Robert A. Raley DPM SC
Comprehensive Foot Care

Orthotics

Podiatrist, Foot & Ankle Surgeon in Meadowview, Kankakee, IL

Orthotics services offered in Meadowview, Kankakee, IL

If you experience chronic foot or ankle pain and it doesn’t respond to at-home treatments, consider custom orthotics. Dr. Robert A. Raley and the team prescribe orthotics to treat various conditions that affect the feet and ankles, including plantar fasciitis, hammertoes, and bunions. To make an appointment, call the office in Kankakee, Illinois, or book online today.

Orthotics Q&A

What are orthotics?

Orthotics are custom shoe inserts designed specifically for your feet. Dr. Raley and the team might prescribe them to support your ankles, correct a foot abnormality, or help your feet and ankles function better. 

Orthotics are different from the inserts and heel pads you can buy at the grocery. Since they’re specifically designed to support your feet, they’re much more effective.

What types of issues can benefit from orthotics?

Dr. Raley and the team use orthotics to treat various issues that affect the feet and ankles, including:

  • Arthritis
  • Bunions
  • Bursitis
  • Diabetes
  • Flat feet
  • Hammertoes
  • Heel spurs
  • High arches
  • Plantar fasciitis

You might also benefit from orthotics if you play sports or lead a physically active lifestyle. Custom orthotics can prevent general wear-and-tear, reducing the risk of injuries.

What are the types of orthotics?

Dr. Raley and the team offer several types of orthotics, including:

Accommodative orthotics

Accommodative orthotics are soft and made from padded materials. They help take pressure off of sensitive areas, like diabetic ulcers or inflamed heels. Because of their size, you might need to wear accommodative orthotics with prescription shoes.

Rigid orthotics

Rigid orthotics are made from plastic or other stiff and inflexible materials. They fit inside close-toed shoes and take pressure off the ligaments, tendons, and muscles in your feet. Dr. Raley might prescribe rigid orthotics if you have to stand for long hours at work.

What does getting orthotics involve?

Getting orthotics takes typically takes two visits

First orthotics visit

If Dr. Raley and the team determine that you can benefit from orthotics, they take digital scans of your feet. Then, they upload your scans to a computer design program that interprets the scans into precise measurements.

Dr. Raley sends the scans and measurements to a nearby podiatry lab. Technicians then use them to design and manufacture a pair of custom orthotics.

Second orthotics visit

When the podiatry lab finishes your orthotics about a week later, you return to the office. Dr. Raley has you try the orthotics on. He adjusts them to ensure a perfect fit and explains how to keep them in optimal condition. 

To see if you can benefit from custom orthotics, make an appointment at the practice of Dr. Robert A. Raley by calling the office or booking online today.