New Study Compares Prescription Orthotics to Over-the-Counter shoe inserts

A new study is under way to investigate the efficacy of prescription orthotics, a device that podiatrists use in practice often. The study will compare over-the-counter shoe inserts with prescription orthotics, or orthoses as they are known as in the medical community.

The ongoing three-year study, which is being funded by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), will look at the success rate of the prescription orthotics in treating plantar fasciitis, a common cause of heel pain. Podiatrists have been able to successfully treat plantar fasciitis with foot orthotics for a long time as a form of non-surgical, conservative treatment – this study will serve to quantify and qualify that information.

The research is being conducted at the Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, through the Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR). The interim director of the research program, Dr. James Wrobel, seeks to compare the results of prescription orthotics as a treatment for heel pain with the results of over-the-counter shoe inserts. The study will also look at the overall efficacy of the prescription orthotics at treating the heel pain. In other words, did the pain go away when using the orthotics?

Prescription orthotics are generally more durable than over-the-counter shoe inserts, needing replacement only after several years. They are prescribed by a podiatrist, and are usually done fairly quickly in an appointment. The doctor will take either make a plaster casting of the foot, or a digital image using computer software.

Prescription orthotics are typically used for three different reasons. There are orthotics designed to change the function of the foot, orthotics that are designed to protect the foot from outside forces, and orthotics that are designed to be both protective and serve to alter function of the foot. Different materials are often used when manufacturing the orthotics, depending on the purpose that they will serve.

As doctors across the country focus more and more on evidence based medicine, it will be studies like this one that will back up the use of treatments such as prescription orthotics. Many remedies in the medical world are not confirmed as being any better than others, but through research like this, a fair comparison can be made.

If you have any questions about prescription orthotics, talk to your podiatrist about different options. If you are experiencing heel pain, share this with your doctor. Conservative treatments, such as orthotics, are generally used before more invasive, surgical procedures.

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com

Blisters? That socks.

Blisters – they can drive a person crazy. Athletes, particularly runners, will often think of blisters as a common problem, something that just comes with the territory. You may have seen runners covering their feet with Band-Aids or duct tape to prevent them from forming, or you may have gone to these measures yourself. Generally people will get blisters from a poorly fitting pair of shoes, or perhaps from another source; their socks.

That’s right – your socks may be giving you blisters. When we wear cotton socks to run in, or to walk around in all day, we are trapping a layer of moisture right up against our feet. Think about getting out of the shower and grabbing a cotton towel to pull all the water off of you. This is exactly what your socks are doing, only they hold that sweat right up against your feet. This increases the friction between the sock and the skin on your foot, which will increase the friction between the layers of skin on your foot. Over a period of time, a blister will form.

So how do we combat this problem? One way to prevent blisters from forming is by switching from a cotton sock to a sock made of moisture-wicking fibers. Many brands make socks specific to running or other activities. These socks are made to fit tight, and often have extra layers of padding in areas that are most sensitive to blister formation, like the heel and ball of the foot. The materials used may be synthetic materials, such as nylon, polypropelene, or acrylic, as well as natural fibers like merino wool. All of these non-cotton fibers have the ability to spread moisture out over a greater surface area. The greater the surface area, the easier the moisture can evaporate.

When it comes to moisture-wicking socks, there are lots of options. For natural fibers, brands such as SmartWool and Bridgedale use merino wool. A variety of synthetic materials are used by brands such as WrightSock, Under Armor, and Balega. DryMax socks use a double layer sock, transferring the friction normally seen between the foot and the sock to this layer. Many brands that make running shoes also make moisture-wicking socks, such as Nike, Brooks, Asics, Adidas, and Mizuno. When it comes to choosing moisture-wicking socks, the options are about as plentiful as the options of shoes! You can purchase these types of socks directily from out online store by clicking here!

So, if you have a problem with blisters, try changing your socks. With so many options, you can try a few different brands to see which ones will be your favorite. Ask around – maybe someone you know has a favorite brand of their own. But be careful, once you start wearing moisture-wicking socks, you may not ever go back to cotton!

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com