Orthotics

Poor biomechanics of your feet such as fallen arches for example can lead to problems with your knees, hips, back and even neck. A chartered physiotherapist who specialises in this area will be able to identify through assessment if your presenting issue could be due to poor foot biomechanics and therefore address whether you may need an corrective insert for your shoe such as an orthotic.

What is orthotics?

Orthotics shoe inserts made from semi-rigid or soft material are used to correct the biomechanical alignment of your foot and ankle joint. They are primarily used for people who have over-pronated (flat arch) or supinated (high arch) foot types. By doing so they can help improve the alignment of your knees, hips and spine. They are designed to be worn in your foot wear. They help control the movement of the foot and this can help relieve stress and pain on the joints of the foot and lower limbs.

If you are experiencing any foot, knee, hip or back pain you could ask your physiotherapist to assess to see whether orthotics would help with your problem.

Do I need to wear them in all of my shoes?

No, usually we would assess you for orthotics to be worn in your walking shoes and runners. If you wear high heels we can have a second pair made specifically for them but in general we would usually prescribe them for your runners and daytime walking shoes where the heel pitch is no higher than 2 inches.

How long does it take to break them in?

It takes about 6-8 weeks to fully break them in.

The advice which your physiotherapist will give you is as follow:

First day: wear for one hour and then add an hour on every day until you feel comfortable wearing them for a full day.

Advice for jogging/running: you must feel comfortable wearing them for a full day walking before you commence jogging or running. We would advise a 10 minute jog and then if you have no problems you can increase the time by 5-10 minutes each day.

If you experience discomfort or blistering after 6-8 weeks, that is not a problem, we will have them altered to suit your needs. This may happen especially if you require a lot of correction.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to call reception on 01-4913228

Cost of orthotics:

Casted orthotics: €250-€275(Excl. casting session)

Carbon flex: €200 (Excl. assessment)

If you require additional add-ons; for instance heel raises or met domes an additional cost of €8 per addition is charged. This is not applicable for prescription insoles.