If you have been recently diagnosed with plantar fasciitis or have been dealing for months with heel pain, you have probably wondered whether you need custom orthotics or not.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of custom shoe inserts that can assist you in making your choice!

 

Does Plantar Fasciitis Help with Custom Orthotics?

In improving your plantar fasciitis, by supporting your arch and cushioning a responsive, weakening heel pad, a quality pair of custom orthotics will make a huge difference. That is why orthotics are one of plantar fasciitis ‘top-recommended conservative therapies!

 

Sadly, it can cost upwards of $200 for just one pair of custom orthotics. Is it worth the price? To learn more about the advantages, disadvantages and alternatives to custom orthotics, keep reading!

 

Custom Orthotics Advantages

In the past, a podiatrist had to build custom orthotics. Now, though, without even leaving your house, it’s quite a bit easier to get a pair of custom orthotics.

 

Several businesses, along with a brief online questionnaire, will give you a footprint imprint kit to assess where you feel pain, the exact width and length of your foot, and any other basic needs you might have (e.g., correcting overpronation).

 

You’ll get a pair of custom orthotics within less than a month.

 

Custom Orthotics’ Disadvantages

Although custom orthotics can make a major difference in heel pain, before you decide to purchase, there are a few disadvantages that you should know about!

 

Elevated costs

The high costs are one of the main drawbacks of custom orthotics. Your starting price for only one pair is about $230 at the low end. Although this is not quite as high as many medical treatments, plantar fasciitis is one of the highest priced conservative therapies.

 

Accessibility, Accessibility

They are not exactly open to those with a tight budget because of the high costs of custom orthodontics. And it will be about a month until they arrive at your door because of the processing time taken to ship you a kit, take your foot imprint, submit the imprint back, plus time to produce the orthotics themselves, which may feel like a long time if you’re hurting.

 

Minimal Proof for Custom Inserts Justification

While there is a great deal of evidence to show that plantar fasciitis can be improved by orthotics, there is not much evidence to show that custom orthotic inserts do a superior job. A recent groundbreaking meta-analysis of 20 studies actually shows that custom orthotics and prefabricated orthotic inserts work almost identically.

 

Are Custom Orthotics Worth It, then?

For certain people, custom orthotics can be a lifesaver, particularly if you have many distinct foot problems you are trying to beat. For most individuals, however, the advantages of high-quality non-custom orthotics, such as Heel Seats, are similar to custom orthotics (the only difference is the higher price tag!).

 

Just not able to decide? Try out a pair of 5-star, non-custom orthotics (like Heel The Pain!) that come with a money-back guarantee. Test drive a brand that includes a money-back guarantee (several do!) if you ever wonder what you could miss with a pair of custom orthodontics. That way, before you get stuck with the cost, you can make sure you love your personalized orthotics. And you will be able to rest assured that you have the right match for your foot and your wallet at the end of the day!

 

Alternatives to Inserts for Custom Shoes

The good news is that you have some great options if you are not willing to spend more than $200 on a pair of custom orthotics. Clinically validated orthotic inserts such as Heel Seats cost around as much as lunch out in the city, ensuring you can afford less than one pair of custom orthotics to dress every pair of shoes in your wardrobe.

 

There are also options that can be worn with bare feet if you spend much of your summer in sandals, such as Heel Seat Wraps, which raise and align the arch like an orthodontic insert, but can be worn with open-toed shoes and sandals.

 

Did you try custom orthopedics? In the comments below, tell us that we enjoy hearing from you!

 

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