Many people experience some kind of joint pain, usually in their hips, knees, or ankles. The source of the pain in these areas typically is due to a lack of proper support of the feet.

If the arches of your feet are not properly supported they can collapse, causing misalignment that moves up from the arch of your foot, through your ankles and shins to the knees, and up through the hips, back, and neck. Pain is caused by inflamed misaligned joints. A lack of alignment also increases the chance of injury.

Doctors Orthotics Custom Orthotics can help to reduce or eliminate these problems by dealing with them right at the source — your feet. Our Custom Orthotics provides support for the arches of your feet. This support encourages correct alignment, which has been shown to eliminate chronic pain throughout the body.

Our Orthotics Recommendation

Any one of our custom orthotics ordered can be modified for Joint Pain.

Our best recommendation for Joint Pain is our Marathon 26.2 Running Orthotics

Doctors Orthotics has over 38 years experience as one of the nations’ leading orthotic laboratories specializing in the manufacture of running, walking, sports, and dress orthotics. Since 1972 we have literally helped thousands of people with their foot problems to achieve their maximum endurance in standing, walking, and running. We are so sure we can help you, we offer 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee, a Lifetime Warranty Against Breakage & a Free Lifetime Adjustment Policy.

Have questions about orthotics? We will answer questions about how new orthotics can help your foot, leg or back problems. You can call us toll-free at 888-353-7834 or make a comment here on our blog and we will answer you.

A normal foot rolls inwards (pronates) and rolls outwards (supinates) while running or walking. If your feet are not properly supported normal pronation and supination can become excessive. This will cause iinflamation of the soft tissues which help support the joints in the feet, knees, hips, back and neck.

Oversupination (also known as high arches) is a common problem that occurs while walking when a person’s arch collapses upon weight bearing causing severe discomfort and leading to other foot problems.

Doctors’ Orthotics will provide relief of pain from this syndrome. if you oversupinate (see image below), the foot tends to be more rigid, providing little shock absorption. In these cases, our custom orthotics will help to absorb the shock and impact forces of walking by spreading pressure more evenly across the feet.

Our Orthotics Recommendation

Any one of our custom orthotics ordered can be modified for Oversupination.

Our best recommendations for Oversupination are our Carbon Fiber Sport Running Orthotic and our Power Walking Work Hiking Orthotics.

Doctors Orthotics has over 38 years experience as one of the nations’ leading orthotic laboratories specializing in the manufacture of running, walking, sports, and dress orthotics. Since 1972 we have literally helped thousands of people with their foot problems to achieve their maximum endurance in standing, walking, and running. We are so sure we can help you, we offer 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee, a Lifetime Warranty Against Breakage & a Free Lifetime Adjustment Policy.

Have questions about orthotics? We will answer questions about how new orthotics can help your foot, leg or back problems. You can call us toll-free at 888-353-7834 or make a comment here on our blog and we will answer you.

A normal foot rolls inwards (pronates) and rolls outwards (supinates) while running or walking. If your feet are not properly supported normal pronation and supination can become excessive. This will cause iinflamation of the soft tissues which help support the joints in the feet, knees, hips, back and neck.

Overpronation (also known as flat feet) is a common problem that occurs while walking when a person’s arch collapses upon weight bearing causing severe discomfort and leading to other foot problems.

Doctors’ Orthotics will provide relief of pain from this syndrome. If you overpronate (see image below), our custom orthotics will prevent the foot from excessively rolling inwards while walking, thus providing a more stable foot position for normal weight bearing and relieving your pain.

Our Orthotics Recommendation

Any one of our custom orthotics ordered can be modified for Overpronation.

Our best recommendations for Overpronation are our Carbon Fiber Sport Running Orthotic and our Power Walking Work Hiking Orthotics.

Doctors Orthotics has over 38 years experience as one of the nations’ leading orthotic laboratories specializing in the manufacture of running, walking, sports, and dress orthotics. Since 1972 we have literally helped thousands of people with their foot problems to achieve their maximum endurance in standing, walking, and running. We are so sure we can help you, we offer 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee, a Lifetime Warranty Against Breakage & a Free Lifetime Adjustment Policy.

Have questions about orthotics? We will answer questions about how new orthotics can help your foot, leg or back problems. You can call us toll-free at 888-353-7834 or make a comment here on our blog and we will answer you.

Morton’s neuroma is an enlarged nerve that usually occurs in the third interspace, which is between and just before the third and fourth toes. The reason the nerve enlarges is not always so obvious. Flat feet can cause the nerve to be pulled toward the middle more than normal, which can cause irritation and possibly enlargement of the nerve. A Morton’s Neuroma is more common in women than men, possibly because women wear confining shoes more often. High heels cause more weight to be transferred to the front of the foot and tight toe boxes create lateral compression. As a result, there is more force being applied in the area and the nerve compartment is squeezed on all sides. Under such conditions, even a minimal enlargement in the nerve can elicit pain.

Check out our selection of Women’s Dress Orthotics and Women’s High Heel Orthotics.

Treatments commonly involve changing your shoes, resting your feet, and using custom orthotics with metatarsal support to help take pressure off the area.

Doctors Orthotics has over 38 years experience as one of the nations’ leading orthotic laboratories specializing in the manufacture of running, walking, sports, and dress orthotics. Since 1972 we have literally helped thousands of people with their foot problems to achieve their maximum endurance in standing, walking, and running. We are so sure we can help you, we offer 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee, a Lifetime Warranty Against Breakage & A Free Lifetime Adjustment Policy.

Have questions about orthotics? We will answer questions about how new orthotics can help your foot, leg or back problems. You can call us toll-free at 888-353-7834 or make a comment here on our blog and we will answer you.

The plantar fascia is a ligament that attaches to the heel and extends through the arch. Due to an injury, or just longstanding bio-mechanical imbalance, the attachment of the fascia to the heel becomes inflamed. In order to appropriately manage this, both the inflammation and the mechanics must be addressed.

Treatment of inflammation is a modification of the ‘RICE’ principle: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. In the case of plantar fasciitis, ice is most helpful. Anti-inflammatory medication is also useful. In extreme cases, an injection of cortisone can be used to quickly manage the inflammatory process.

Without mechanical control, all the anti-inflammatory measures will be for naught. Initially this can come in the form of a taping or strapping to splint the plantar fascia ligament. In many cases a custom orthotic  will best serve to neutralize the pathological mechanics and best prevent a re-occurrence of plantar fasciitis.

One thing that needs to be mentioned is that plantar fasciitis is not a sign of aging. On the contrary, it is a syndrome of activity.

Our Orthotics Recommendation

Any one of our custom orthotics ordered can be modified for Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Spur Syndrome.

Our best recommendation for Plantar Fasciitis is our Carbon Fiber Sport Running Orthotic

Doctors Orthotics has over 38 years experience as one of the nations’ leading orthotic laboratories specializing in the manufacture of running, walking, sports, and dress orthotics. Since 1972 we have literally helped thousands of people with their foot problems to achieve their maximum endurance in standing, walking, and running. We are so sure we can help you, we offer 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee, a Lifetime Warranty Against Breakage & a Free Lifetime Adjustment Policy.

Have questions about orthotics? We will answer questions about how new orthotics can help your foot, leg or back problems. You can call us toll-free at 888-353-7834 or make a comment here on our blog and we will answer you.

Cause

Sesamoiditis typically can be distinguished from other forefoot conditions by its gradual onset. The pain usually begins as a mild ache and increases gradually as the aggravating activity is continued. It may build to an intense throbbing. In most cases there is little or no bruising or redness. One of the major causes of sesamoiditis is increased activity. You’ve probably stepped up your activity level lately, which has forced you to put more pressure on the balls of your feet. Speedwork, hillwork, or even increased mileage can cause this. If you have a bony foot, you simply may not have enough fat on your foot to protect your tender sesamoids. Also, if you have a high arched foot, you will naturally run on the balls-of-your-feet, adding even more pressure.

Treatment and Prevention

Treatment for sesamoiditis is almost always noninvasive. Minor cases call for a strict period of rest, along with the use of custom orthotics to reduce pressure on the affected area. This may be accomplished by placing a metatarsal pad away from the joint so that it redistributes the pressure of weight bearing to other parts of the forefoot. In addition, the big toe may be bound with tape or athletic strapping to immobilize the joint as much as possible and allow for healing to occur. It is recommended to decrease or stop activity for awhile. This will give your sesamoids time to heal. You should apply ice to the area for 10 to 15 minutes after exercise, or after any activity that aggravates the area. As with icing, anti-inflammatories will help the swelling go down so healing can begin. While the injury is healing, women should wear flat shoes on a daily basis.

Doctors Orthotics has over 38 years experience as one of the nations’ leading orthotic laboratories specializing in the manufacture of running, walking, sports, and dress orthotics. Since 1972 we have literally helped thousands of people with their foot problems to achieve their maximum endurance in standing, walking, and running. We are so sure we can help you, we offer 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee, a Lifetime Warranty Against Breakage & a Free Lifetime Adjustment Policy.

Have questions about orthotics? We will answer questions about how new orthotics can help your foot, leg or back problems. You can call us toll-free at 888-353-7834 or make a comment here on our blog and we will answer you.

Possible reasons for leg/foot cramps may be: poor circulation, lack of enough salt, dehydration, abnormal mineral or hormone levels, pinched nerves, alcohol or tobacco use, partially-obstructed flow of blood to the legs, nutritional deficiency, environmental toxicity or chemical sensitivity.

As people age, leg cramps become fairly common and related to reduced activity, or muscle fatigue when the muscles don’t get enough blood supply. Getting moderate regular activity during the day, or stretching the muscles before bedtime, generally reduces the likelihood of cramps during the night, as well as wall pushups which stretch the calf muscles of the leg.

Certain medicines have been reported to increase chance of cramping, as well as alcohol, sugar and caffeine. Once the muscle is cramped, the only thing to do is to stretch it out – the sooner the better. It is most helpful if the person who has the cramp can relax the leg entirely, and have someone else put the stretch on the affected muscle. One way to treat one’s own calf/foot cramp is to sit with the leg outstretched, relax the leg and use the towel as a sling to pull the toes of the foot toward oneself, or lean forward to put a stretch on the calf muscle. For continuing pain, an ice pack may help, along with massaging the affected muscle.

If you have this problem, try increasing the consumption of calcium, using 600 mg calcium (carbonate or other) up to as much as 1500 mg, at night before retiring. Magnesium citrate (400 mg up to 750 mg) can be used with the calcium, or add later after trying just the calcium. Since the magnesium may produce loose bowels, you may want to start with 100 mg and then increase to the suggested levels – or to bowel tolerance. Foods rich in magnesium are nuts, apricots, whole grains and soybeans.

In addition to the calcium/magnesium, there are other recommendations that may lessen the severity of leg/foot cramps, in getting them less often or shortening the duration. Some of these can improve or alleviate the problem of cramps: vitamin E (300 IU’s/day); taking B-complex daily (including B-12); Vitamin A (10,000 units/day); potassium (100 mg/day), but this is best replaced by potassium chloride salt used liberally on foods (available in supermarket) or eating foods rich in potassium (bananas, orange juice, potatoes, etc.); folic acid (800 mcg/day), L-tryptophan (by prescription only), homeopathic remedies, or herbs especially for leg/foot cramps can be obtained at health food stores; magnets; tonic water (which contains a very small amount of quinine which can be helpful for cramping, but can be dangerous if receiving anticoagulant medication).

Additional suggestions: Sleep with legs bent, avoid high heels, eliminate sugar and caffeine (caffeine interferes with your body’s absorption of magnesium, and can make you feel jittery), soak feet/legs in warm/hot water or use heating pad for ten minutes before bedtime, place a pillow at the end of the bed to prop up your feet. For dehydration, drink more water, not alcohol or caffeine, because they will dehydrate the body even more. If a disorder of the circulation is responsible, then try wearing graded tension elastic support hose in bed.

Ann Landers suggests this “cure”: put an unwrapped bar of soap under the sheets so that the cramped leg rests upon it (the soap can be kept in place by putting rubber bands around it and pinning the rubber bands to the sheet). Although there is no apparent explanation for this ‘cure-all,’ her readers swear that it really works.

Doctors Orthotics has over 38 years experience as one of the nations’ leading orthotic laboratories specializing in the manufacture of running, walking, sports, and dress orthotics. Since 1972 we have literally helped thousands of people with their foot problems to achieve their maximum endurance in standing, walking, and running. We are so sure we can help you, we offer 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee, a Lifetime Warranty Against Breakage & a Free Lifetime Adjustment Policy.

Have questions about orthotics? We will answer questions about how new orthotics can help your foot, leg or back problems. You can call us toll-free at 888-353-7834 or make a comment here on our blog and we will answer you.

Shin splints are a common lower extremity complaint, especially among runners and other athletes. They are characterized by pain in the front or inside aspect of the lower leg due to overexertion of the muscles. The pain usually develops gradually without a history of trauma, and might begin as a dull ache along the front or inside of the shin (Tibia) after running or even walking. Small bumps and tender areas may become evident adjacent to the shin bone. The pain can become more intense if not addressed, and shin splints should not be left untreated because of an increased risk of developing stress fractures.

Shin splints usually involve small tears in the leg muscles where they are attached to the shin bone. The two types of shin splints are: anterior shin splints, in the front portion of the tibia; and posterior shin splints, occurring on the inside of the leg along the tibia.

Cause

Shin splints can be caused when the anterior leg muscles are stressed by running, especially on hard surfaces or extensively on the toes, or by sports that involve jumping. Wearing athletic shoes that are worn out or don’t have enough shock absorption can also cause this condition. Over-pronated (flat feet) are another factor that can lead to increased stress on the lower leg muscles during exercise. People with high arched feet can also experience shin splint discomfort because this foot type is a poor shock absorber/

Treatment and Prevention

The best way to prevent shin splints is to stretch and strengthen the leg muscles, wear footwear with good shock absorption, and avoid running on hard surfaces or excessive running or jumping on the ball-of-the-foot. Insoles or orthotics that offer arch support for over-pronation are also important.

Treatment for shin splints should include taking a break from the exercise that is causing the problem until pain subsides. Icing the area immediately after running or other exercise can also be effective, along with gentle stretching before and after training. Another option is taking aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

It is important not to try to train through the pain of shin splints. Runners should decrease mileage for about a week and avoid hills or hard surfaces. If a muscle imbalance, poor running form or flat feet are causing the problem, a long-term solution might involve a stretching and strengthening program and custom orthotics that support the foot and correct over-pronation.

Our Orthotics Recommendation

Any one of our custom orthotics ordered can be modified for Shin Splints.

Our best recommendation for Shin Splints is our Carbon Fiber Sport Running Orthotic

Location

The medial arch (inner arch) is low which result in pain in this region and also affects the mechanics of the rest of your body.

How it affects your running

Persistent throbbing pain may be present in the arch region while running; many other running injuries are also a result of flat feet. Flat feet can cause bio-mechanical irregularities with you running stride that can result in Achilles pain, shin pain, heel pain, calf pain, hamstring strain, quadricep strain, knee pain and can even result in lower back pain.

Causes of Flat Feet

There are two main causes of flat feet, over pronation and hereditary factors. Often flat feet can be an inherit trait in a family which can result in several generations having this condition. Over pronation occurs when there is excessive mobility in the sabtaler joint of the foot which causes hyper mobility of the foot. The increased mobility causes the medial arch to flattened out and causes the foot to roll in too much while walking and running. This increased mobility adversely affects all the muscles in the foot and can even affect the lower leg, upper leg and cause back pain. This mechanical imbalance is highlighted during running due to the increased forces being applied to the body.

Treatment of Flat Feet

Treatment consists of using running shoes with a built in arch supports or sports orthotics/insoles. The use of flat feet orthotics has been researched and tested by leading institutions around the world, and is widely accepted in the medical community. Clinical studies and field research verify the value of orthotics in relieving flat feet and improving structural integrity. Flexible orthotics control foot motion without restricting function and creating compensatory movement in other structures.

We specialize in Custom Running and Walking Orthotics for marathons, half marathons, 10K, 5K, walking and jogging. These are custom fit for Flat Feet. Check out our selection of Custom Orthotics here.

Slight imbalances in the foot and ankle can result whenever there is too much pronation. Other malalignments (such as a forefoot that is slightly tilted relative to the rearfoot) can lead to increased stress to certain bones in the feet. At the same time, any of these bio-mechanical problems can increase tension and overuse of tendons that lead to tendinitis.

Although we’ve been making orthotics for marathon runners and triathletes for over 38 years, we are often surprised how many athletes don’t really understand what an orthotic is and how it works. A custom orthotic made for a runner is not just an arch support or a shoe insert with extra cushion. Custom orthotics are custom made foot beds (custom built based on the use of our Foot Impression Kit) that control abnormal motion and correct mechanical imbalances.

You can learn more about Custom Orthotics by reading the blog posts here, visiting our website, or calling 888-353-7834.

By understanding exactly what custom orthotics are, you will learn how they can help you run faster and with less risk of injury.

Many people have heard of custom orthotics and think of them as simply customized arch supports. For the most this is true, but actually orthotics are much more than an arch support.

An orthotic is a custom made device based on an actual cast and mold of your foot from a Foot Impression Kit. Custom orthotics work by re-aligning your foot bones to control abnormal motion such as pronation and supination.

Pronation and supination are natural motions in the foot. Pronation helps your foot absorb energy and decrease impact when you walk or run.

When your foot hits the ground and your knee starts to pass over your foot, your ankle rolls inward, the arch collapses, and the foot becomes flexible. This allows you to adapt to uneven surfaces. In a sense, pronation is your natural shock absorber.  But when you have too much pronation, you run the risk of tendonitis, arch pain and flat foot deformity.

Supination is the opposite of pronation. Supination increases the height of your arch and locks all of the bones in the mid-foot. This allows your foot to turn into a rigid lever that can propel you forward as your run.

Although many people think pronation is due to a weak ankle, it is actually the joint beneath the ankle (called the subtalar joint) that is really moving. You can look at the back of the heel and easily tell how much pronation and supination is happening. This is why the people at your local running shoes store often want to watch you walk when helping you determine which shoes are best for you.

When we make custom orthotics for you, we use The Doctors’ Orthotics™ Foot Impression Kit. You make your instant foot impressions, place them in the convenient postage-paid kit, and send them to our laboratory. Your order form and foot impression will be carefully evaluated. Our trained technicians will then prepare your orthotics. We’ll rush them to you and you’ll be on your way to an exciting new experience in foot comfort.

You will then use the custom orthotic as a replacement insert in place of the arch supports and foot bed that came in your shoes.

If done correctly, custom orthotics will help you run and walk more proficiently by saving the energy you are currently wasting on excessive pronation or supination. These corrections and realignments are key to decreasing your risk of common overuse injuries like plantar fasciitis, peritoneal tendonitis, posterior tibial tendonitis and stress fractures.

You can see the Doctors Orthotics™ Foot Impression Kit and a video on how we make your orthotics here.