Hi, I’m Dr. Maddy Walkner. As a foot and ankle surgeon in New York City, I’ve seen firsthand how much the health of your feet impacts the rest of your body. We might forget, but your feet are your foundation, and they carry you through every step of the day. Issues like pain, fatigue, or poor posture are commonly traced back to lack of proper support. In this post, I’ll share why custom orthotics, like FitMyFoot are more than just extra cushioning for your feet, they’re an integral part to maintaining healthy functional feet long term.
1. Your Feet: The Foundation of the Body
Think of your feet as the foundation of a building. If the foundation isn’t stable, the entire structure above is off. You have 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 ligaments in each of your feet, your feet work hard to absorb shock, balance your body, and keep you moving forward. Even one small imbalance in any part of the feet can cause the foundation to be off. Supporting your foundation properly is the first step toward supporting your whole body.
2. How Misalignment Impacts Joints and Posture
When your feet don’t align the way they should, the rest of your body tries to make up for it by over-compensating. Compensation can take many different forms such as hammering of toes, flat feet, early heel rise, shifting your weight to the outside or inside of your foot when walkning…etc. Over time, this can lead to pain not just in your feet and ankles but also in the knees, hips and even back.
Many people don’t realize that the aches they feel after long days standing, walking, or working could be related to the way their feet are positioned inside their shoes. Correcting foot alignment, through orthotics like FitmyFoot helps restore natural posture and reduces unnecessary stress on your joints.
3. Common Myths About Orthotics
There’s a lot of confusion about orthotics, so let’s clear up a few myths:
● Myth: Orthotics are only for people with foot pain
Truth: Athletes, performers, and anyone on their feet can benefit from the right support. Orthotics work well as a way to prevent foot pain by realigning the structures of your foot!
● Myth: Orthotics make your feet weaker
Truth: Proper support actually helps your muscles function more efficiently and effectively!
● Myth: All orthotics are the same
Truth: There’s a big difference between custom and pre-fabricated orthotics, namely, custom orthotics are custom to your specific foot structure.
4. Why Custom Fit Beats Prefabricated
While prefabricated orthotics, like the ones you can buy in a local pharmacy, might provide temporary cushioning and some functional support they are not built for your unique foot shape, gait, or biomechanical needs. Custom-fit orthotics are fit for YOUR particular foot. They’re designed to match the precise contours of your feet, correcting imbalances and providing targeted support. This custom approach not only relieves pain but also can help prevent future injuries.
5. Taking the First Step Toward Better Support
If you’ve been dealing with recurring pain, injury or posture problems visit your local podiatrist to get a foot exam. If your feet are fatigued, you walk or stand a lot or you just want to take your foot health into your own hands, it may be time to consider custom foot orthotics. FitMyFoot is a cost effective custom foot orthotic that can help your feet function better for longer.
Your feet are the foundation of everything you do. Taking care of them now will support healthier, stronger movements for years to come!
Dr. Madeline Walkner's Bio:
Dr. Madeline Walkner is a trusted foot and ankle surgeon practicing in New York City. Learn more at SilverstonePodiatry.com