Custom Orthotics
Tailored for Comfort, Support, and Pain Relief
At Ace Feet, we understand the importance of maintaining healthy, pain-free feet. Our custom orthotics service is designed to provide you with the highest level of comfort and support, tailored specifically to your unique foot structure and needs. Our expert podiatrists utilize state-of-the-art technology and extensive experience to create orthotic devices that improve your foot function and enhance your overall quality of life.
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Custom orthotics can treat a variety of foot and lower limb conditions, including:
Plantar Fasciitis: Provides support to the arch and heel, reducing pain and inflammation in the plantar fascia.
Flat Feet (Pes Planus): Helps to support the arch and improve foot alignment, reducing strain and discomfort.
High Arches (Pes Cavus): Offers cushioning and distributes pressure more evenly across the foot to alleviate pain.
Heel Spurs: Reduces pressure on the heel, helping to alleviate pain caused by bony growths.
Bunions: Helps to redistribute pressure away from the bunion, reducing pain and preventing further deformity.
Metatarsalgia: Provides cushioning and support to the metatarsal heads, reducing pain in the ball of the foot.
Achilles Tendinitis: Supports the heel and arch, reducing strain on the Achilles tendon.
Shin Splints: Helps to improve foot alignment and reduce stress on the shinbone and surrounding muscles.
Knee, Hip, and Lower Back Pain: Improves overall body alignment by providing proper support to the feet, reducing strain on the knees, hips, and lower back.
Diabetic Foot Problems: Offers cushioning and pressure redistribution to prevent ulcers and other complications associated with diabetes.
Morton's Neuroma: Provides support and reduces pressure on the affected nerve, alleviating pain between the toes.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner’s Knee): Improves foot alignment and reduces stress on the knee joint.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS): Enhances foot alignment and reduces strain on the iliotibial band, alleviating knee and hip pain.
Arthritis: Offers cushioning and support to reduce pain and improve mobility in arthritic joints.
Leg Length Discrepancy: Custom orthotics can include heel lifts or other modifications to correct leg length differences, improving overall body alignment.
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Custom orthotics are designed to support and improve the function of the feet, which can have a significant impact on the entire body's biomechanics. From a physiological perspective, custom orthotics achieve several key functions:
Alignment Correction
Foot Alignment: Custom orthotics help to align the foot in a neutral position, correcting issues such as overpronation (excessive inward rolling of the foot) or supination (excessive outward rolling of the foot).
Postural Improvement: By correcting foot alignment, orthotics can also improve overall posture and reduce strain on the ankles, knees, hips, and lower back.
Shock Absorption
Cushioning: Orthotics provide cushioning to absorb the impact of walking, running, or standing, which reduces the stress on the joints and soft tissues of the lower extremities.
Pressure Distribution: They help in evenly distributing the body’s weight across the foot, reducing pressure points and preventing foot conditions such as calluses, corns, and ulcers.
Support and Stability
Arch Support: Custom orthotics offer targeted support for the arches of the feet, preventing conditions like plantar fasciitis and flat feet.
Enhanced Stability: They improve the stability of the feet, which can enhance balance and reduce the risk of falls, especially in individuals with certain medical conditions or the elderly.
Pain Relief
Reduced Strain: By providing proper support and alignment, orthotics reduce the strain on muscles, ligaments, and tendons, leading to pain relief in the feet, ankles, knees, hips, and lower back.
Inflammation Reduction: By addressing the root cause of various foot problems, orthotics can help in reducing inflammation and promote healing.
Functional Improvement
Enhanced Movement: Custom orthotics can improve the functional movement patterns of the feet, making activities such as walking, running, and standing more efficient and comfortable.
Performance Boost: For athletes, orthotics can enhance performance by optimizing foot mechanics, reducing the risk of injury, and improving overall efficiency and power transfer during activities.
By addressing these physiological aspects, custom orthotics play a crucial role in improving overall foot health and function, which can positively affect the entire body's biomechanics and well-being.
Your Custom Orthotic Appointment
What to expect:
The consultation takes about 45 minutes and includes a discussion on current and past pains and problems, an evaluation of your foot type, flexibility, and range of motion, and an assessment of the way you move your lower extremity joints while walking/running.
A 3D scan is taken of your feet so that a custom orthotic can be made from this image, just for you. You will return to the office 2-3 weeks later to have your orthotics fitting. About a month later, you will come into the office for a follow up visit, to make sure the orthotics fit well and are working for you.
Frequently Asked Orthotics Questions
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It is advisable to begin with a single pair of orthotics for your main pair of shoes. Once you are comfortable, you can order additional pairs for different types of footwear.
Your first pair of orthotics can be worn in several pairs of shoes. Some people prefer to have a second pair so that they don’t have to move the orthotic in and out of various pairs of shoes. We typically start with one pair and make sure that they work well for you. Once we know the device is doing what we expect, pain relief, comfort, improved gait, etc., it’s time to order more! You can order multiple pairs of the orthotics at a discount if ordered in the same year as your scan.
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Orthotics are generally made for either dress shoes or all other shoes. A dress shoe is smaller and fits snug on the foot; therefore, orthotics for dress shoes need to be made in a much slimmer profile and are generally less corrective. We recommend that you bring a few pairs of the shoes you usually wear to your visit so that we can discuss what style of orthotic will be best for you.
Accommodative orthotics: Made from soft, compressible materials, these provide cushioning and support, ideal for patients with conditions like diabetes or arthritis that require pressure relief.
Diabetics orthotics: Specifically made to reduce pressure points and prevent foot ulcers, they are essential for individuals with diabetes to maintain foot health.
Dress Orthotics: Specially designed insoles or inserts that offer support and comfort while being discreet enough to fit into fashionable or dress shoes. Unlike traditional orthotics, which may be bulkier and primarily focused on function, fashion orthotics balance style and support.
Functional orthotics: Made from materials like plastic or carbon fiber, these are designed to control motion and support the foot. They are often used to treat foot pain, strain, and injuries.
Sports Orthotics: Designed for athletes, these orthotics provide support, improve performance, and prevent injuries specific to various sports.
Pediatric Orthotics: Customized for children, these help in addressing developmental foot issues and ensuring proper growth and alignment.
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Orthotics last anywhere from one to ten years, depending on the style of orthotics and your personal activity. Most people get several years out of their orthotics and update to a new pair every few years.
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Yes, children with flat feet who wear orthotics daily can influence the development of their foot posture and greatly reduce any strain, fatigue, and pain to the feet and lower legs. Children can have growth spurts and will need new orthotics every year or so. Kids’ orthotics are discounted 30% after their initial pair.