Orthotic therapy
Foot orthotic therapy has been used to treat mechanically related foot and lower limb disorders for over two centuries.
A foot orthotic is best defined as an in-shoe device that is designed in such a way to alter the forces and loads acting on the structural components of the foot and lower limb to help improve foot and lower extremity function and reduce pain during weightbearing activities (Kirby, 2002).
The goal of foot orthotic therapy is to reduce stress on the injured structures within the foot and lower limb in order to facilitate healing, prevent new injuries from occurring and to improve function during weightbearing activities.
There are two main types of foot orthoses. Prefabricated devices are over-the-counter arch supports which the lay public often refers to as “orthotics”. These are quite different from prescription foot orthoses which are typically prescribed by a Podiatrist. Over-the-counter arch supports are basically a “one size fits all” device, which attempts to support the arch of the foot and have not been customised for your specific mechanical needs. Prescription foot orthoses also referred to as custom foot orthoses are based on a 3-Dimensional representation of the foot and are designed with the intention to reduce or eliminate abnormal forces that are causing your problem and improve function.
How We Design a Custom Foot Orthoses
We design and manufacture our custom orthoses in-house. Turnaround time is approximately one week from the time we perform your biomechanical analysis and capture a 3D foot scan, however, we can make them next-day if it's urgent.
Design and Manufacture Process
- Complete biomechanical assessment
- Capture non-weightbearing 3D colour foot scan
- Create 3D orthotic model using Computer Aided Design
- Orthotic model is machined and hand finished
- Orthotic fitting
Typical orthotic therapy timeline:
First Visit
- History and assessment
- Diagnoses
- Treatment plan
- Education
Second Visit
- Review treatment plan
- Biomechanical Analysis
- 3D Foot Scan
Third Visit
- Orthotic fitting
- We may perform minor adjustments during this appointment to ensure maximum comfort and proper function.
Fourth Visit (2 weeks post fitting)
- Orthotic review
6-12 Monthly
- Reassess orthotic prescription
- Carry out adjustments if necessary
Does everyone need orthotic therapy?
We only recommend orthotic therapy if there is sufficient evidence to justify their use. Orthotic therapy is not always necessary in every instance of foot and lower limb pain. We can openly discuss if orthotic therapy is likely to help, suggest alternative treatment options or refer you to another suitably qualified evidence-based health professional.
References
- Kirby KA: Foot and Lower Extremity Biomechanics II: Precision Intricast Newsletters, 1997-2002. Precision Intricast, Inc., Payson, AZ, 2002, p. 8.
Daniel Bagnall
Founder & Senior Podiatrist