Orthotic therapy

Orthotic therapy (custom made prescription orthoses)

What are orthotics?

Orthotics are custom made devices prescribed by a podiatrist to fit inside your shoes. They help comfortably stabilise the foot, support the arch and correctly align foot posture to assist with complaints such as foot pain, ankle injuries, flat feet and biomechanical problems affecting the entire body.

Whilst not everybody needs orthotics, for those who do, they are specifically designed for an individual to treat a specific problem. Following a detailed and comprehensive biomechanical assessment, a plaster cast is taken of your feet which is used to make the custom orthotic.

How do orthotics work?

Orthotics are scientifically proven to be beneficial for particular foot complaints in addition to other skeletal problems. Orthotics help by re-aligning your posture from the ground up.

When your foot posture is incorrect the entire body structure is incorrect. Biomechanical problems can increase stresses within the foot structures and the surrounding soft tissues, creating localised pain in the feet, ankles and also problems in the lower limbs, knees, hips and back.

Foot orthotics allow the muscles, tendons and bones of the feet and lower legs to function at their highest potential by correcting misalignment. When appropriately prescribed, these orthotics can decrease pain and increase stability in an unstable joint, along with preventing potential progression or development of a deformity.

Who might benefit from orthotics?

Orthotics may benefit you if:

• You have chronic heel, foot, shin, knee or lower back pain.
• You have flat-feet (over-pronated) or children with flat feet.
• One side of your shoe sole wears out faster than the other.
• You frequently sprain your ankle.
• Your toes are not straight.
• Your feet point inward or outward when you walk.
• Your feet hurt in general.
• You have painful corns or callous.

Contact Sydney Foot Clinic if you have any questions regarding orthotic therapy.