When I was younger, I was always on the move—running, jumping, and competing in all sorts of sports. One sport that really caught my attention was gymnastics. The intensity and precision required for the routines were exhilarating, but they also took a toll on my body. During my first year of competing, I started to experience some pain in my lower legs, especially my knees and ankles. At first, I pushed through it, thinking it was just part of the training and competing process.

However, as time went on, the pain only worsened. Eventually, I couldn't ignore it anymore, and I decided to see a Physiotherapist for some advice.

After a thorough assessment, the Physiotherapist revealed that my lower limb pain was likely due to improper foot alignment and foot shape. I had never noticed it before, but my feet were flat, which was affecting my posture and mechanics during every movement. The Physiotherapist referred me to a Podiatrist to get a more detailed assessment.

The Podiatrist explained that the position of my flat feet was contributing to the pain in my knees and ankles. My body was compensating for the misalignment, which led to overuse injuries in other areas. After discussing my options, the Podiatrist decided to create custom foot orthotics for me.

I remember the process vividly—casting my feet to create a mold for the orthotics. The plaster casts are no longer common, but I could feel the careful attention to detail that went into making my custom insoles. Once they were ready, I slipped them into my gym shoes, and a few weeks later, I noticed a big difference.

The orthotics changed how my feet interacted with the ground, which in turn eased the strain on my knees and ankles. I no longer had that constant aching pain, and for the first time in months, I could focus on improving my performance in gymnastics without worrying about pain and injury.

My flat feet are still the same, but the custom orthotics have made all the difference. I no longer compete but I do run, and workout at the gym regularly, still pain free 20 years later thanks to quality orthotics.

I’ve heard stories from some people who said orthotics were not much benefit so I guess it comes down to the individual issue and the way the orthotic is designed to fix that issue. I’m glad my podiatrist understood my issues and successfully designed the right ones for me. I highly recommend seeing a podiatrist if you do have foot, ankle, knee or back pain, it just might make all the difference for you too.  – Adapted for permissible reprint