Use Custom Orthotics and Braces to Prevent Falls

September is Fall Prevention Awareness Month, and one of the best ways to improve balance and prevent falls is with custom orthotic shoe inserts and braces that can also help with many other foot and ankle problems. Improper arch support and pronation problems can be corrected along with corresponding knee, hip, and back pain. Expertly made and placed orthotics will provide rapid relief and help prevent future problems, so be sure to contact your foot doctor.

Custom orthotics can help prevent falls and provide myriad benefits to your feet, knees, hips, and back:

• Improve balance and stability—Weak ankles and poor balance are a significant contributor to debilitating falls and injuries, especially as you get older. Wearing properly fitted shoes and orthotic supports will increase stability and help prevent falls.
• Shift stress and pressure to stop pain and discomfort—The cushioning, support, and pressure redirection provided by orthotics provides pain relief from corns and calluses and are used to treat toe deformities like bunions and hammertoes.
• Correct arch support problems—Having proper arch support is essential to proper foot functioning and spinal alignment, which also improves balance and stability.
• Postpone and avoid surgery—Orthotic inserts can not only be used for many years to treat foot and ankle problems but also help prevent issues that would otherwise require foot or ankle surgery.

Your foot care professional can evaluate the structure and movement of your feet with a computerized gait analysis to properly form and place your orthotic devices. At Atlantic Foot and Ankle Specialists, Dr. Melissa Robitaille and Dr. Todd Newsom treat virtually all types of foot and ankle disorders, including bunions, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, and heel pain. Equipped with leading-edge technologies such as extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and laser surgery for toenail fungus, we provide specialized, compassionate service for patients in the Pooler, Georgia area of Chatham County. For any pain and discomfort you are experiencing with your feet and ankles, contact us today at (912) 988-3323.

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