Your feet are a complex system of 52 bones, 66 joints, 214 ligaments and 38 tendons and muscles, containing 25% of all the bones in your body. In your lifetime your feet will take over 100 million steps, each step impacting your body. Abnormal stresses and structural problems with your feet can cause pain throughout your entire body. Whatever the source of your pain – consider the possibility that custom prescribed foot orthotics can help.

Orthotics are devices used to treat or adjust various foot disorders. Custom-tailored devices are specifically crafted to meet the needs of a particular individual. This is done by making an impression of the foot called a cast. The impressions in the cast duplicate any misalignments in the foot. Specialists in an orthotic laboratory can then correct the misalignments with compensation and stabilization techniques. The finished orthotic is then placed in the patient's shoe and helps keep the foot in proper alignment. Depending upon the patient's needs, the orthotic may have padding to cushion the foot against the weight of the body.

May people can benefit from an orthotic. There are several symptoms that may indicate misalignment of the feet. You may be a candidate for orthotics if:

• one side of the sole of your shoe wears out faster than the other;
• you frequently sprain your ankle;
• you have chronic heel, knee or lower back pain;
• your shins hurt;
• your toes are not straight;
• your feet point inward or excessively outward when you walk; or
• your feet hurt in general.