At Melbourne Podiatry Clinic we treat biomechanical issues of the foot and lower limb with custom-made, corrective orthotics.
What are Orthotics?
Orthotics are supportive and corrective devices designed to apply direct forces to certain aspects of the foot to improve postural stability, decrease certain tissue stresses and improve foot and lower limb function. They are made from many different materials depending on your activity levels and pathology. Our orthotics are specifically designed to fit discreetly inside your sports or dress shoe.
The way the feet function has a direct influence on the rest of your body. If there is an issue with your foot mechanics it can contribute to many pathologies not only in the foot but throughout the rest of the body. Orthotics, when accurately prescribed and used, improve foot function and assist in correcting the mechanics of your foot to address issues with stability, pain, gait and movement.
Why choose custom orthotics?
The structure and biomechanics of your feet and legs is unique. Therefore, acustom orthotic is often required to provide the appropriate level of support and correction to your foot and type of injury. Once we’ve conducted a detailed video gait analysis, we take a 3D scan of your foot to design an orthotic that is not only supportive but extremely comfortable and tailored to your individual requirements. Custom orthotics last around 3-4 years and can be designed specifically to fit in any style of shoe.
Types of orthotics we offer:
Sports Orthotics:
Orthotics designed specifically for running, walking or specific sports. Sports orthotics are designed to be more durable with a softer, full-length top cover to improve comfort and prevent blisters. These are suitable for shoes with a full-length removable inner sole such as a running shoe or football boot.
Slimthotics:
Previously orthotics weren’t able to fit in narrow dress shoes, boots and sandals. We can now design orthotics that can be worn in narrow, lower profile shoes that provide the same level of correction but be worn in a wider variety of shoes. These come in a range of width and colours to suit your needs and style.
Courthotics:
Ultra-slim orthotics designed for shoes that won’t fit a normal orthotic. These are suitable for open-toed shoes, sandals and some high heels.
Designed to fit your cycling shoe to enhance comfort and power transfer through your pedals. Made from carbon fibre, these are light and durable and can treat a range of cycling-related foot problems.
If you have many different shoes, we offer 40% off your second pair of orthotics!
Did you know that our orthotics are designed using a 3D printer that generates 90% less plastic waste than normal orthotics?
Gait Analysis for Orthotic Prescription
Our digital gait analysis system allows accurate assessment of any biomechanical problems that are causing pain or other concerns. We record your gait and then process the information using state-of-the-art software. By assessing you either walking or running on a treadmill we can detect the exact cause of your problem and address it with the best techniques available, including designing your custom orthotics.
If you’re considering that you may need foot orthotics and you have spoken to other people who have had them, you’ve probably encountered some discussion of the problems associated with orthotics. Below is a link to an article to address, with full disclosure, four of the most common problems that may occur with foot orthotics. We will also discuss the cause of these problems, and how you may be able to avoid them. These problems occasionally occur, although they can be avoided, and often amended if first, we understand them.
At Melbourne Podiatry Clinic we are passionate about the benefits of custom-made foot orthotics. We have made it our goal to deliver world-class foot orthotics as part of our rehabilitation programs for people who they are suitable for. We have been through extensive training in orthotic prescription as part of our podiatry university degrees and have prescribed over 4000 pairs ourselves.