What are Orthotics used for:

• Alleviating foot and ankle pain whilst walking and/or running/playing sports.
• Providing cushioning and helping with shock absorption of a foot
• Aligning and supporting the foot or ankle
• Preventing, correcting or accommodating foot deformities
• Improving the overall mechanical function of the foot or ankle
• Correcting abnormal gait (walking) patterns
• Reducing symptoms of lower back, hip, or knee pain

There are a number of different types of orthoptics, our expert Podiatrists offer individually prescribed orthotics based on the following factors:

1. Your injury or underlying foot problem: Depending on your specific injury or site of pain the podiatrist will design an orthotic to treat your symptoms and correct any underlying biomechanical issues.
2. Your footwear: Any specialist device must fit into the shoes of the patient. It doesn’t help anyone if the orthotics are so large they don’t fit into the desired footwear.
3. Your sport or activity: This needs to be considered to ensure that the orthotic is fit for purpose and provides you with the support you need when doing your chosen activity or sport.
4. Your Comfort: All things considered the orthotic must also be comfortable and wearable – otherwise they will just be discarded. This is commonly overlooked but at Complete Physio our Podiatrists pride themselves on their ability to modify devices to ensure complete patient satisfaction.

Orthotics are prescribed only after your Podiatrist has performed a thorough assessment of your symptoms and condition and has given you an accurate diagnosis of any movement abnormalities or underlying pathology.

How can orthotics help you?

If you are experiencing any of the following problems, you should book an appointment with one of our podiatrists to see whether orthotics might be a simple solution for your symptoms/injury.

• High arches or flat feet
• The soles of your shoes wear away unevenly
• You suffer from ongoing pain in any part of your feet, lower limbs or back
• If you frequently go over on your ankle
• Different leg lengths
• Your feet hurt with short periods of standing or walking
• You have crooked toes or bunions
• You have recurring blisters, corns or calluses

We have a range of orthotics that are available to our patients, and our Podiatrists will help find the most appropriate orthotic given your condition, footwear and price. For your peace of mind, this includes any adjustments you may require within the first month.

Types of Orthotics

Custom Made Orthotics

1. Cast – If a custom orthotic is part of your treatment plan then a mould of foot will be taken to design the insole.
2. Prescription – Your Podiatrist will then write your prescription for the orthotic design where they will consider your; biomechanics, injury, footwear and activities. The manufacturing process can take up to four weeks from casting to fitting.
3. Fitting – Once your orthotic device has been manufactured we will arrange a fitting appointment. Our Podiatrists will discuss a breaking in protocol and arrange a follow up after two months.

Same Day Orthotics

Sometimes our Podiatrist’s at Complete Physio may deem it necessary for you to be issued with orthotics more quickly. So they may suggest a semi-bespoke orthotic that is fitted to you at the time of your appointment and modified appropriately such that you leave with an immediate offloading device.

Reorder Foot Orthotics

If you have previously purchased a pair of prescribed foot orthotics and you would like an additional please get in touch and we can arrange this for you.
This new pair can be tweaked to match any desired changes; they can easily be made thicker or thinner, with more or less cushioning, in different colours and for different footwear.

Private Medical Insurance

We are registered with most major private medical insurance companies including; Vitality, WPA, Cigna, AVIVA. However our fees require an upfront payment and claim back method with your insurer.

Our Podiatry team are registered with the Health Care Professional Council and Members of the Royal College of Podiatry, meaning they are required to maintain professional standards and continued professional development.