Podiatry
Orthotic Therapy
Custom-moulded orthotics are prescription foot supports which precisely align your feet and legs to resolve pain arising from biomechanical misalignment. Custom orthotics are only prescribed following a thorough examination which may include muscle and joint tests, x-rays and gait analysis.
Conditions treated via custom orthotics include:
- Heel spur syndrome
- Flat feet or high arches
- Knee pain
- Patella maltracking
- Shin splints
- Growth pains
- Ankle instability
- Arch pain
- Forefoot pain - under ball of the foot
- Lower back pain
- Leg length discrepancy
- Illiotibial Band Syndrome
- 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 - treatment of growth pains, to help correct abnormal 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, leg and back injury.
If you already have a foot injury, poor foot posture can make it more difficult for your injury to heal. Each step will continue to re-injure and overload the injured site, thus slowing or preventing recovery. Orthotics are very helpful in correcting your foot position, reducing the load on injured areas, and speeding up the recovery process.
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?
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'.
A multi-faceted treatment program may be necessary for efficient resolution of some injuries.
The best orthotic devices we currently have available with advances modern technology are flexible computer aided designed orthotics.
- The computer aided designed orthotics allow precise alignment, by using digital angulation and precise manufacturing.
- 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 some dressy shoes.
- The new computerised materials are flexible, 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' with your foot when walking and running to preserve the foot' s natural cushioning mechanisms whilst also correcting any abnormal biomechanics.