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Which Orthotics Are Right for You? |
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Orthotics
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 How foot orthotics help end foot pain, balance problems and more
By MedRehab Richmond Hill Physiotherapy & Foot Clinic
Much like trees have roots, your feet are the foundation for the normal balance and alignment of your body. Structural problems in the feet (even the tiniest misalignment of bone and muscle) can alter the way that you walk and cause many different problems. These include foot pain, bunions, hammer toes, pain in the arch of the foot and heel pain – all of which may be effectively treated with custom orthotics fitted for you by a reliable Greater Toronto area clinic.
Less well-known symptoms that can also be treated with orthotics may also include leg pain, knee pain, problems with the hip, back pain and even neck pain. After all, your feet support your entire weight, so faulty foot mechanics can alter the even distribution of your body weight, whilst standing, walking or running, and create an increased load on joints and muscles elsewhere in the body.
Foot orthotics help to correct any imbalance by exerting gentle, consistent pressure to stabilize the bones of your feet and bring muscles and bones back into proper alignment. Prescription Orthotics look like insoles, but are bio mechanical medical appliances custom made to correct your specific foot imbalance. Orthotics work on your feet much like glasses work on your eyes, reducing stress and strain by bringing your feet back into proper alignment. Orthotics fit into your shoes as comfortably as an insole – and they have the advantage of having been made from precise imprints of your feet.
Orthotics may be recommended for several reasons, including:
- aligning and supporting the foot or ankle
- preventing, correcting or accommodating foot deformities
- improving the overall function of the foot or ankle
Diagnosis Chart
Here’s a handy chart to give you an idea of which orthotics may be right for you, based on your condition. Be sure to get a biomechanical gait analysis by your physiotherapist before buying or using an orthotic device on your own.
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Diagnosis
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Orthotic Device
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Bunions and/or bunionettes
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Shoes with a wide toe box; soft, seamless uppers, stretchy shoes; "bunion shield" type pad
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Corns and calluses
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If located on or between the toes, a toe separator may be helpful.
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Cavus foot (rigid high arch)
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Soft orthotic cushions to distribute pressures evenly
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Hammer toe or claw toe
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Shoes with a wide or deep toe box to accommodate the deformity; toe crest
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Forefoot pain (metatarsalgia)
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Wide shoes, pads or bars under the bones of the forefoot (metatarsals)
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Limb length deformity
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Custom-made full-contact orthosis
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Neuropathic ulceration (such as with diabetes)
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Full-contact cushioned orthosis (orthotic), extra-deep or custom shoes, rocker bottom sole to reduce pressure on foot
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Plantar fasciitis (heel pain or heel spur)
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Prefabricated heel insert made of silicone, rubber or felt
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Runner's painful knee
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Full-length, soft, prefabricated sport orthotic inlay to reduce stress and turning inward of the foot (pronation; flatfoot)
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Click here, for more information on Orthotics fittings in the Greater Toronto area, visit
Or click here to book an appointment at a MedRehab clinic closest to you at
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