Custom Orthotic Inserts

What Are Orthotic Inserts?

A functional orthotic inserts is a custom made arch support that rests inside a shoe. Orthotics are made to support a foot that is not functioning properly and to correct incorrect patterns of movement. Generally, orthotics will be made for one of two reasons.  Poor foot mechanics can lead to excessive wear and tear on joints and other structures, leading to long term damage. In these cases, orthotics will be made to prevent damage over time. In the second case, orthotics will be used to relieve existing pain or disability.

There are many, many different orthotic devices incorporating different combinations of materials. Walk Without Pain Podiatry Clinics can make orthotics to cover any requirement as, unlike some practices, we are not bound to a single manufacturer or orthotic making technology.  We have an in-house laboratory for meeting special needs and all Copythotic™ work is performed on-site.

How do I Know if I Need Orthotics Insoles?

People with excessive foot pronation of the feet (also known as fallen arches or flat feet) account for nearly all of the people who need custom orthotic inserts in order to function well. Only about 5 % of orthotics will be made for high arches and about half that number to offload pressure and help heal wounds.

We estimate that around 40% of the population have symptoms that would benefit from using arch supports. Given that only around 10% of the Australian population does, there are a lot of people out there suffering pain unnecessarily.

When your feet hurt, it is obvious that you might have a foot problem. A podiatrist is a logical place to go for help. What many people don’t realise is that poor foot function can cause widespread pain across your body. Think of your skeleton like a multi-storey building. We wouldn’t expect the window frames of the top floor to be straight if the foundations are crumbling and the whole structure is out of alignment.

Treatments including rest, massage and anti-inflammatory medication will probably help to relieve most types of pain until the movements that cause the pain to occur again.  Unfortunately, when that is just simply standing or walking, relief will be short-lived.

What Pain Can Orthotic Foot Inserts Relief?

Here are two diagrams showing the most common places to experience pain due to poor foot function.

• Diagram 1 shows the bottom surface of the foot.
• Diagram 2 shows a whole body from the back. The kneecaps are also indicated on this picture.

 

Timing of pain that occurs when you need orthotics.

The diagram above shows many points of potential pain. These can all come about from poor foot function. Each point is in a place where a body part is put under excessive load. Usually, this overloading occurs because the body is using a structure at the wrong angle, wrong time or in the wrong way. Overuse can cause an inflammatory response in the damaged areas and there are classic times when inflammatory conditions will be worst.

The first few minutes out of bed can be very painful. All soft tissue shrinks when cold and needs time to ‘warm up’ with movement.  This is just like an athlete would do to prevent injury before working hard. Often the intensity of the pain will lessen with movement after five to ten minutes of moving around gently. It will often escalate again if activity is prolonged. In 2/3 of cases, standing still for long periods is worse for the injury than walking.

If any of these patterns of pain sound familiar to you, it may be that a visit to the podiatrist in Brisbane is long overdue. Call us today to see if we can help you achieve immediate pain relief and long term correction.  Wouldn’t it be nice to  Walk Without Pain?

What Can Custom Orthotics Do For You?

Custom orthotics are often prescribed for many different reasons. It could be that you have a foot deformity, and an orthotic foot insert will help to correct it. Or it could be to give you extra support or prevent further problems or injuries from occurring.

At Walk Without Pain, the first thing we do is make a diagnosis so that we can be sure that we are giving you the correct and best treatment. If necessary, this could involve an X-ray or ultrasound, and we have ultrasound equipment ready to use at each of our practices. This immediately gives us the information we need for your diagnosis.

There are many different orthotic insoles on the market, but at Walk Without Pain, we can make sure that we get you the best one. We can do this because we have an in-house orthotics laboratory, and this allows us to make any changes or repairs if they are needed.

Simple devices can also be made here. Should your orthotic foot inserts need to be made at a larger laboratory, we can make any modifications for you here at our practice, giving you a precise and comfortable fit.

Orthotics can be used to treat a multitude of problems, such as arthritis, back pain, injuries and plantar fasciitis, to name just a few.

Custom Orthotics Types & Costs

Everyone’s feet are different, and as orthotics can be used to treat such a wide variety of conditions, there are different types of custom made orthotic inserts to suit all patients. At Walk Without Pain, we can provide you with:

• Customised orthotics, which means that your orthotics are designed completely for you so that they meet your needs. These can either be made out of hard orthotic materials or softer materials. The type we make for you will be decided based on your issues, and we will always discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each with you.
• Prefabricated orthotics: while these are not suitable for all patients, they do offer a cheaper orthotics alternative to customised orthotic devices and work for several problems.
• Padded insoles: these can give you extra comfort in your day-to-day living.

At Walk Without Pain, we understand that many people require cheap orthotics but don’t want to compromise on efficiency and quality. If this is the case, you may want to try our Copythotics, which are a slimmer type of orthotics developed by our podiatrist Stephanie Cosgrove. These work out to be much cheaper than custom orthotics cost. To find out if this solution might be suitable for you, please arrange an appointment with one of our podiatrists.

Orthotic Inserts in Brisbane

If You Think You Might Need Orthotics, Get in Touch with Walk Wihout Pain Today!

For more information about orthotic insoles, please get in touch with our friendly staff in one of our 4 Brisbane Clinics, or alternatively book your appointment online.