The purpose of orthotics is to support, align, and accommodate foot abnormalities to improve the overall function of the lower limb.
Your feet are usually the first contact you have with the ground. As such, they bear the weight of your entire body. When there is poor alignment in your feet, joints such as your knees, hips, pelvis and low back can be affected.
Despite what you may have been told in the past, not everyone needs or will benefit from orthotics. It is important to be assessed by your physiotherapist or healthcare provider to determine whether the feet are indeed the root cause of the problem. When the feet are determined to be the driving force behind the symptoms, then custom orthotics may be recommended.
Here are some examples of conditions that custom orthotics can be used for:
Custom orthotics are inserts made from a 3-D impression of your foot. They are made just for you to help re-align your feet, allowing for proper load transfer. This helps ease the stress on other joints and tissues such as your knees, hips and low back.
Orthotics can also help redistribute pressure in the foot, reducing unwanted forces on
joints, muscles and ligaments.
The purpose of orthotics is to support, align, and accommodate foot abnormalities to improve the overall function of the lower limb. The goal is to help keep you moving and doing the things you love to do in a comfortable, pain-free way!
Yes! Orthotics can provide pain relief and help prevent injuries and unwanted stress when appropriately indicated and used correctly. A physiotherapist can help determine if orthotics can work for you!
In most cases, pain or unusually “tired” feet are good indicators that there may be a biomechanics problem with your feet. Your physiotherapist can perform a thorough history and examination to determine if orthotics are right for you.
Orthotics can take some getting used to, therefore it is usually recommended to gradually break them in over a two week period. Typically, by 2 to 4 weeks, you will feel comfortable in your orthotics and may start noticing some improvements.
Everyone progresses at different rates, some people may feel relief immediately, while others may need more time to adjust and heal.
Yes! For full length inserts, you will need to remove your shoes existing insoles to achieve an optimal fit. Most shoes come with a removable insole.
For the first few weeks, it is important to follow a gradual “break-in” period to allow your body to adjust to the orthotics. In the first few days, you may only wear your orthotics a few times a day for half an hour at a time. For the following days, add an extra half hour to each time you wear them so that by the end of the week you are wearing them for most of the day. If you find your feet are extremely sore or painful, decrease the amount of time you wear them or take longer breaks in between use. In the first week or two it is usually recommended to avoid wearing them during strenuous activities until your feet are completely comfortable in them to avoid discomfort and pain.
Because custom orthotics are altering the biomechanical function of the foot, changing the way you walk, stand and absorb shock, you may experience pain in new places like your knee or hip as you adjust. It is very important to break-in your orthotics slowly and gradually. If you are experiencing pain in other areas
make sure to let your physiotherapist know so that they are able to assess and provide appropriate therapeutic intervention.
It all depends! If you completely stop wearing your orthotics and the condition in which your orthotics were prescribed for has not resolved, chances are you will end up with the same symptoms you started with. However, if you find your condition has improved and you no longer have symptoms it may not be
necessary to continue to wear your orthotics.
Typically orthotics are recommended in conjunction with rehabilitative exercises to address the primary issue. For example, if you are suffering from plantar fasciitis, then your physiotherapist will likely prescribe some specific strengthening and stretching exercises along with the orthotics. In this case, once the plantar fasciitis has resolved, your physiotherapist may recommend you start weaning off your orthotics. Every person and every activity is different and each will require different levels of support. It is always best to talk with your physiotherapist before you completely stop using your orthotics.
The best orthotics are custom orthotics because they are designed specifically for your foot. Over the counter, generic orthotics may provide some initial relief, however, because they are not made for you, they can end up exacerbating or worsening your medical condition.
For $400 (tax-free) you will receive a physiotherapy examination, one pair of custom orthotics and a follow-up orthotic fitting visit. Your orthotics come with a standard 3 month guarantee and 6 month warranty against product defects. Most Extended Health Care benefits cover orthotics prescribed by a physiotherapist with the exception of Sunlife Canada insurance at this time.
