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Sometimes patients we see at our Clinic need orthotics to assist in managing factors which are causing their particular condition. In these cases, orthotic insoles are prescribed as part of a treatment regime which will also involve an exercise program to do at home or at the gym.
People have often heard of orthotics and we often find patients are already using shoe inserts, or some kind of over-the-counter orthotic, to reduce pain in the feet or legs. These may or may not be working as they’d hoped and can lead to difficulty when undertaking certain activities because of pain or discomfort in the feet and lower limbs.
Coming to a Podiatrist for a specialist assessment and diagnosis can help patients to understand the exact workings of their feet and the best treatment options for their particular problem.
What are Orthotics?
Orthotics are flexible inserts or insoles for shoes. They are used to treat biomechanical issues of the foot and lower limb; and are designed to improve foot and lower limb function, by managing pressure and movements of the foot and within the foot. They also assist the feet in providing ideal weight distribution while someone is standing and walking.
A biomechanical issue – whether it be congenital or acquired – often causes poor muscle and joint function leading to abnormal movement patterns which then affects the way a person walks or runs. This often leads to pain in the foot, lower limbs or back pain which is when patients come to us for advice.
Orthotics, when prescribed and used correctly, are designed to change the load and functioning in a person’s feet. They do this by altering the workings of the structures in the foot as well as how the foot behaves when it touches the ground.
Orthotics can be used to treat:
An Orthotic device is sometimes recommended and prescribed if the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, or bones of the feet and lower limbs are not managing load efficiently. This usually causes pain, discomfort or fatigue during usual daily activities and stops patients from going about their normal daily lives. Orthotics support the natural shape of someone’s foot and help manage deformities in the feet, promote correct foot and ankle function, support the ankle, and reduce the risk of further injury and discomfort.
Orthotics can be used to treat a range of different issues:
Knee pain, hip or back pain
- Sometimes incorrect positioning of the feet, poor function or a lack of cushioning can cause pain in other areas of the body that orthotics can help to reduce.
Bone problems such as Arthritis and Bunions
- Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis can cause the structures in the feet to change shape or not work properly and this leads to discomfort. Orthotics may help to support the feet and reduce the associated pain.
- Bunions (painful lumps that develop at the base of the big toe and cause foot deformities) can be treated using a combination of orthotics and shoes with a wide toe box to reduce the pressure on the big toe.
Hammer toes
- Hammer toes cause toe pain and deformities on the ball of the foot. Orthotics can provide additional support to the feet which reduces the chances that the condition will become worse.
Heel spurs
- Heel spurs are where excess bone grows on the back or bottom of the heel. Orthotics can support the foot so that inflammation in that area is reduced and is therefore more comfortable.
Plantar fasciitis
- Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. Orthotics can support and offload the painful area of the foot (the plantar heel) along with stretching and strengthening exercises so that patients can enjoy normal activity.
Flat feet or high arches
- Flat feet can cause the foot to roll inward too much when a person walks (overpronation). This can cause foot, ankle, leg and back pain. Orthotics can help manage this movement of the foot and reduce stresses on the feet and lower limb
- Very high arches can cause increased stress on the muscles and bones in the feet. In this case, orthotics can help support and distribute weight through the arch of the person’s feet and may also reduce excessive outward rolling of the feet (supination)
How can orthotics benefit your feet?
Orthotics are not our standard “first solution”. When possible we try to identify and incorporate other options. However, when we assess that Orthotics are required, we provide ongoing strategies to help maximise the performance of a patient’s feet – while reducing the pain they may be experiencing. So for example, we may prescribe orthotics alongside other treatments such as more appropriate shoes and exercises.
Firstly we’ll ask patients questions about their symptoms, what footwear they’ve been using and which activities they undertake. We conduct a physical examination of the feet. Part of our assessment may also involve a walking and running video analysis. We watch a patient walk and note how the feet, ankles, legs, and hips move. Using a computer for this gait analysis allows us to make an assessment of how the feet perform during certain activities and look closely at the feet in slow motion so that we can determine the exact location and type of problems in the structure and function of the feet.
Orthotics provide support and cushioning in specific areas of the feet and can help promote correct load management within the feet. Because they are customised, they’ll be made specifically to support or offload the areas of a patient’s feet that need it.
Types of orthotics we offer
After completing a full biomechanical, walking and plantar pressure assessment, we decide what type of orthotics are most suitable for the patient’s specific condition and problem. There are two types of orthotics that we use in our clinics:
Prefabricated Orthoses
Pre-made orthotics are specially crafted by foot podiatrists. They provide support, but are not designed specifically for a person’s individual feet. Our prefabricated Orthoses are more supportive and comfortable than what is available in chemists and the insoles in shoes. They can be suitable for a range of minor foot conditions and we can identify the best one for a particular patients’ needs.
Custom Made Orthoses
These Orthoses are manufactured to specifically fit, contour and support a person’s unique foot. They will easily fit comfortably in a variety of shoes. We take a plaster cast or 3D scan of the foot to record an exact impression of the foot. The casts/scan along with our prescription are used to make an orthosis specifically for each individual foot.
Why Choose Your Foot Clinic?
We have three, easy to get to Clinics in Ferntree Gully, Blackburn South and Doncaster East. Our Podiatrists have over 40 years of experience in total, treating people’s feet.
- The equipment used to perform a through computer-aided assessment is on-site at our clinics so we can make a full assessment at the time of the appointment
- The cost of the assessment is included in our standard consulting fee
- Podiatrists in our Clinic are experts in specialist orthotic devices
- Once they are made and issued, they can be modified in our clinic if they are not quite right the first time