Custom Orthotics

Custom foot orthotics are prescription medical devices made from a mold of the foot. They are designed to optimize the complex alignment of the 52 bones of the foot and enable the 38 muscles and tendons to function as designed. The average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day and when running the pressure on the structures can become threefold.

The slightest misalignment of these structures can result in significant discomfort if not acute pain and it can impact on the whole body. Over time, repeated movements of the foot cause stress that can lead to a variety of musculoskeletal problems. There is a long list of conditions associated with poor biomechanics of the foot: most common is over-pronation and supination of the foot on walking, fallen arches, plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, Achilles tendon, shin splints, bunions, runner’s knee, ilio-tibial band syndrome and many sacro-iliac or spinal problems. If there is pain in the leg that increases with weight bearing, orthotics should be considered as they redistribute pressures from the bottom up.

You may think of orthotics as simply arch supports but they are much more than that. Custom orthotics help balance the foot to correct the abnormalities and enhance the body’s natural movements. Athletes use them to optimize performance and enhance comfort. They help prevent injury or deformity from occurring and can halt the progress of existing problems.

Orthotics look like insoles and fit comfortably into your shoes like insoles but they are not the same as over-the-counter insoles. Production of custom orthotics is an exacting process done by orthotisists who fabricate them in a laboratory from high density materials using the mold of the foot in consideration of the physiotherapist’s instructions. The orthotics can have different thickness depending on one’s needs and are designed in different lengths for dress, work or sports footwear.

Our staff physiotherapists assess and treat all the orthopedic conditions associated with poor biomechanics of the foot and can analyze your gait for irregularities. . They will create an individual comprehensive treatment plan which may recommend the use of orthotics along with therapeutic modalities and an exercise program emphasizing a balance of flexibility and strengthening. Discuss your personal problem with your physician and your physiotherapist alike.