Foot orthotics support stressed and tired joints and muscles, correct poor foot function, help to relieve your pain, and help heal and prevent injuries.
Whether you refer to them as foot orthotics, orthoses or inserts – these brilliant medical devices change the lives, and not to mention pain levels, of our patients every single day.
The way they alter foot biomechanics to help injuries and promote healthy foot and leg function mean our patients
feel great,
look great, and can get back to doing the
things they love faster than ever. Here’s what you should know about orthotics:
Orthotics are shoe inserts that are intended to
correct abnormal, or irregular walking patterns that have contributed to increased stress through the feet and legs, and ultimately injury. Orthotics are not merely “arch supports”. An orthotic is designed to guide the mechanics of the foot to a precise degree which help the muscles and tendons to perform more efficiently, making standing, walking, running and generally living more comfortable.
If you’re suffering from pain or injury, your orthotics are specifically designed to correct any biomechanical anomalies that are contributing to your injury and ongoing pain, and distribute weight away from the painful area.
When orthotics are expertly designed to meet the needs and function of your feet, they can compensate for impaired foot function, controlling the position and motion of your feet so you can walk and feel better. Orthotics can also prevent the occurrence of a new injury, recurrence of a previous injury and additional deformity of the feet.
To read more about how orthotics work and how we ensure you get the best orthotic for your feet,
click here.
We’re also
fully ACC accredited, holding contracts for both orthotic and other various podiatric services, including bracing. This means that if you’ve sustained an injury and require podiatric care as part of your recovery, the process is simple and efficient, so we can help you get back on your way to feeling your best as quickly as possible.
Before orthotics can be prescribed:
- A detailed history is taken and a diagnosis is made from your symptoms
- A full biomechanical examination is conducted
- Computer video gait analysis is performed and evaluated
- All regular footwear is examined
- A diagnosis is made based on our clinical findings
- We discuss your treatment options and make a treatment plan to get you back to 100{%
- Your goals and preferences are considered in your orthotic prescription
- Often the foot is cast so that the orthotics are made precisely from your foot impression
Foot orthotics broadly fall into two main types: fully customised long-term orthotics, and partially customised short-term orthotics.
What Can Orthotics Help With?
Orthotics can be a great adjunct to helping treat a variety of conditions and ailments, including helping to:
- Facilitate healing of damaged muscles and tissues – g. plantar fasciitis
- Relieve pressure from painful areas of the feet – g. corns, callous, ulcers
- Improve walking and running techniques
- Stabilise and support the feet and body
- Support foot and leg abnormalities – g. limb length difference
- Reduce pain from systemic conditions – g. arthritis
- And so many more!
The Wearing-In Period
Once prescribed, orthotics have a short wearing-in period that lasts approximately
two weeks. This is to ensure that your feet, muscles and tissues adjust well to the new position that the orthotics are holding them in. For this simple process, we recommend that you:
Start by wearing your orthotics for only one hour for the first day you wear them, switching back to your regular inner soles after the hour is up- Adding another hour to your wear time every day that you wear your orthotics
- After wearing your orthotics comfortably for 8+ overs, you can continue to keep your orthotics permanently inside your shoes
- Do not participate in sports or strenuous physical activities until you can spend an entire day in your orthotics comfortably
- If any problems arise, bring your orthotics to us so we can make an adjustment on-site
Orthotic Adjustments
Orthotic adjustments may be necessary from time to time to ensure maximum comfort and effectiveness from your orthotics. We are able to make these adjustments simply and easily onsite. If any issues arise, please make an appointment with your podiatrist for an adjustment and bring both your orthotics and the shoes that you are regularly wearing your orthotics in.
