Don’t Avoid an Orthopedist

Orthotics are one of the simplest and most affordable solutions for many foot problems. They can ease pressure on bunions, help relieve your arches when you have plantar fasciitis, and so much more! However, there does tend to be a small learning curve as you start to use orthotics. If you want to save yourself a few headaches (or, actually, foot aches), then here's some basic advice to follow as you begin using your orthotics.

Pick a pair of shoes, and stick with it.

People often assume they can take one pair of orthotics and move it from shoe to shoe. But this rarely works as well as you'd hope. In order to fit one pair of shoes, you may need to trim the orthotics smaller, but then they move around in another pair of shoes. Also, orthotics tend to mold not only to your foot but also to the shoe over time. So you're better off picking a pair of shoes you plan to wear daily, putting the orthotics in those shoes, and sticking with those shoes for daily use from there on out. If you can't wear the same pair of shoes repeatedly, then it's worth buying a second pair of orthotics.

Trim away less than you think.

Before you put your orthotics in your shoe, you need to trim them to fit. The best way to do this is to trim away a little less than you think you need to, initially. If the orthotics are still too big for your shoes, you can then trim away a little more. Try them again, and trim away a little more if needed. If you go slowly like this, you won't trim the orthotics too small. And you don't want them too small as they'll then move inside your shoes and cause blisters.

Find the right socks.

Before you spend all day in shoes, socks, and orthotics, try them on with a few different pairs of socks. Start with the thinnest socks you have. Wear them for a few minutes, walk around in them, and see how you feel. If your feet move around too much or you can feel the orthotics through the socks, upgrade to a thicker pair of socks. Do the same process again. You may find that you need to buy new socks, but it's a worthwhile investment as it will keep you comfortable in your orthotics.

If you start off your time in orthotics with the tips above, you'll be off to a great start. Before long, your feet will be reaping the rewards.