Custom Orthotics

Consider custom orthotics if you have flat feet, high arches, or heel pain. Orthotics can complement how you walk, reducing pain and improving your mobility. At Podo Care Foot & Ankle in Ashburn, Virginia, board-certified podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon Anchal Dureja, DPM, uses custom orthotics to treat various common foot problems noninvasively. Call the office today to request a custom orthotics consultation, or make your appointment online.

What are custom orthotics?

Custom orthotics are heel pads or shoe inserts prescribed by your podiatrist. They look similar to over-the-counter products you can find at the drugstore but are designed to support the unique structure of your feet.

If you regularly experience foot or ankle pain that doesn’t improve with at-home treatments, like ice, rest, or more comfortable shoes, orthotics may provide lasting relief.

What types of problems can custom orthotics help treat?

Podo Care Foot & Ankle uses custom orthotics to treat various issues that affect the feet and ankles, including:

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

Custom orthotics can provide relief for sports injuries, including heel spurs, stress fractures, and turf toe.

Are there different types of custom orthotics?

Podo Care Foot & Ankle offers various kinds of custom orthotics, including:

Rigid orthotics

Rigid orthotics slip inside closed-toed shoes, and provide support for the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the arch of your foot. Your podiatrist might prescribe rigid orthotics if you have high arches, flat feet, or pain in the ball of your foot.

Soft orthotics

Soft orthotics use padded, cushion-like materials to take pressure off sensitive areas, like diabetic ulcers or heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis. These orthotics are bulkier than their rigid counterparts and are typically worn with prescription shoes.

What is the process for getting custom orthotics?

At Podo Care Foot & Ankle, getting custom orthotics takes two visits several weeks apart.

Your provider reviews your medical records, completes a podiatry exam, and takes 3D digital scans of your feet and ankles. They then send your scans to a podiatry lab that designs and creates custom orthotics.

When the podiatry lab finishes making your orthotics, you return to Podo Care Foot & Ankle to try them on. Your provider has you walk back and forth, checking their fit and assessing your gait. Then, they make the necessary adjustments and explain how to care for your orthotics.

How long do custom orthotics last?

Custom orthotics last 5-7 years on average*, but you can extend their use by taking good care of them. Podo Care Foot & Ankle recommends wearing your orthotics only as prescribed and following your provider’s instructions.

Call Podo Care Foot & Ankle today to see if you can benefit from custom orthotics or make your appointment online.

*Individual results may vary.