Do I need orthotics?

Whether you are a world-class athlete or just a weekend warrior, you may be a candidate for foot orthotics. Many athletes overuse injuries in weight-bearing joints such as the ankle, knee, hip, and low back, which can be attributed to over-pronation of the foot. Pronation is a normal part of human gait, However, too much pronation can affect how your lower extremities respond to repeated stress and exercise. It can also slow the healing time to acute injuries such as an ankle or knee sprains and have a profound effect on Patello-femoral tracking problems (knee cap pain). Another sign that you might benefit from orthotics is manifested as different types of foot disorders; for example, heel spurs, planterfascitis and neuromas.

The orthotic device that we use is a custom-fitted arch support that brings “the ground up toward the foot” and decreases the amount of pronation, therefore reducing abnormal stress on the leg. Creating an orthotic follows these steps:

1) 1-hour evaluation in which several measurements of your foot and ankle are taken
2) Next, a custom cast of your foot in a “neutral” position is created
3) Lastly, the cast and measurements are sent to a lab. The lab manufactures an orthotic based on which sport you play and what type of foot you have. The lab that Riviera Sports Physical Therapy uses designs orthotics specifically for sports ranging from snowboarding to soccer, cross-training, and running, as well as devices you can use in everyday work shoes and high heels.

Contact Riviera Sports Physical Therapy in Redondo Beach, California, with questions about foot orthotics or to learn how to help reduce downtime resulting from knee and ankle sprains.