Orthotics What about orthotics? Many patients come to see us about orthotics. They are prescription arch supports which precisely straighten your feet and legs - similar to a car having a wheel alignment done. On the left is one of our patients in her normal standing position. She has foot and leg problems because she tends to roll her feet inwards (over-pronate) when she stands.     On the right is the same patient standing on her prescription orthotics. You can see how the orthotics precisely straighten her feet to bear weight most efficiently (like having her car's wheels aligned). This helps to eliminate foot, knee, hip and lower back pain. Other patients have high arches, and tend to roll their feet outwards (over-supinate) when they stand. Prescription orthotics will also straighten their over-supinated feet. Orthotics also help such high-arched feet by bearing weight directly under the arch, thus evenly spreading the shock absorption. Again foot, leg and back pain is usually reduced. What can orthotics treat? Conditions we treat with great success include:  heel spur syndrome  flat feet or high arches  shin splints (both compartment syndrome and tenoperiostitis)  growth pains (heel pain - Sever's disorder or knee pain - Osgood-Schlatter's disorder)  ankle instability (recurrent sprains)  arch pain (plantar fasciitis / midfoot arthritis)  forefoot pain - under ball of the foot (sesamoid injury / neuroma pain / arthritis)  post-surgical pain We prescribe orthotics for many reasons, including:  treatment of foot and/or leg pain & prevention of future injury  prevention of abnormal wear and tear of muscles & ligaments, and of ankle, knee & hip joints  prevention of abnormal shoe wear  increased ease of shoe fit for abnormal foot shapes  for children - to prevent growth pains, and in some cases, to help permanently correct foot posture If your feet are incorrectly positioned, each step you take places uneven loading on different parts of your foot. If you are standing a great deal, or very active on your feet, this poor foot posture can leave you more prone to foot and leg injury - similar to a car with poor wheel alignment. If you already have an injury, poor foot posture can make it more difficult for your injury to heal. Each step through the day may continue to overload the injured site, thus slowing or preventing recovery. Orthotics are very helpful to correct your foot position, reducing the load on injured areas, and speeding recovery. They will also allow you to do much more on your feet without noticing the muscle and joint discomfort that poor foot posture causes. This means that you can stand more comfortably at work or home - even for longer periods of time than previously. Or, you can play sport and be more comfortable, and less prone to injury. Will orthotics fix everything? Often - yes.  Simply using orthotics on their own can produce excellent reduction in foot pain and injury. A large percentage of our patients require no further treatment beyond wearing their orthotics regularly. However, orthotics are not a 'miracle cure-all'. They often need to be used as one part of a treatment program. Other things we can advise you on may include: ice/heat, anti-inflammatory gel or medication, shoe alterations, physiotherapy treatment, stretches, muscle strengthening exercises, cortisone injections, or even surgery. As you can see, a multi-faceted treatment program may be necessary. A small percentage of patients do not have their problems resolved by using orthotics.  This generally means that further areas of treatment need to be used, using other specialists (eg. physiotherapists or sports physicians) or having more complex medical tests (eg. bone scans, CT scans, muscle compartment testing). Sometimes this can involve referral to other specialists (eg. a physiotherapist or sports physician) or arranging more complex medical tests (eg. bone scans, muscle compartment testing). The problems with old-fashioned orthotics Many have found the older, bulkier orthotics difficult to fit into shoes.  We know that this can be a hassle, so we like to be able to provide the slimmest kind of orthotics available. The best type we currently have available with modern technology are flexible computerised orthotics. These can straighten even the flattest arches we see, by using digital angulation.  They will not flatten more quickly than hard orthotics. They are not as bulky and heavy as they used to be with the old rigid type of orthotics They can now be made very slim-line and fit into normal shoes - even sandals and dressy shoes. The new computerised materials are cushioned, yet supportive. They are more flexible than the older rigid orthotics, making them more comfortable for you to wear.  This flexibility allows them to 'bend' slightly into the shape of your shoes, which reduces the need for us to adjust them. Briefly, how are they prescribed?  a biomechanical assessment - 45 minutes - at Foot Fitness clinic  a plaster cast impression - 30 minutes - at Foot Fitness clinic  orthotics are made within 5 working days (can be speed ordered - see later)  a fitting appointment - 30 minutes - at Foot Fitness clinic  you wear in the orthotics gradually over the next week or so, and usually can begin to use in sport over the next few weeks  a follow-up appointment at one month after the fitting  a check-up appointment every six months thereafter Guarantee Provided you see us for follow-up and regular maintenance, we guarantee the following with regard to orthotics.  They will... straighten your feet precisely. be free of defect. be comfortable to wear. Top