What Are Orthotics?

The branch of medicine that deals with the provision and use of artificial devices such as splints and braces.

Foot orthoses, rather referred to as orthotics are custom foot devices. They are designed to fit the shape of your foot with the adjustments one of our expert Bondi Junction or Sydney CBD Podiatrists deem required to improve your presenting condition. Customised foot orthoses or again “orthotics” are designed to fit your feet better than over-the-counter (OTC) arch supports, and balance the biomechanical inadequacies of your feet, knees, hips and lower back. Off the shelf devices have their place but where they fail is they address everyone with the “one size fit all” theory. Where this fails is when you have a very specific issue that needs to be addressed.

“Foot orthoses are specially designed shoe inserts that help support the feet and correct any imbalances.”

Common conditions that walk into our Sydney CBD and Bondi Junction Podiatry Clinics in search for orthotics include:

  • Heel Pain
  • Heel Spurs
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Bunions AKA Hallux Abducto Valgus
  • Achilles Tendinopathy
  • Recurrent Ankle Sprains
  • Shin Splints AKA Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome
  • Recurrent Stress Fractures
  • Limb Length Discrepancies
  • Knee Pain
  • Chondromalacia patellae
  • Runners Knee AKA Illiotibial Band Friction Syndrome
  • Hip Pain
  • Sacroiliitis
  • Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
  • Lower Back Pain
  • Arthritis
  • Corns & Callus
  • Ulcers
  • Scoliosis

Our Podiatrists in Bondi Junction and Sydney CBD utilise the most up-to-date laser technology to take 3D images of your feet to add your prescription to for correction.

There is a multitude of varying materials our Musculoskeletal Podiatrists use to design your orthotics depending on what is most appropriate for your condition and your activities. Thermoplastic, which is a commonly used material has shown to hold its structural integrity for up to 15 years! However, orthotics do need to be updated as they are outgrown or no longer giving the most appropriate correction.

Your orthotics may need updating (adjusting or replacing) if:

  • You go up around one and a half shoe sizes
  • Have rapidly changing feet; in cases such as bunions and arthritis
  • Have undergone surgery or trauma to the feet
  • Start to develop pain
  • Develop excessive corns, callus or suffer ulceration

However, this is something one of our Bondi Junction or Sydney CBD Musculoskeletal Podiatrists will monitor and advise if required during your scheduled orthotic reviews.

Debunking the myth.

Orthotics are for people with “Flat Feet”… Wrong.

Although “Flat Feet” are a common cause for people to seek orthotic intervention, flat feet themselves are not an issue requiring treatment.

The issues that flat feet can cause is what requires intervention, not the flat feet themselves. Your feet are meant to “flatten”, well somewhat anyway. It is called “pronation”, you pronate to absorb shock and adapt to terrain. Without this ability the body would suffer all kinds of pressure and shock induced pathologies.

High arches or “Pes Cavus” foot types can often be a cause of pathology also and require orthotics to help reduce inflammatory injuries, shock induced pathologies, corns, callus and ulcers. High arches can result in injury as the foot is often a lot more rigid and does not distribute pressure well.

Other people that benefit from the varying types of customised orthotics are those suffering ailments such as arthritis and diabetes. The aim of orthotics in this area may be to improve alignment and function of the foot and/or to redistribute pressure away from high pressure and painful areas.

If you think you would benefit from customised foot orthoses CLICK HERE to book an assessment with one of our Podiatrists at Bondi Junctoin or Sydney CBD clinics to determine whether orthotics are the right fit for you.

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