Foot Orthotics
Foot orthotics (orthoses) are prescription made shoe inserts often used as part of a management plan by podiatrists to help with certain foot and leg problems.
At Complete Podiatry, we design your orthoses using the latest in 3-dimensional digital scanning technology and use state-of-the-art computer-assisted manufacturing processes to fix foot and leg pain fast.
Better results with better orthotics
Our Podiatrists are medically trained health professionals who are qualified to prescribe, design and fit custom made foot orthoses.
Foot orthotics work by changing the way that forces generated by your foot hitting the ground affects your feet, legs, and body. Despite what the Internet tells us, they don't hold your foot in a special position or "correct" the way you walk or move.
When they are designed and prescribed properly, orthoses can be a very effective part of a management plan designed by our Podiatrists to help:
- Heel pain
- Forefoot pain
- Bunion pain
- Toe pain
- Knee pain
- Arch pain
Just remember though, when we prescribe orthoses, they are a part of the management plan, not the whole plan. There is often still a lot of hands-on work and exercises that need to be done to give you the best results.
The best technology means better results
Making a great foot orthotic starts with obtaining a great model of the feet. There are a number of ways to do this.
In the past, we used to use plaster of pairs to capture the shape of our client's feet. This was good but once the model was taken, we would then have to send the models to a lab technician for them to make the orthoses. So in effect, someone who has never seen you move, walk or stand was making your orthoses!
Fortunately, with the new high-quality laser scanners we have invested in, we can now take a super accurate digital model of our client's feet and all the design work can be done by our Podiatrists in our clinics.
There are many other options for scanning the feet for orthoses like the light-based scanners (iPad scanners) however, at Complete Podiatry we know these scanners are not as accurate as:
- they don't capture any of the markings made on the feet you need to make high-quality prescription orthoses
- you cant hold the foot when taking the scan (these scanners need two hands to operate and they need to be held more than an arm's length away from the foot)
- they can not measure distance as laser scanners can
The laser foot scanners we use at Complete Podiatry are the best on the market to ensure we capture the most accurate model of your foot so we can design the best orthotic for your foot.
Hand finished for the best fit and comfort
At Complete Podiatry, we believe it's really important to have your Podiatrist fit your orthoses properly when you come in to collect them to make sure they are as comfortable as possible from your first steps. Our Podiatrists don't believe your orthoses should hurt to start with or that you should just "get used to the pain" when you wear them.
Firstly, if your orthotics hurt, you are much less likely to wear them and if you don't wear them, they are going to be of no benefit to you. And secondly, if your orthoses are hurting you, this could mean they are just damaging another part of your foot.
Orthoses work by changing how the ground forces generated by your foot hitting the ground cause stress in your feet and legs. They help by reducing the forces in damaged tissues (muscles, bones, ligaments and joints) and moving the force to the stronger, healthier tissues.
A perfectly fitted orthotic makes sure they are as comfortable as possible and that you get the best results fast. This is why our Podiatrists always hand-finished your orthotics in our clinics before you wear them out of the clinic.
If you would like more information about how we design and manufacture orthoses, contact us now.
Book an appointment to talk about orthotics now