According to the Arthritis Society of Canada, 1 in 5 Canadians suffer with arthritis. Arthritis comes in several forms, and it can affect every joint in our bodies. It can cause cartilage breakdown within the joint space, resulting in pain as the joint’s bones rub together, and it can cause inflammation of a joint in response to an autoimmune response. There are four main types, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and gout. Painful and often debilitating, arthritis is a chronic condition that has staying power. It can be managed with medication, exercise, footwear and orthotics custom made for your feet.
The lower limb clinicians at BioPed see people with arthritis in the feet, ankles, knees, hips, and lower back every day. Keep reading to see how custom-made foot orthotics can help ease your arthritic pain and discomfort.
There are two main types of orthotics, accommodative and functional / corrective.
Accommodative orthotics are soft and offer beneficial cushioning, shock absorption and protection as they accommodate painful and sore joints. This type of orthotic may appear slightly bulky because they are fabricated out of materials that have a higher compression or responsive rate in its cushioning. An accommodative orthotic is appropriate when joint correction and repositioning is too painful or not possible due to joint stiffness or deformity, especially arthritis affects the feet, including the toes and ankle.
Functional orthotics are corrective devices that modify the way the foot moves in relation to the leg and ground. In other words, they improve the lower body mechanics and balance weight distribution that may be causing discomfort to offload inappropriate weight bearing that may be exacerbating arthritis. Pain and discomfort in the knees and hips respond well to a functional orthotic. Our bodies are closed kinetic chains when we stand which means what happens in the feet can affect other joints further up the chain. Functional orthotics work by realigning the foot and leg. When the foot and leg are better aligned, there is less wear and tear on the knees, hips and back. Needed shock absorption can be added with plush top covers and mid layers of the orthotic.
If you’re suffering with arthritis, BioPed is here to help! BioPed Footcare’s lower limb clinicians want to help you live, work, and do more of what you love as comfortably as possible. You can find us online at bioped.com/locations to book an appointment for your arthritis assessment and get you back to doing more of what you love!
