Sometimes the medical terminology can become confusing because there are so many different terms and they can start to blend together. If you're experiencing any sort of foot pain or discomfort, you may want to look into orthotics.

What Are Orthotics?

Foot pain can be a real inconvenience as you need to be on your feet to do some of the most mundane, day-to-day tasks. Orthotics is a branch of medicine that revolves around all types of foot pain and the devices that can be used to ease your discomfort.

If you talk to your primary physician about your foot pain, they will only do so much before they refer you to an orthotist. An orthotist is a doctor specializing in the orthotics branch of medicine. 

What Causes Foot Pain?

There are many causes of foot pain. Diabetes is a huge cause of foot pain because it can cause nerve damage. 

Other causes of foot pain can include:

• Achilles tendonitis
• High heels
• Ingrown toenails
• Osteoarthritis
• Gout
• Plantar fasciitis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Fractures or breaks
• Flat feet
• Bone spurs

Something as simple as being overweight can cause excessive foot pain. The possible causes are not guaranteed to cause foot pain, but everybody is different and can be affected in different ways. 

How Can Orthotics Help?

Depending on how you and your body are affected by the foot pain, there are different orthotic devices you can use to alleviate the pain. If you're experiencing pain from a less common condition, an orthotist can design you a custom orthotic device that is more specific to your needs. 

Orthotic devices can help you with many things, including:

• Speeding up recovery time after an accident or injury
• Improving performance athletically 
• Reducing pain
• Supporting weaker limbs
• Preventing an injury
• Reducing the weight you are bearing on your feet
• Assisting with movements

There are many more things orthotic devices can assist with. If you are not sure if an orthotic device is right for you, consult your doctor or an orthotist. 

Symptoms

There are some common symptoms to look for. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you may want to think about getting an orthotic device for assistance. 

The symptoms can include:

• Pain while standing and/or walking
• Knee, back, neck, or heel pain
• Shin splints
• Muscle tightness
• Bunions and/or calluses
• Morton's Neuroma
• Wearing out shows too quickly or unevenly

Do not give up and let pain control your life. Orthotics can help you. For additional information, read more or visit a doctor in your area.