Can orthotics make feet worse? (2023)

Can orthotics do more harm than good?

While custom orthotic insoles have been scientifically proven to relieve discomfort and pain, OTC insoles can do more harm than good. Custom orthotics are a great addition and can enhance a person's quality of life whereas people need to be cautious before buying OTC orthotics.

The short answer is no; though there can be an adjustment period when using new foot orthotics, they are custom-designed for each patient and are intended to help your feet, not hurt them.

Your orthotics were not properly fitted or designed, or are worn out. Improper design or fit is one of the top reasons for foot pain from orthotics. If you have an improperly fitting foot orthosis, it is often because you have chosen an off-the-shelf solution that does not fit your specific foot shape correctly.

Orthotics are like eyeglasses and meant to be worn indefinitely. Eyeglasses change the shape of light to allow one to see better. Orthotics change the way ground reactive forces hit the feet, to allow one to walk better. They work to support certain muscles and ligaments, so that there is not excess strain on them.

Will Custom Orthotics Help Plantar Fasciitis? A quality pair of custom orthotics can make a big difference in improving your plantar fasciitis, by supporting your arch and cushioning a sensitive, deteriorating heel pad. That's why orthotics are one of the top-recommended conservative treatments for plantar fasciitis!

If you've tried your new orthotics for a few weeks and they still don't feel right then you might need an adjustment. If they are custom orthotics by Upstep you can get a refund (up to 120 days after purchase) or replacement. Sometimes you need to redo the orthotics or use more supportive shoes.

With properly-fitted orthotics, you should be able to walk freely with your shoes feeling snug and secure on your feet. If this isn't the case, it's a sign that you might want to ask your podiatrist to examine your orthotics and make any necessary adjustments.

Most practitioners will recommend wearing the insoles for one hour the first day, two hours the next, three hours the third day and so on. On average, it takes approximately a month to become fully accustomed to a new pair of custom orthotic insoles and feel comfortable wearing them all day long.

It's a question that many foot health professionals and Pedorthists hear quite often. The short answer is no. There are no studies that indicate that the use of orthotics can cause long term or short-term weakness in the feet or legs. In fact, just the opposite is true.

Do orthotics change the shape of your feet?

These serve to pad or protect various areas of the foot without adding undue pressure, so they do not alter your foot shape.

“Orthotics are very helpful after knee, hip and lower back surgery, especially when the patient has a problematic foot type, such as a flat foot or a foot with a high arch,” says Rock G. Positano. “These devices are quite helpful in helping to protect the lower extremity.”

Generally, sneakers with a wide enough toe box, a high heel counter, and stable arch should work with both custom and prefabricated orthotics.

Can I Wear My Orthotics in Any Shoe? While many shoes are compatible with your custom foot orthotics, some styles are not. For example, occasionally, the volume of the shoe's interior is simply too shallow to accommodate your foot and your orthotic. Dress shoes usually suffer from this lack of space.

It is normal to feel the orthotics slightly more or differently in one foot than in the other for the first few weeks. Orthotics also have unique properties where you will feel different pressure points and may require additional break-in time in these areas, even if you have previously worn orthotics.

Yes you can absolutely stop wearing your orthotics and still be pain free. You will need to firstly be aware of what your foot posture is like without the orthotics. If you have been wearing orthotics for a substantial amount of time, it may take 3-6 months to eliminate wearing them completely.

If you have high arches or flat arches (many people lean one way or the other), going barefoot can increase your chances of developing heel pain, or plantar fasciitis. Running or walking barefoot for long periods of time on hard surfaces can quickly put strain on your arch and wear down the fatty heel pad.

When is surgical realignment for the foot or ankle done? Doctors can do surgical realignment right after you injure yourself. They can also do it later if the injury heals wrong or causes problems. Your doctor may be able to repair your ankle to its normal alignment and ensure its stability without surgery.

Summary: Barefoot activities can greatly improve balance and posture and prevent common injuries like shin splints, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, bursitis, and tendonitis in the Achilles tendon, according to one expert.

Softer orthotics are more flexible because they bend with your feet. Each type is appropriate for different foot conditions. Rigid orthotics are good for those who have plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis. This type of orthotic takes more time to adjust to but over time becomes more comfortable.

What shoes do doctors recommend for plantar fasciitis?

If you require firm support, then hard orthotics is ideal. A soft orthotic is ideal for taking pressure off the foot. If you're new to using insoles but have plantar fasciitis pain, try semi-rigid orthotic arch support that provides a fine blend of support, flexibility, and comfort.

Many studies indicate that orthotics and corticosteroid injections are the best treatments for plantar fasciitis. Orthotics, customized or prefabricated, have been shown to improve pain and function within 1 to 3 months with little to no risk.

Custom orthotics run anywhere from $200 to $800, but you'll also need to factor in other costs. This includes the associated office visits required to fabricate your orthotics as well as the cost to replace the top surfaces when they wear out. Resurfacing a pair of orthotic inserts can cost $50 to $100.

If possible it is generally advised to wear socks or stocking with your orthotics (especially during the break in period). If you're someone who likes to wear your orthotics in shoes without socks, make sure you gently clean them regularly.

Our podiatrists recommend having your orthotics evaluated yearly, to check on wear, and replaced every 3 years. For pediatric orthotics, patients should follow up every 6 months, to monitor their development, and have their orthotics replaced after they grow 2 shoe sizes.

Do not attempt to use them with orthotics! Sketchers DO NOT have appropriate stability in the upper fabric and the heel counter to complement an orthotic. As such, you will probably find the orthotic redundant, or in worse case contributing to the cause of injury. Remember, an orthotic does 50% of the work.

The Lifespan of Your Orthotics

Typically, high-quality prescription orthotics last between two to three years. Custom orthotics are designed to withstand wear and tear from standing and walking, but using them on a daily basis will inevitably result in damage over time.

Orthotics and Foot Mechanics for Proper Gait (Walking) - YouTube

Do orthotics weaken foot muscles?

It's a question that many foot health professionals and Pedorthists hear quite often. The short answer is no. There are no studies that indicate that the use of orthotics can cause long term or short-term weakness in the feet or legs. In fact, just the opposite is true.

Can Orthotics Hurt Your Knees? If your orthotics are right for you and designed to meet the unique structural needs of your feet, these shoe inserts can relieve stress and strain on the foot. Unfortunately, if your orthotics are not properly fitted, they can contribute to your knee pain rather than alleviate it.

These serve to pad or protect various areas of the foot without adding undue pressure, so they do not alter your foot shape.

When the joints in the foot are misaligned, the tissues and muscles can't do their job and they in turn become strained leading you to have major problems. These problems will spread beyond the foot and effect the ankles, hips, knees and back until you've lost most of your mobility.

Wear your ICON ORTHOTICS a total of 2 - 4 hours today, and increase the time you wear them by 1 – 2 hours a day. It usually takes one to two weeks to become completely used to wearing your orthotics but this time can differ from person to person. Most people can wear the orthotics full time in 3-5 days.

With properly-fitted orthotics, you should be able to walk freely with your shoes feeling snug and secure on your feet. If this isn't the case, it's a sign that you might want to ask your podiatrist to examine your orthotics and make any necessary adjustments.

Significance: Orthotic insoles significantly improved gait symmetry in the pelvis in the frontal plane and the ankle in the sagittal plane, as well as pain in all subjects (both LLD ≤ 1 cm and LLD > 1 cm) suggesting that it may be appropriate to treat even mild leg length discrepancy.

These results suggest that the use of the mechanically active orthotics for knee OA did not have substantial adverse structural effects on the ankles or hips during three years of use, while delaying the progression of joint space narrowing in medial knee OA.

Structural and alignment problems caused by RA can affect not only your foot, but also your shin, knee, or lower back. Orthotics can help: Distribute your body weight evenly. Ease or reduce pressure on the feet and arthritic joints.

It may take from three to four weeks before you can wear them comfortably all day. Avoid running or other intense activities with the orthotics until your feet have had an opportunity to adjust to the new foot posture and you can wear them 8 hours a day.

Are orthotics really necessary?

“Orthotics are very helpful after knee, hip and lower back surgery, especially when the patient has a problematic foot type, such as a flat foot or a foot with a high arch,” says Rock G. Positano. “These devices are quite helpful in helping to protect the lower extremity.”

If you have high arches or flat arches (many people lean one way or the other), going barefoot can increase your chances of developing heel pain, or plantar fasciitis. Running or walking barefoot for long periods of time on hard surfaces can quickly put strain on your arch and wear down the fatty heel pad.

Your insoles may be hurting your feet because they're not the right arch height, are too rigid or too flexible, are not the right style for your footwear, or the arch placement isn't working for your feet. For insoles that don't hurt your feet, looking for ones that offer a choice of arch heights.

While a typical custom orthotic might last around 2-3 years on average, not every case is a typical one. Some people need theirs replaced every year, while others can get 5 years or more (occasionally much more) of use out of theirs.

Our podiatrists recommend having your orthotics evaluated yearly, to check on wear, and replaced every 3 years. For pediatric orthotics, patients should follow up every 6 months, to monitor their development, and have their orthotics replaced after they grow 2 shoe sizes.