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Custom orthotics do more than cushion your feet. They correct biomechanical imbalances that can cause pain from your ankles all the way up to your lower back.
What They Are
Custom orthotics are prescription medical devices designed to correct abnormal foot mechanics. Unlike over-the-counter insoles that simply add cushioning, custom orthotics are fabricated from a precise mould or 3D scan of your feet and engineered to address your specific biomechanical issues — overpronation, supination, arch collapse, or leg length discrepancy.
Think of your feet as the foundation of a building. When the foundation is misaligned, problems cascade upward — ankle instability, knee tracking issues, hip imbalances, and lower back pain. Custom orthotics realign the foundation, which can resolve or prevent problems throughout the entire kinetic chain. This is why foot specialists, chiropractors, and sports medicine physicians frequently prescribe orthotics for conditions that seem unrelated to the feet.
Who Benefits
Plantar fasciitis is the most common reason patients seek orthotics — and the evidence strongly supports their use. A meta-analysis in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that custom foot orthoses significantly reduce pain in plantar heel pain compared to sham orthoses. But the benefits extend far beyond heel pain.
Orthotics are also effective for Achilles tendinopathy, shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome), patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner’s knee), iliotibial band syndrome, metatarsalgia, bunions, flat feet, and lower back pain associated with biomechanical asymmetry. Athletes, people who stand for long periods at work, and those recovering from lower limb injuries are among the most common beneficiaries.
The Fitting Process
At Move to Motion, the orthotic fitting process begins with a comprehensive biomechanical assessment. Your chiropractor evaluates your foot structure, arch type, and ankle alignment, then observes your gait — how you walk and run. Pressure mapping or a 3D scan captures the precise contours of your feet under load.
This data is sent to a lab where your orthotics are custom-fabricated from materials selected for your activity level and footwear type. The process typically takes 2–3 weeks. When your orthotics arrive, we fit them to your shoes, make any necessary adjustments, and provide a gradual break-in protocol — typically wearing them for 1–2 hours the first day and increasing by an hour daily until full-time use.
Long-term Benefits
Quality custom orthotics typically last 2–5 years depending on activity level and materials. During that time, they continuously correct your biomechanics with every step — that’s thousands of corrective repetitions per day, reinforcing proper alignment without you having to think about it.
Research shows that orthotics not only treat existing conditions but help prevent recurrence. A systematic review in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found moderate evidence that foot orthoses reduce the risk of lower limb overuse injuries in military populations, with similar findings in athletic populations. When combined with strengthening exercises prescribed by your chiropractor, orthotics provide both the passive correction and active rehabilitation needed for lasting results.
References
1. Whittaker GA, et al. Foot orthoses for plantar heel pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2018;52(5):322–328. (Custom foot orthoses significantly reduce pain compared to sham orthoses.)
2. Collins N, et al. Foot orthoses in lower limb overuse conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Foot and Ankle International, 2007;28(3):396–412.
3. Bonanno DR, et al. Foot orthoses for the prevention of lower limb overuse injuries in naval recruits: a randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2018;52(5):298–302.
4. Menz HB, et al. Custom-made foot orthoses for the treatment of foot pain. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2008;(4):CD006801.
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