Heel spurs can be quite a nuisance. They cause your heels and arches to feel tight in the morning. You may struggle to walk or run for more than a few minutes. There may be certain shoes you cannot wear comfortably. One of the best ways to address heel spurs is with orthotics, which are corrective inserts you can put in your shoes. For heel spurs, the orthotics are designed to take pressure off the heels and arches. Here are some tips that will come in handy if you're getting orthotics for heel spurs.

Get them from a podiatrist or orthopedist.

There are pharmacies and even shoe stores that sell orthotics, but those are really meant more for people who just need a little extra cushioning or help with a blister. For a real ailment like heel spurs, you really want custom-made orthotics from a podiatrist or an orthopedist. The doctor will assess the shape of your feet, how you walk, and the location of your heel spurs. They'll design orthotics that are perfectly suited to your feet and body for maximum relief from your heel spurs.

Give yourself time to adapt to them.

Some people are able to get their orthotics and start wearing them, 24 hours a day, right away. But those people are few and far between. Your orthotics will change the way you land on your feet, which means you'll be putting more pressure and strain on different tendons and ligaments than usual. You will want to give your feet and body time to adapt to this, and the best way to do that is to take it slow. Wear the orthotics for a couple of hours a day for the first week. Then, start wearing them for a half day. Then, another week later, start wearing them all day.

Tell your doctor if something is not right.

Do the orthotics rub against the side of your foot? Do you feel like they are not large enough for your shoes? If you have this or any other problem with your orthotics, reach out to a podiatrist. They can make some adjustments to your orthotics so they fit better and give you better relief from your heel spurs.

Heel spurs are a real bother, but orthotics really can do a good job of managing them. Adhere to the tips above as you start using orthotics to ease your pain.

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