Custom Orthotics

Just as a pair of glasses with the wrong prescription won’t correct your vision, the wrong pair of orthotics isn’t going to do much good for your feet. Dr. Anthony Spitz can help you select an appropriate set of orthotics to match your needs.

Orthotics are made from a wide variety of different materials, and come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. That said, there are three main categories:

• Soft orthotics are primarily meant to add cushioning to the feet and reduce shock and shear forces. Although they don’t correct biomechanics as well as other types of orthotics, they can significantly reduce overall pain and pressure on the foot. They are ideal for conditions like foot ulcers, arthritis, and some deformities.
• Rigid orthotics are made from firm materials like plastic or carbon fiber. They are best for correcting severe structural misalignments or gait abnormalities. Although they might take a little more time to get used to, over time your corrected posture will mean significantly less pain. Most people wear them in walking shoes or dress shoes.
• Semi-rigid orthotics fall about halfway between rigid and soft orthotics. They tend to be made from firm-yet-flexible materials such as graphite, sometimes covered in extra padding. Semi-rigid orthotics are a great choice for those times you need some of the benefits of both types. Athletes, for example, require biomechanical correction, shock absorption, and flexibility from their orthotics in order to play their best without pain or injury.