5 Ways Custom Orthotics Can Improve Your Sports Performance

You know how important the right shoe is for your game. A shoe that doesn’t fit well or is poorly constructed can mean the difference between winning and losing.

If you want to stay in top form, you have to start with well-functioning feet.

At North Park Podiatry in San Diego, California, our expert podiatrists — Trent Brookshier, DPM, and Ricardo Navarette, DPM — are committed to your foot health and function. If you’re an athlete, we may recommend customized orthotics to help your feet perform optimally.

How do custom orthotics aid your sports performance? The following are five benefits of giving your feet the support they need. 

1. Orthotics increase your focus

Whether you play on a team or compete individually, the less you have to think about your body, the more completely you can focus on your spot. When you have customized orthotics, you have one less trouble spot to focus on.

Orthotics improve the comfort of your shoe so it feels tailor-made for you.

2. Orthotics increase your speed

If you’re a runner or run in your sport, you may want to invest in orthotics simply because they can increase your speed. When runners with orthotics were compared with runners who didn’t have orthotics, those with customized inserts reported higher running speeds. 

Orthotics prevent you from over- or under-pronating, which straightens your gait from the foot up to the hip. This improves both comfort and speed.

3. Orthotics align your feet

Almost nobody is born with perfectly aligned feet. If you’re an athlete, you’ve subjected your feet to so much force that you may also have caused misalignments over time or due to overuse.

Orthotics are custom-designed to correct a variety of podiatric issues, some of which you may not even realize you have. Depending on your needs, we correct for:

• Bunions
• High arch
• Flat foot
• Stiff big toe
• Hammertoe
• Neuromas
• Plantar fasciitis
• Arthritis
• Over- and under-pronation

Our custom orthotics can also prevent or resolve runner’s knee. As part of your consultation, we examine your gait to see what potential issues need to be addressed and re-balanced with your customized orthotic insert.

4. Orthotics stabilize your legs

Your feet are just the beginning. By stabilizing your feet, orthotics also re-align your legs. Once your knee and hips are in the proper position above your feet, they’re less likely to twist or experience uneven pressures.

With customized orthotics, you’re less likely to develop or worsen runner’s knee. Orthotics improve the function of your foot and ankle so your knee and hip joints function optimally.

5. Orthotics prevent injuries

Nothing can hinder your sports career like an injury. Even a slight strain or sprain could take you out of the game for weeks or months. 

Ensuring your base is secure by re-aligning your feet with orthotics keeps your entire body safer. Orthotics reduce your chances of developing or worsening:

• Runner’s knee
• Shin splints
• Sprains
• Strains
• Tendinitis
• Fractures

Your feet are aligned, and so is your gait. By improving the functional dynamics of how your feet and legs work together, you optimize your athletic performance.

Are you ready to take your game to the next level with customized orthotics? Call our friendly team today or use our easy online appointment form.