Richie Brace

Richie Brace – Custom Ankle Brace

The Richie Brace is a unique, patented custom fabricated ankle-foot orthosis designed to treat transverse plane and frontal plane pathologies. Extraordinary control of the ankle-hind foot complex is achieved with this functional brace incorporating a balanced foot orthosis articulating with semi-rigid anatomical hinged support uprights. The Richie Custom Ankle Brace has demonstrated wide versatility in treating sports injuries as well as debilitating degenerative pathologies of the foot and ankle.

Clinical Indications for the Richie Brace

• Tibialis posterior dysfunction
• Lateral ankle instability
• Degenerative arthritis
• Mild drop foot
• Tarsal coalition
• Charcot foot deformity
• Peroneal tendinopathy
• Sinus tarsi syndrome

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Common Foot Problems

Foot problems are a common occurrence. At one time or another just about everyone will experience either pain or discomfort in their feet.  While there are some things that can be done to minimize or prevent problems, they are still likely to occur simply because we use our feet all the time and they bear a lot of weight.  Wearing shoes made of quality materials and with adequate support and solid construction can make a big difference.   Visiting ones podiatrist as soon as major problems arise is a good idea and wearing shoes which are the correct size can also lessen the likelihood of foot problems.  In this article we will discuss some common foot problems. We will first list a number of them and then follow that up with a more in-depth discussion of a few of them.

Arthritis,  tendinitis in the Achilles heel, pain in the ankles,  burning feet,  athletes foot,  foot ulcers, gout, Morton’s toe, neuropathy and heel fissures are all common foot problems. These affect million of people. Individuals may not only suffer from one of these conditions but multiple ones. This can mean that a person has extreme pain every time that they walk. In these cases and in most cases of severe foot pain, a visit to the podiatrist may be in order. When that is not possible, there are some over-the-counter (or internet) options that may work to alleviate pain.  Now, let’s take a little closer look at some of the common foot ailments we listed above.

Plantar Fasciitis: Plantar fasciitis is a very common problem that affects the heel and the arch. It is the result of small tears in the plantar fascia. This condition can cause a lot of pain, discomfort and stiffness. To treat it, an individual may use arch supports or orthotics. Wearing custom made orthotics is usually the best choice. Anti-inflammation and pain medication may also be helpful.

Neuroma: This is a condition where irritation in the nerves occurs and causes swelling. The nerve may thicken and cause discomfort and pain. This often times affects the ball area of the foot.

Hammer Toes: Hammer toes are another pretty common foot condition.   Individuals who have them essentially have a deformed toe. This is due to an imbalance in the tendons.

Achilles Tendinitis: Tendinitis of the Achilles is another condition of that affects the foot area and which can be very painful. It is essentially the case of an inflamed Achilles tendon. Over time, if it is not properly treated, the tendon take may become thicker and bumps or nodules may form on it. Eventually, if nothing is done, this can lead to the tearing of the tendon.

This would obviously be quite painful and cause some serious problems. Surgery would be needed to repair a burst or ruptured Achilles tendon. This can be very costly and will require a cast and therapy. To avoid this, it is important to seek proper treatment and care. In this case, the saying is true, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Arch Support for Flat Feet

Arch Support for Flat Feet

Flat feet can be very uncomfortable and painful. Individuals who suffer from them may choose to use arch supports to help relieve some of the pain and take pressure off the arches and the ligaments and tendons that support them.  Arch supports can be purchased over-the-counter or they can be made by a doctor to specifically fit ones feet.   Obviously, the former will be much less expensive and they can be purchased and in an individual’s possession much faster then if a person were to go to a doctor and have them made.  For individuals who need immediate support buying arch supports for flat feet online or over-the-counter, may be a good short term option. However, it may eventually be necessary to have them custom made.  Many of the newer arch supports for flat feet work very well and can provide individuals who need them, the proper support to minimize pain and discomfort.

Because most shoes do not offer adequate support, it may be necessary to purchase arch supports.  Add poor construction and inexpensive materials used by many shoe manufacturing company with constant walking and the natural pounding of the feet and subsequently, foot pain develops. In order for individuals to be able to function as optimally as possible, it may be necessary to reinforce the shoe and arch supports can often do just that.

When the tibialis posterior tendon stretches or the ligaments which support the foot’s arch are stretched, flat feet may be the result.  This may also happen if there are tears in the ligaments or tendons in the feet.  This can be quite painful and make it difficult for individuals to walk and function normally.  Depending on the severity of the condition and the cause, a doctor may prescribe a number of different treatments.  For individuals who don’t have flat feet due to torn ligaments or tendons, arch supports may be all that is needed.

When the ligaments or tendons are only stretched but not torn, arch supports can provide individuals with some relief.  Therefore, it is important for individuals who believe that they have flat feet to be examined by a podiatrist when possible. If it is not, a careful self examination of the feet and consideration of all symptoms may be all that is necessary.  However, a podiatrist will be able to make a definitive prognosis on whether or not a person actually suffers from flat feet. There are test that they will perform and put the patient through, to make this determination. If individuals aren’t able to afford a visit to a podiatrist, but believe that they have flat feet, purchasing and using arch supports is one good option to try, If they do not fix the problem, at least one treatment option has been eliminated.  

Once it has been definitively determined that a person has flat feet, they may be prescribed some type of treatment to decrease inflammation.  They may also be asked to rest so that any ligaments or tendon injuries can heal. They will then likely be given some type of arch supports. Taken together, this can alleviate a lot of the pain and discomfort associated with flat feet.