Orthotics
Custom-Made Insoles
Made from a cast of your own feet, for diabetic feet, arch and heel pain, and runners.
About custom-made insoles
A custom-made insole, also called a foot orthotic, is a support made for your own foot that sits inside your shoe. It changes the way your foot meets the ground and moves, to relieve pain in the foot and further up the body.
Insoles and bracing are what we do most. We check your feet with an RS footscan, take an impression of each foot, and make your orthotics by hand from start to finish.
The sections below explain how we assess your feet, what foot orthotics treat, and how they help a diabetic foot.
Not sure which you need? Phone us on 011 782 7809 to book an assessment, and we’ll work it out with you. Read what happens at your first visit.
How we assess your feet
You walk across our RS footscan, a plate that measures how each foot meets the ground and rolls through every step. It shows where your foot tilts, collapses or takes too much pressure.
We then take an impression of your feet and make your orthotics by hand from it. When they are ready, we see you again for the final fitting.
To book an assessment, phone us on 011 782 7809.
What foot orthotics treat
Many foot problems start with the way the foot sits and moves. The two most common are:
- Flat feet or low arches, where the ankle rolls inwards (over-pronation)
- High arches, where the ankle rolls outwards (over-supination)
Either one can cause:
- Foot pain and discomfort
- Ankle pain
- Knee pain
- Hip and lower back pain
We also make orthotics for:
- Metatarsalgia, pain in the ball of the foot
- Plantar fasciitis, pain under the heel from the band of tissue along the sole
- Morton’s neuroma, a thickened nerve between the toes
- Arthritic pain in the ankle and foot joints
- Pain from rheumatoid arthritis in the feet
- A difference in the length of the legs
Diabetic feet
A diabetic foot can lose feeling, so pressure that would hurt anyone else goes unnoticed until it causes an ulcer (an open sore). Orthotics spread that pressure and protect the foot.
We also make orthotics for a Charcot foot, where the bones of the foot have weakened and the foot has collapsed, both before and after ulcers have formed under it.
What are foot orthotics?
Foot orthotics, or foot supports, are inserts made to sit in your shoe and bring your foot back to its natural position. The kind you need depends on the shape of your foot, how it moves out of position, and the shoes you wear. The right orthotic lets the foot work as it should, which eases foot pain and stops harmful changes in your other joints, muscles and ligaments.
An orthotic is not the same as a shop-bought insole. A shop-bought insole cushions the foot and absorbs shock. It may feel comfortable at first, but it does nothing about the way your foot moves, which is often the cause of the pain. An orthotic is made to change how your foot works.
Many foot problems, from general aches to heel pain, bunions, calluses and hammer toes, come from arches that have collapsed or fallen. Orthotics help bring the joints of the foot back into line, which eases them. They are sometimes used instead of an operation, or after one, to keep the foot, ankle, knee and hip in line.
The most common orthotic is a firm support for everyday shoes. There are also orthotics for high-heeled shoes, and softer, more flexible ones that take the pressure off sore spots, such as a heel spur, to relieve the pain.
