Custom Orthotics: Why Should You Choose Them?

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Generally, a custom orthotic or insole is the most effective way to prevent or relieve foot and joint pain, such as knee, hip, back, and ankle pain. As your body interacts with the ground in a way that causes unnecessary wear and tear when you stand, walk, or run, custom orthotics work because foot and joint pain is often the result of misalignment and imbalance. An orthotic that supports your health's foundation brings your body back into alignment.

Custom orthotics: what are they?

Insoles made specifically for your feet are called custom orthotics.

It involves a tailor using his or her expertise to create something tailored just for you, similar to a custom suit. During a thorough evaluation of your feet, All-In-One Foot Care Center professionals design custom orthotics that fit well, correct alignment, and relieve pain. In contrast to a custom suit, custom orthotics do more than just fit well; they improve balance, correct alignment, and relieve pain as well. As Leonardo da Vinci put it, your feet are a work of art and a masterpiece of engineering.

All-In-One Foot Care Center offers true custom orthotics at a lower price than competitors' over-the-counter insoles or arch supports. These products are inferior to custom orthotics, and they are sold in the same way that department store suits are sold. Store associates are taught to sell a product that, at best, resembles your body type when you visit a department store. In fact, the best you can hope for is a suit that fits just enough after some minor alterations, even if the sales associate has a measuring tape and a basic knowledge of clothing.

Is it really necessary to get custom orthotics?

You were created to move on dirt and grass with your feet gripping them and adapting to them as you move. Since most people live and work on hard concrete and stiff flooring, their feet are unable to function as they should. Therefore, your feet need more than the flimsy, unsupportive inserts in your shoes. Your feet need true support, as well as a design that is tailored to your individual needs.

In addition to being the foundation of your health, your feet contain over 100 tendons, muscles, ligaments, 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 7,000 nerve endings. Foot pain and discomfort can signal larger issues affecting your knees, hips, and back. The foot is extremely complex relative to the rest of your body's biomechanical systems. More than 100 tendons, muscles, ligaments, and 26 bones make up your feet. Each day, your feet absorb several thousand pounds of pressure, equivalent to three or four trips around the globe in a lifetime.

How do custom orthotics work?

Unfortunately, shoe stores and arch support retailers use technology almost exclusively as a selling prop in the insole market. Technology is used to diagnose, design, and sell insoles. These product companies place customers on scanning and pressure mapping devices as a sales technique, being trained in sales rather than foot care. Their recommendations to the customer are limited.

In addition to their clinical expertise, our staff uses state-of-the-art digital technologies to provide solutions for your specific needs and design custom orthotics to complement them. Our technology guides recommendations to improve foot health, not sell products, so we don’t limit ourselves to what’s on the shelf.

Does foot scanning technology serve as a sales tool or a useful tool?

In terms of orthotic construction, what options are available to me?

You need to make sure that the orthotics you receive are made from materials that are right for you, such as the right type and density of material, the appropriate placement of cushioning, the appropriate top coating, and the appropriate supportive elements. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for every foot, which is why expertise is so crucial. You need an expert service provider, not a product company that may or may not work for you. When crafting a custom orthotic, there are several good materials to choose from, but only an expert can choose the best ones.

What is the best company to design custom orthotics for me?

At All-In-One Foot Care Center, our board-certified foot experts understand foot care and how to maintain your feet. In order to ensure your feet are properly cared for, we offer expertly fit, truly custom orthotics and scientific analysis. The All-In-One Foot Care Center team takes the time to thoroughly understand your needs, analyze your gait, and use state-of-the-art equipment to map every inch of your feet when you visit a location.

It is common for stores to sell insoles using technology, with unqualified employees attempting to pressure the customer rather than educate them. Your foot is the foundation of your alignment, overall stability, joint health, and basic ability to move comfortably. Unqualified people toying with your feet can make you sick. They may end up causing foot and joint pain that would otherwise not have occurred. To summarize, make sure the person selling you a custom orthotic has specific foot health training and qualifications.

Learn how to ask the right questions when searching for custom orthotics by watching the five part video series below.

Before you buy custom orthotics, ask these questions:

My custom orthotics need to be adjusted, is that possible?

The orthotics may fit perfectly under your feet and in your shoes when you receive them. However, orthotics may need to be adjusted to improve fit or comfort in some cases. Custom orthotics should be able to bring you in for a fitting so you can feel the orthotics and see if they fit well.

Can you tell me if this is a custom or "customized" product?

After a thorough examination of your feet and biomechanics, an expert designs and crafts a custom orthotic tailored just for you. These are what you might call “customized” products. They are insoles or arch supports that are purchased over-the-counter by a salesperson. Although they aren't ideal, over-the-counter insoles can be helpful, and they are less expensive. To determine the best choice, you still need an expert who knows how to conduct an analysis.

Is there a shoe you carry that pairs well with custom orthotics?

It is often overlooked when choosing a custom orthotic how the orthotic will be housed. When placed in a shoe that isn’t constructed in a way that supports a custom orthotic and isn’t properly fitted for the customer’s lifestyle, a properly designed orthotic is rendered ineffective. If you put a thick, accommodating custom orthotic in a flimsy athletic shoe with a shallow toe box, for instance, it would defeat its purpose. Hence, it is crucial for the orthotic supplier to have a variety of footwear available to try on and recommend complementing the orthotic. A custom orthotic expert should also be aware of why he or she recommends a particular shoe when designing it.

You can contact our office at 949-588-8833 , or visit our website at https://www.ocfootdoctor.com/ Our offices are located in Laguna Hills, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Lake Forest, Foothill Ranch, and Costa Mesa.