Foot Orthotics May Relieve Arthritis Pain

If you have arthritis in your feet, your doctor may recommend foot orthotics to help relieve pain and provide support while improving how you walk. Foot orthotics are shoe inserts that can be custom-made to prescribed specifications or purchased "off-the-shelf." Custom-made orthotics are generally considered more effective and of higher quality than prefabricated foot orthotics.

The removable shoe inserts are made from an impression of the foot -- either a plaster cast mold or a 3-D laser scan -- and are then adjusted to fix the problem. A Cochrane Review, published online July 16, 2008, evaluated the effectiveness of custom foot orthotics for various types of foot pain. In the review, 11 trials involving 1,332 study participants were analyzed. Read more about the results of the review in Foot Orthotics - What You Need to Know.

Related Resources:

• Guide to Foot Care
• Top Foot Supports
• Hallux Rigidus - What You Need to Know
• Flip-Flops Can Cause Joint Problems

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