What are orthotics?
Foot orthotics, also known as insoles, are inserted into footwear and aim to correct your foot posture. This adjusts the position in which you stand and walk. While orthotics are often associated with flat feet, there are many other conditions that orthotics can be beneficial for.
What can orthotics help with?
It is important to note, orthotics are not used solely for foot problems. Your feet have a very close biomechanical relationship with other parts of your body. So orthotics may be used to treat other areas of your body, even if you don’t have any pain in your feet. Below are some conditions orthotics can help with…
- Foot/ankle issues (eg. plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, heel spurs, metatarsalgia, shin splints, ankle sprains)
- Knee issues (eg. patella tendinopathy, Osgood Schlatters, patella tracking issues)
- Hip issues (eg. gluteal tendinopathy, bursitis)
- Back issues (eg. chronic low back pain, postural back pain when standing)
While it may look like orthotics could be the answer to a lot of musculoskeletal issues, they are only effective if you have incorrect foot posture contributing to your problem. The easiest way to find this out is to get your injury and foot posture assessed.
Orthotics are also rarely used on their own for injuries. The latest research shows they do not replace treatments such as individualized exercises, manual therapy, and lifestyle changes. However, they can help provide optimal results when used in conjunction with these.
So who can assess my feet?
Our physiotherapists can! Traditionally, orthotics were prescribed by podiatrists, based on inspecting your feet while standing and walking. The issue is, foot issues are often extremely subtle and can be difficult to assess by eye. With improvements in technology, there are now more accurate ways to analyze feet, such as using the GaitScan system (picture below shows the results of Zeb's Gaitscan).
At Back in Motion Mentone, all our physiotherapists are extensively trained in analyzing foot posture using the GaitScan system. This comprises of a sensitive pressure plate and computer software. After you walk and stand on the plate, the software analyses your movement pattern and provides the results. From this, your physiotherapist can determine whether orthotics can benefit you and your injury, and which specific orthotic would be most helpful.
The best part is, your physiotherapist will complete the scan, discuss the results and provide their recommendation for free!
What are the types of orthotics?
At Back in Motion Mentone, we use two types of orthotics…
- Over the counter orthotics
These are pre-made orthotics. We have a range of over the counter orthotics and chose the most suitable one based on your GaitScan result. In some instances, your physiotherapist may make small adjustments to these so they better suit you.
- Custom orthotics
Depending on the results of your GaitScan, the severity of your injury and other factors, we may recommend custom orthotics. These are molded and constructed specifically for your foot issues based on your scan. They provide superior foot support and last longer than over the counter orthotics.
So what if I’m unsure if my foot posture is contributing to my injury?
Call us, or ask any of our friendly staff about our free GaitScan assessment. During your assessment, our physiotherapists will ask you questions and complete the scan. They will then sit down with you, show and discuss the results of your scan, and inform you whether orthotics could benefit you.
Author:
Zebulun Ariaratnam
Clinical Service Co-ordinator & Physiotherapist
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