What are Custom-Made Orthotics and the benefit of wearing Foot Orthotics

Introduction

Custom-made foot orthotics treat various pedal pathologies and are designed using the 3D representation of an individual’s foot. It can alter the faulty biomechanics of the foot to allow the foot to realign with the supporting surface in order to improve lower limb function and relieve pain and discomfort in the foot. It is made with materials that provide shock attenuation and cushioning to the foot. Contact Kefi Wellness Centre today or book a free consultation with our chiropractors to learn more about how custom-made orthotics can help your foot conditions. Also, you can rest assured that the device is only recommended when medically indicated.

There are generally two types of orthotics:

• Functional orthotics: A custom-made foot device created to alter the faulty biomechanics of the foot, which might have contributed to the pain in the foot, ankle, knee, hip, and/or lower back. The functional orthosis utilizes more rigid thermoplastic shell materials, such as polypropylene, XT-sprint, and TL2100, to give the foot better control during the gait cycle and prevent faulty biomechanics from happening. Also, various cut-outs can be done to the shell materials based on the type of foot the patient has to facilitate a better foot alignment. Therefore a pair of functional orthotics are designed to treat the root cause rather than just the symptoms of the patient’s foot condition while it is still correctable.
• Accommodative orthotics: A custom-made foot device created to accommodate a patient’s foot conditions by adding cushioning to the protruding bony landmarks. The foot conditions are often deemed functionally uncorrectable, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Charcot foot, tarsal coalition, end-stage bunion deformity etc… Therefore, cushioning is explicitly designed for the locations of the patient’s foot bony protrusions, corns, calluses, and ulcerations, to decrease further foot destruction due to ground reaction force during the gait cycle and increase the comfort of the patient during walking.

What makes custom-made orthotics better than over-the-counter (OTC) insoles?

The custom-made orthotics are designed specifically according to your foot structure. It specializes in your foot only, whereas OTC insoles are designed based on an average foot and don’t fit all foot types. Even though custom-made orthotics cost more, they are covered by most private health insurance and have a significantly longer life span. Compared to custom-made orthotics, the OTC insoles don’t last long, and you might need to purchase multiple pairs quickly. It might eventually cost more than the custom-made counterpart. Aside from the fit and cost of the devices, the custom-made orthotics are designed specially to correct the patient’s lower limb conditions functionally and accurately. Instead, OTC insoles treat common moderate biomechanical abnormalities such as mild plantar fasciitis and mild flat foot. They often only provide short-term symptom relief but do not correct biomechanical abnormalities.

Conditions that require a pair of custom-made orthotics:

• Chronic Plantar Fasciitis
• Bunion deformity
• Heel pain
• Chronic ankle sprain
• Metataralgia
• Morton’s neuroma
• Knee, hip, lower back pain
• Anterior pelvic tilt
• Hallux limitus/rigidus
• Pes Planus(Flat foot) that is causing pain
• Pes Cavus(High arch) that is causing pain
• Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction(PTTD)
• Foot deformity that is causing corn and callus development
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Diabetic foot

Want to know whether custom-made orthotics are right for you?
Contact Kefi Wellness Centre today to book an appointment with one of our experienced chiropractors to thoroughly analyze your foot’s functional and structural alignment. Also, the chiropractors in our wellness centre will conduct a thorough biomechanical assessment and gait analysis to determine what biomechanical abnormality possibly has contributed to your condition and whether custom-made orthotics are a good fit for treating your condition.