Orthotics are specialist insoles designed to influence how forces move through the foot and lower limb during walking and running.
Rather than simply supporting the arch, orthotics work by subtly altering the mechanical environment of the foot so that overloaded tissues can settle and movement becomes more efficient.
The foot functions like a dynamic spring during gait. Muscles and tendons work in coordinated pairs around joints and axes of motion to store and release energy as we move. If the timing of this system becomes inefficient, certain tissues may begin to experience excessive load.
Orthotics can help modify these loading patterns. By adjusting how forces travel through the foot, they can help redistribute stress away from irritated structures and encourage more efficient motion through the foot spring.
In many cases orthotics are used to temporarily reduce strain on painful tissues while we address the underlying causes of the problem through rehabilitation exercises, gait advice and footwear changes.
Our aim is not simply to prescribe insoles, but to understand why a structure has become overloaded and guide the foot and lower limb back towards more efficient movement.
Not everyone with foot pain needs orthotics. In some cases symptoms improve with strengthening, load management, footwear advice or a rehabilitation plan alone.
During your assessment we determine whether orthotics are likely to help, or whether another treatment approach would be more appropriate. Our aim is to provide the right treatment plan rather than simply prescribing insoles unnecessarily.
Orthotics can be helpful for a range of foot, ankle and lower limb conditions where load distribution, foot mechanics or joint stability are contributing factors.
We design insoles to work with different footwear needs, whether that is dress shoes, work shoes, trainers or sports footwear.
Orthotics are often most effective when used as part of a wider treatment plan rather than in isolation. They can help reduce pain and improve comfort while you address the underlying causes of the problem. This is particularly important for conditions such as plantar fasciitis, bunions, knee pain and hypermobility-related foot pain.
Many patients visit our clinic for custom orthotics to help manage foot pain, knee pain, bunions and running injuries. Orthotics help redistribute load through the feet and lower limbs and may form part of a wider treatment plan including rehabilitation exercises, footwear advice and gait analysis.
Orthotics appointments are available at our Richmond clinic and our Kensington clinic in London.
