suffering from plantar fasciitis, generic inserts serve better as a temporary measure while waiting for custom orthotics rather than an effective plantar fasciitis treatment. Their limitations include:
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Mass-produced inserts are designed for the average foot, so they are generic in design. An over-the-counter insert cannot account for your unique foot structure, gait pattern, or the particular mechanics contributing to your condition.
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Materials used in non-prescription inserts generally lack the durability and supportive properties of medical-grade materials used in custom orthotics. They often compress quickly and lose their supportive qualities within weeks or months of regular use.
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For patients with moderate to severe plantar fasciitis, over-the-counter inserts typically provide insufficient support. Patients who initially try to save money with generic inserts often end up purchasing custom orthotics later, after experiencing continued pain.
Custom Orthotics Benefits for Plantar Fasciitis Relief
Custom orthotics are superior to generic inserts for treating plantar fasciitis in a number of ways.
Individualized Design
Custom orthotic devices are created specifically for your individual foot structure, based on an examination and evaluation by a skilled podiatrist. This personalization ensures that support is provided exactly where your foot needs it, directly addressing the biomechanical issues causing your plantar fasciitis.
Creating custom orthotics involves taking precise measurements or molds of your feet, analyzing your gait, and considering your specific condition and lifestyle needs. Our St. Cloud foot doctors use this detailed assessment to design orthotics that not only relieve symptoms but also correct the underlying causes of your plantar fasciitis.
Targeted Pressure Distribution
Because of their individualized design, custom orthotics provide targeted pressure distribution that generic inserts cannot match. By supporting your foot's unique contours in precisely the right places, custom shoe inserts reduce strain on the plantar fascia during standing and walking activities, creating optimal conditions for healing.
Superior Shock Absorption
The superior shock absorption offered by custom devices protects your plantar fascia from the repetitive impact forces that aggravate inflammation. This protective function is particularly important for active individuals who want to maintain their lifestyle while recovering from plantar fasciitis.
Precise Support
For patients with pronounced foot abnormalities, such as very high arches or severe flat feet, custom orthotics are particularly essential. These foot structures place unusual stresses on the plantar fascia that cannot be adequately addressed with generic products. Custom devices provide the precise support needed to distribute pressure properly and allow healing.
Durability
The medical-grade materials used in custom orthotics provide superior support and last longer. Over-the-counter insoles often compress with just a few months of use, while custom orthotics can continue to provide support for years.
Reduced Recurrence Risk
Perhaps most importantly, custom orthotics significantly reduce the risk of recurrence. Plantar fasciitis has a high rate of return when the underlying causes aren't properly addressed. By providing consistent, precise support, custom orthotics help prevent the condition from coming back even after your initial symptoms have resolved.