Orthotics

Foot and ankle pain can keep you from your favorite activities, but with custom orthotics in your arsenal, getting back on your feet is possible. At A&A Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC, in Hackettstown, New Jersey, board-certified podiatrists and foot and ankle surgeons An Nguyen, DPM, and Anna Wojcik-Stepien, DPM, regularly prescribe orthotics to treat various foot and ankle problems, including bunions, flat feet, and heel pain. Call the office today to request an orthotics consultation, or book your appointment online.

What are orthotics?

Orthotics are specially-designed heel pads or shoe inserts that support your feet’s unique anatomy (structure). They look similar to the inserts you can buy at the grocery or sports apparel store but require a doctor’s prescription.

What types of foot and ankle problems can benefit from orthotics?

A&A Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC, uses custom orthotics to treat various foot and ankle problems, including:

• 1st MTP arthritis
• Gout
• Osteoarthritis
• Bunions
• Bursitis
• Hammertoes
• Heel spurs
• High arches
• Flat feet
• Sports injuries
• Achilles tendinitis

Sometimes, diabetic ulcers benefit from treatment with orthotics. For example, soft orthotics can take pressure off sore spots and promote healing.

Are there different types of orthotics?

A&A Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC, offers several types of orthotics, including:

Rigid orthotics

These orthotics are tough and inflexible, as their name suggests. They go inside closed-toed shoes and support the ligaments, muscles, and tendons in the arches of the feet.

Soft orthotics

These orthotics are made from soft, padded materials. They’re bulkier than rigid orthotics and worn with prescription shoes or diabetic footwear.

What does getting orthotics involve?

Your A&A Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC, provider reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and completes a podiatry exam. They look at your feet and ankles for bruising, swelling, or redness; push on the bottoms of your feet to test your ability to feel sensations; and have you walk around the room to look at your gait and posture.

They might also order X-rays or an ultrasound to check for underlying problems, like fractures, inflammation, or a dislocated joint.

If your provider determines you can benefit from orthotics, a mold of the feet is made by using specialized laboratory equipment, and it is sent to a podiatry lab to be fabricated into a set of custom-molded orthotics. Once the orthotics are fabricated (approximately 2-3 weeks), you will return to the office for instruction on proper usage, and your provider will make any necessary adjustments.

Call A&A Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC, today to request an orthotics consultation or make your appointment online.

*Individual results may vary.