How to Know If You Need Custom Orthotics

One of the most common questions we hear is:

“Do I really need custom orthotics, or just better shoes?”

The answer often depends on what you do for a living. Your feet are your equipment. Just like a chef needs a sharp knife or a surgeon needs precision tools, your feet need the right support to perform your specific job without injury. What a marathon runner needs is different from what a restaurant server needs.

At Kentlands Foot & Ankle Center, we don’t just look at your foot; we look at your life! The following checklist was designed with that method in mind, so use it and see if your job is putting your feet at risk.

1. The Healthcare Hero (Nurses & Doctors)

Working 12-hour shifts on hard hospital floors, often clocking 15,000 steps a day? Ask yourself:

• [ ] Do your heels throb the moment you sit in your car after a shift?
• [ ] Do you feel a burning sensation in the ball of your foot (Metatarsalgia)?
• [ ] Are your knees or lower back stiff when you wake up the next day?

The Verdict: If you checked any of these, your arches are fatigue-failing under the long hours. Orthotics provide the “scaffold” to hold you up when your muscles get tired.

2. The Restaurant Worker (Servers & Chefs)

If you’re constantly pivoting, dodging, and standing on tile or concrete in non-slip shoes…

• [ ] Do you have hard calluses or corns on your big toe or heel?
• [ ] Do you constantly roll your ankles on uneven mats or wet floors?
• [ ] Do your shins ache during the dinner rush?

The Verdict: Restaurant work requires stability. Orthotics can correct the overpronation that causes calluses and stabilize your ankle against sprains.

3. The Athlete (Runners & Court Sports)

Your feet take up to 3x your body weight in force with every stride. If you run, consider:

• [ ] Do you have recurring shin splints that won’t go away with ice?
• [ ] Does one shoe wear down unevenly compared to the other?
• [ ] Do you feel a “pinch” in your Achilles tendon when you push off?

The Verdict: You are likely dealing with a biomechanical inefficiency. Custom orthotics align your Kinetic Chain, stopping the energy leaks that cause overuse injuries.

4. The Active Senior (Pickleball & Walkers)

Want to stay active, keep up with grandkids, and travel without limits? Ask yourself:

• [ ] Do you feel like you are walking on “bony” feet (Fat Pad Atrophy)?
• [ ] Do your bunions ache after a long walk?
• [ ] Do you feel unsteady or fearful of tripping?

The Verdict: As we age, our natural padding thins and ligaments stretch. Orthotics can replace that lost cushion and provide the proprioceptive feedback needed for balance.

5. The Dancer (Ballet & Contemporary)

Your art requires extreme flexibility, but that often comes at the cost of stability. Consider:

• [ ] Do you have pain under the big toe joint (Sesamoiditis)?
• [ ] Do you have “snapping” hips or ankles?
• [ ] Do your arches cramp significantly after class?

The Verdict: While you can’t wear orthotics in pointe shoes, wearing them in your street shoes is vital for recovery. They allow your overworked tendons to rest in a neutral position.

The Takeaway

If you recognize yourself in these checklists, your feet are trying to tell you something. Don’t ignore it! Instead of waiting for things to worsen, schedule your evaluation today.

Still have questions? Get in touch for a comprehensive foot examination with Kentlands Foot & Ankle Center podiatrist Dr. Jon M. Sherman. To make your appointment, please call our office at 301-825-9697. You can also contact us online.