San Juan Regional Health

If you regularly experience foot, ankle, leg, or back pain, you might want to consider treatment with custom orthotics. Custom orthotics are specialized shoe inserts designed to the unique shape and curvature of your feet. At San Juan Health Partners Foot and Ankle in Farmington, New Mexico, our board-certified podiatrists proudly offer Sole Supports custom orthotics. These cutting-edge tools support your arch at all times, improving your posture and easing pain. To see if you’re a candidate for custom orthotics, request an appointment by calling our office.

What are custom orthotics?

Custom orthotics are highly specialized shoe or heel inserts created from a precise mold of your feet. Unlike "one-size-fits-all" inserts found at retail stores, custom orthotics are designed to support your unique foot structure and address your specific biomechanical needs.

If you regularly experience foot, knee, or back problems and conservative treatments like ice, rest, and over-the-counter painkillers don’t provide relief, custom orthotics provide an additional, nonsurgical pain management solution.

Am I a candidate for custom orthotics?

While only an experienced podiatrist can determine if you’d benefit from them, custom orthotics are often recommended for those experiencing chronic foot, back, or leg pain. At San Juan Health Partners Foot and Ankle, our podiatrists regularly prescribe them to:

• Correct foot deformities
• Provide critical ankle and arch support
• Reduce the risk of recurring injuries
• Improve overall foot and ankle function following a fracture or crush injury

What conditions can custom orthotics treat?

Custom orthotics are incredibly versatile and are used to treat a wide range of common foot and musculoskeletal problems, including:

• Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Spurs: Reducing strain on the fascia and cushioning the heel.
• Flat Feet and High Arches: Providing the specific level of arch support needed for stability.
• Bunions and Hammertoes: Preventing further misalignment and easing pressure points.
• Arthritis and Diabetes: Protecting sensitive areas and improving circulation.
• Chronic Back and Knee Pain: Improving overall alignment from the ground up.

Types of Custom Orthotics

Custom orthotics are crafted from various materials based on your activity level and symptoms:

• Rigid Orthotics: Made of stiff materials like plastic or carbon fiber to control motion in the foot's major joints.
• Accommodative Orthotics: Made of flexible, padded materials to provide cushioning and take pressure off painful spots.
• Ankle-Foot Orthotics (AFO): Specialized supports that stabilize both the ankle and the calf.

The Process for Getting Custom Orthotics

Getting started is easy. Following a physical exam and a review of your medical history, your podiatrist will take custom molds of your feet right here in our office. These molds are sent to the specialized lab to create your bespoke inserts. Typically, you will return to San Juan Health Partners Foot and Ankle about 1-2 weeks later for a final fitting to ensure they are working perfectly for you.

To learn more about the benefits of custom orthotics, request an appointment at San Juan Health Partners Foot and Ankle today.