How Custom Orthotics Are Made

Custom orthotics are among the most effective treatment tools at a podiatrist’s disposal. Unlike padded insoles that you can buy off the rack at a pharmacy, custom orthotics can offer a lot more than just a generic layer of cushioned sponginess. Because they are carefully and individually crafted to fit the exact needs of their owner, custom orthotics can offer targeted support, impact protection, and even gait correction. Whether you have high arches, flat feet, heel pain, neuromas, wounds, or any number of painful conditions, custom orthotics can often help.

How are custom orthotics made? The first step is a visit to our office, and a full podiatric evaluation. Before we can give you the right treatment, we must know what we’re treating! We’ll talk with you about your symptoms, make a physical examination, and conduct or order any additional diagnostic tests (such as X-ray or nerve tests) that may be required to fully understand your pathology.

We’ll also get the measurements we need for the custom orthotics fitting and fabrication process. We use a digital scanning tool at our office to measure the shape of your feet and various pressure zones. We may also create a mold of your feet in a biomechanically neutral position.

Those measurements and/or molds, as well as any additional notes or specifications based on the results of your examination, are sent to a specialized orthotics lab, where a pair of custom orthotics will be crafted just for you. Orthotics can be made from a wide variety of different materials based on the conditions they are intended to treat. The orthotics we order for you may be made primarily of soft, semi-rigid, or rigid materials, depending on whether you mainly need extra cushioning or have a more serious biomechanical flaw that must be corrected.

After a few weeks, the lab will send back the completed orthotics and we’ll give you a call so you can come back to the office to pick them up. At this time, we can review how the orthotics fit in your shoes and support your feet, and make any final, minor tweaks and adjustments that may be necessary.

That’s it! We hope you enjoy your new orthotics and will happily offer any assistance you may need if you have any questions or concerns about them. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tom Truong in Wichita, KS, please give us a call today at (866) 222-5177.