Orthotics, Athletics, and You
As an athlete, you invest in the right shoes, focus on your technique, and push your limits. But are you leveraging every advantage?
Custom orthotics, often overlooked as simple "inserts," can be a powerful tool to optimize your body's mechanics, reduce injury risk, and help you perform at your best. Below, The Foot & Ankle Center of Maryland explains how they work.
Orthotics as Performance Gear
Off-the-shelf inserts lack the precise, corrective support your body needs during athletic activity. Custom orthotics, prescribed by a podiatrist, are specifically designed based on your unique foot structure, your gait, and the demands of your sport.
Their magic lies in improving your biomechanics – how your body moves. Better mechanics mean greater efficiency, less wasted energy, and reduced stress on your joints and tissues.
Orthotics for Runners
Running places incredible repetitive stress on your feet and lower limbs.
The Challenge: Overpronation (feet rolling inward), inadequate shock absorption, and poor alignment can lead to common runner's ailments like plantar fasciitis, shin splints, IT band syndrome, and knee pain.
Orthotics in Action: Running-specific custom orthotics provide stability, control excessive motion (like overpronation), enhance shock absorption, and properly support your arch through every phase of your gait.
The Payoff: A more efficient stride, reduced impact forces, less muscle fatigue, and a significant decrease in the risk of overuse injuries.
Basketball & Tennis
Court sports demand agility, quick lateral movements, explosive jumps, and hard landings.
The Challenge: These dynamic movements put feet and ankles at high risk for sprains, Achilles tendon issues, and pain in the ball of the foot (metatarsalgia).
Orthotics in Action: For court sports, custom orthotics are designed to offer enhanced heel stability for quick stops and starts, superior forefoot cushioning for impact absorption during jumps, and crucial support during side-to-side movements.
The Payoff: Improved balance, quicker and safer directional changes, reduced stress on ankle and knee joints, and fewer acute injuries.
Soccer & Football
The cleat pressure of field sports means your feet require additional support.
The Challenge: Running on grass or turf, the pressure points from cleats, or navigating unpredictable surfaces can lead to foot fatigue, arch strain, and impact-related pain.
Orthotics in Action: Custom orthotics can provide consistent arch support, help distribute pressure more evenly within specialized footwear (like cleats), and offer tailored shock absorption for various surfaces.
The Payoff: Reduced foot fatigue on long hikes or during intense games, a better interface between your foot and your shoe for improved stability and shock absorption.
Think a pair of orthotics can boost your game?
Contact the office of Dr. Ross Cohen of The Foot & Ankle Center of Maryland in Glen Burnie, MD, at (410) 761-3501 to schedule your initial appointment. We look forward to meeting you!