Custom Made Orthotics (Insoles)

Take care of your feet...they need to last a lifetime

Do you suffer from general lower limb pain? 
Abnormal foot biomechanics is often the root cause of pains, aches and fatigue within your feet, ankles, legs, knees, hips and/or lower back.
What is biomechanics?
Lower limb biomechanics is concerned with how your feet, ankles, knees, hips, pelvis and lower back work in conjunction to support your body-weight and allow you to stand and run. 

What happens if I have abnormal foot function?

Pain free walking and running is accommodated by finely tuned, orchestrated movements which require specific things to happen at precise moments in you lower limbs. When these movements are lacking or out of sync then a variety of problems can occur as the pictures above and to the right illustrate. The body is reactionary. So we know that any deviations e.g at the ankle, will trigger a series of events up the kinetic chain in order to compensate, i.e. knee, hip, pelvis, lower back changes.

How do I know if I have abnormal foot function?
Contrary to popular belief. Pain in the feet is not a normal process. If you suffer pains, aches, and/or fatigue in any of your joints from your feet, to your lower back it may be stemming from abnormal foot function. A good indication is to look at your the soles of your footwear and observe the wear marks. Your symptoms combined with certain wear marks can give a clear indication of abnormal biomechanics.

Normal Heel Wear:
Specifically, the outer border of the heel should have some normal signs of wearing. 















Abnormal Heel Wear:
If the area of wear seems excessive, or if the wear is on the opposite side of the heel then this can be an indication of abnormal foot function.










Normal Heel Cup:
Placing your shoes on the table and having a look at them from behind is another indication of abnormal wear. The shoes should sit level and vertical. 
Abnormal Heel Cup:
However, if they roll excessively to the inside or outside then this will indicate faulty mechanics.

Normal Sole Wear:
there should be normal wear marks under your shoe also. The main area of wear should be under the area of the ball of the big toe. This area of wear is normal due to the pressures encountered as your big toe propels you off the ground










Abnormal Sole Wear:
However, excessive wearing of this area can also indicate faulty biomechanics, i.e. wears thin over a short space of time. Also, no wear in this area can be an indicator aswell as any wearing over the area under the smaller toes of the foot.










:o( This looks like me....What can be done?
At Physio Central, we have developed extensive biomechanical knowledge from working and constantly training in this area. Through detailed history taking and an extensive biomechanical examination including looking at your current footwear a specific picture of how you support yourself on your feet will be developed. To correct any abnormality a Custom Foot Orthotic Device may be prescribed.

'Custom fit...the best fit...Always!!!'

So, What are Custom Foot Orthoses?
Commonly known as insoles, these orthoses are precision, prescription medical devices that are worn inside your shoes. They alter the way your foot contacts the ground and importantly provides specific support to the structures of your foot involved in the complex series of events that are required to allow you to stand, walk and run.

Why Custom Fit?
Custom made foot orthoses are prescribed for your individual condition. Custom prescription ensures your devices are medical prescription and follow the specific contours of your feet. They are long lasting meaning they accommodate your wear into the long term.

There are many cheaper alternatives on shop shelves, but these are merely cheap imitations.
1) They are not medical prescription grade and so, they are not made to fit your feet precisely and control your foot for your individual need. 
2) They also wear out quickly which can certainly lead to exacerbating symptoms in the long term making a bad problem worse. 
3) They are primarily developed to fit a certain shoe size and manufactured to a generic foot shape. 
Ultimately there is a very real chance of these devices causing your body more harm than good.

Importantly, there a number of techniques used to allow us to capture the foot as needed. Some processes and techniques, e.g. stepping in foam boxes to capture foot shape, are inferior to others. 

At Physio Central we use the techniques which follow current best practice guidelines to ensure you get the best device possible.

Sports Orthotics:
It is now well established in the sports medicine sector that custom foot orthoses are a vital part of treatment when dealing with sports related lower limb overuse injuries. They are also recognised to be a positive preventative measure in injury and performance management. Up to Olympic standard the improvement in performance, with decreased fatigue and greater comfort of using orthotics where neccesary is now well indicated.

Additionally:
Custom orthotics are a very effective tool in resolving many lower limb conditions. However, it is just one tool in a multi-modal approach and other treatments are often indicated also.
At Physio Central we work in close conjunction with Biomechanics Foot Laboratory who are one of Europe's precision made orthotic manufacturing companies. 

'Invest in your feet...they deserve it'

Through this valued link we bring you the very best quality products, individual to your needs and at competitive prices

Physio Central,        T: 057 9322720
Ardan Surgery,        E: info@physiocentral.ie
Ardan Rd,                 W: www.physiocentral.ie
Tullamore,
Co. Offaly