5 Ways Custom Orthotics Can Improve Your Sports Performance

As an athlete, you want every competitive advantage. You train hard, you pay attention to your nutrition, and you invest in the best equipment you can. If you’re nodding in agreement, custom orthotics can give you an edge. These specialized insoles support your feet and ankles and enhance your performance. 

At Sports City USA Foot & Ankle Center in McKinney, Texas, Dr. Benjamin Clair evaluates your foot and ankle health and offers ways to prevent injury and improve your athletic abilities, including the option of custom orthotics.

5 benefits of custom orthotics 

Custom orthotics look like insoles for your shoes. If you’ve ever bought insoles, you know they can add cushion and support. But custom orthotics offer much more. Podiatrists classify them as biomechanical medical devices, and they’re designed specially for your feet. 

Because custom orthotics are made from a mold of your feet, they cradle your foot’s contours and offer pain relief and support. They also help guard against injury. 

1. Proper foot support 

Your feet are the foundation of your body’s balance and stability. The better your balance, the better you can perform in any sport. Custom orthotics are tailored for your feet so your weight stays evenly distributed. 

Picture a runner who tends to roll their foot outward when they run. It’s a slight movement that can throw off the entire body’s alignment. It can cause the runner to stumble and get hurt. But well-fitting shoes with custom orthotics offer support. They help runners run efficiently and reduce the risk of injury. 

2. Reduce pain and discomfort 

Every athlete experiences pain at some point. But if you have routine pain in your arches, heels, and ankles, it slows you down. Bunions, plantar fasciitis, and other common foot problems can get in the way of your athletic performance and even everyday life. 

Fortunately, custom orthotics can help. Because they’re custom-designed for your feet, they ensure your weight is evenly distributed, which improves your body’s alignment and reduces pain.

3. Better shock absorption

If you’re in a high-impact sport like basketball, tennis, or running, your feet and legs take a beating. Every landing shocks your joints and contributes to fatigue and a higher risk of injury. Custom orthotics can absorb that shock and disperse it to maintain your performance and protect your joints. 

4. Improve your biomechanics 

Every athlete needs a stable foundation for consistent and accurate movements. So whether you golf, play basketball, or participate in any other sport, custom orthotics help distribute your weight evenly throughout your body, including your feet, allowing you greater precision in your movements.

5. Reduce risk of overuse injuries 

Custom orthotics reduce your risk of shin splints, Achilles tendonitis, and stress fractures by reducing the strain on your feet and ankles and improving your overall posture and alignment.

Expert recommendation

Every athlete is looking for an edge to boost their performance. Custom orthotics can be that edge. These specialized insoles support your feet and improve shock absorption to enhance your body’s biomechanical efficiency and injury prevention. 

To discover if custom orthotics are right for you, schedule your consultation with Dr. Clair at Sports City USA Foot & Ankle Center today. Call our office or request an appointment online.