Foot and ankle pain is a very common complaint and millions of people cannot move about comfortably. This can be caused by a myriad of reasons and podiatrists often struggle to make a firm diagnosis. This is because foot and ankle pain is often only the manifestation of disease or injury elsewhere in the body. The use of special prosthetics often helps but shoe orthotics seldom cures the underlying problem.

Poorly designed or inappropriate footwear is commonest cause of pain. Sportspeople often sustain injuries because they do not use the footwear designed for the type of sport they play. The majority of patients seeing podiatrists are women, and in a large percentage of cases their problem can be directly related to the wearing of high heels. When buying footwear care should be taken to make sure that it fits properly.

There is a lot that can be done to prevent discomfort and pain the in the feet and ankles. Exercises such as stretching the toes, standing and even running on the toes and walking barefoot are all recommended by podiatrists. The importance of hygiene simply cannot be overstated. The feet must be kept dry and special care should be taken with the surfaces between the toes.

Injuries to the lower legs, the feet and the ankles should never be ignored. If a podiatrist is not seen as soon as possible the adverse effects may become permanent. Many experts also advise that people with foot problems should first ask advice from their podiatrist before purchasing any footwear orthodontics. Some products are substandard and may even cause more harm. A podiatrist can recommend a reliable brand.

Another common cause of discomfort is fallen arches. People with this condition have do not have the raised bridge that people with normal feet have. This can lead to chronic pain in the feet and difficulty to stand on tippy toes. The condition cannot be cured but the use of insoles can help to support the arches and provide considerable relief from the symptoms. No prescription is necessary for these insoles.

It is not only people suffering from fallen arches that can benefit from orthopedic footwear devices. Those suffering from inflammation of the soles often experience immediate and welcome relief from pain. It is common for diabetics to struggle with circulation in the feet and a device can do much to improve the situation. Arthritis sufferers also benefit because their condition often cause inflammation and pain in the joints of the feet.

There are no known risks involved in wearing any of the available footwear orthopedic devices. The important thing is to buy only from reputable dealers and to use the devices as instructed. In most cases a single device can be used with several pairs of shoes. They should be kept clean, however and when they become worn they should be discarded.

There can be no doubt that footwear prosthetics play an important role in relieving pain in the feet and ankles. People often only pay attention to their feet when problems crop up. In order to remain mobile and pain free, it is important to look after the feet. Injuries or prolonged swelling should be attended to immediately.