Our feet are highly complex structures. Your feet support and balance your body weight, and any alterations in your foot structure and alignment can have poor consequences for other joints in your body and even your overall health. Custom orthotics are prescription medical devices which are worn inside the shoes to correct foot alignment issues which cause biomechanical imbalances during walking, standing, or running. Wearing foot orthotics can also help to relieve foot pain caused by conditions including plantar fasciitis, bursitis, diabetes and arthritis. Custom made orthotics have a great impact on other parts of the body, including knee, ankle, leg, hip and spine.

Your heart constantly pumps blood through the arteries. These vessels act as a hose, carrying blood at high pressure to the entire body and providing cells with oxygen and other necessities. This, of course, includes the arteries and vessels in your legs, as well. Unfortunately, getting blood, lymph and other fluids out of your lower limbs is a bit more difficult. Your veins and lymphatic system are not pressurized, meaning they have to work against gravity to move fluid back up your legs. Your calf and leg muscle usually do this, but they don’t always work efficiently enough to prevent blood from pooling in the feet, causing that dreaded ‘heavy leg’ feeling. Compression socks and stockings assist in circulation by helping push blood and fluids out of your legs. They create a ‘pressure gradient’ by fitting snugly around the ankle and tapering off in pressure towards the top of the sock. This creates better venous pressure and prevents swelling and increased fatigue after a long day of work or activity.

Orthopedic braces are medical devices designed to address musculoskeletal issues; they are used to properly correct the position, support, stabilize, and protect certain parts of the body, particularly the muscles, joints, and bone, as they heal from injury or trauma. These medical devices are often prescribed for the patient to wear during the process of recovery and rehabilitation. Orthopedic braces can be used in various ways. They can be prescribed for specific segments of the body, or joints from moving for a pre-determined period. This can be very important in facilitating proper recovery and positioning as the affected body part heals. Braces are often recommended for restricting and assisting general movement, removing weight from healing or injured joints and muscles, and correcting the shape and function to reduce pain and facilitate improved mobility. Prescribed orthopedic braces aid in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.