Foot pain, discomfort, or poor alignment can disrupt your entire day and keep you from the activities you love. Because your feet serve as the foundation for your entire body, even a minor abnormality in your step can create a chain reaction of pain that travels all the way up to your neck. At Dosher Physical Therapy, we understand that healthy movement starts from the ground up.
We offer custom orthotics and biomechanical assessments to relieve pain, improve alignment, and support healthy movement from the ground up. Through expert, hands-on evaluation, we help you find the precise support your body needs to move comfortably and efficiently.
The Biomechanical Connection
Biomechanics is the study of how your bones, muscles, and joints work together to produce movement. When it comes to walking or running, your foot acts as a shock absorber and a lever to propel you forward. If you overpronate (roll your foot inward too much), supinate (roll outward), or lack proper arch support, your body is forced to compensate.
Over time, this compensation puts abnormal stress on your joints. Correcting these foot mechanics is essential to relieve knee, hip, and back pain.
How Custom Orthotics Can Help
While over-the-counter shoe inserts might provide temporary cushioning, they are manufactured for a “generic” foot. Custom orthotics are highly precise, medical-grade devices crafted specifically for your unique anatomy.
By analyzing your posture and gait, our physical therapists create personalized shoe inserts designed to support foot structure, improve lower body alignment, and alleviate chronic pain from the ground up.
Getting precise custom shoe orthotics evaluated and fitted at Dosher Physical Therapy can help treat and prevent a variety of conditions, including:
- Plantar Fasciitis: Providing the exact arch support needed to relieve tension on the plantar fascia.
- Achilles Tendinitis: Reducing the strain placed on the tendon during push-off.
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner’s Knee): Stabilizing the foot to prevent the knee from rotating inward during your stride.
- Lower Back Pain: Leveling the hips and reducing shock transmission up the spine.
What to Expect During Your Evaluation
1. Comprehensive Biomechanical Assessment: We don’t just look at your feet. Your therapist will perform a thorough evaluation of your entire lower extremity, checking joint mobility, muscle strength, and flexibility from your lower back down to your toes.
2. Gait Analysis: We will observe exactly how you walk or run. Watching your dynamic movement helps us identify exactly where your mechanics are breaking down and where support is needed most.
3. Casting and Fitting: Once we determine that orthotics will benefit you, we will take a precise mold or scan of your feet in their optimal, neutral position. When your custom devices arrive, we will ensure they fit perfectly in your shoes and provide instructions on how to comfortably break them in.
Build a Stronger Foundation Today
You shouldn’t have to live with nagging foot, knee, or back pain. Our physical therapists treat patients like family and are committed to helping you achieve a pain-free, active lifestyle.
With five convenient locations serving Piedmont, Pickens, Clayton, Anderson, Easley, and Powdersville, expert care is always close to home. Contact your nearest Dosher PT clinic today to schedule your custom orthotic evaluation and take the first step toward better biomechanics.
