What Are Custom Orthotics?

You know all about the benefits of orthotic insoles in terms of how they support the right areas of the feet and provide strength exactly where you need it. This can be a great benefit to anyone suffering from a huge range of physical issues, such as with the sole of the foot, the arch of the foot, the ankles, shins, knees, upper thighs, pelvic area and even the lower back.

Over time, orthotic insoles have been proven to improve most of these related conditions, particularly when used in combination with a prescribed course of activity. Regular orthotic insoles provide support for the heel, arch and toes and can come in the form of gel, active, impact, comfort and plantar insoles. However, the next step up in terms of designing and providing insoles which offer supreme and targeted support is custom orthotics.

Custom orthotics explained

As you might expect, custom orthotics are insoles designed specifically for one particular individual. These are usually based on a programme of examination, 3D scans and casts made of the feet, and are then hand-made based on this template information. This means that no two pairs of custom insoles will ever be the same, but more importantly, you are never likely to find a pair of standard orthotic insoles more accurately designed to target the areas of pain you are suffering from.

Using high quality materials and scanning technology, the unique element of each insole directly targets your specific ailment as they are crafted to match the shape of your individual feet. Because of this detailed design, a custom orthotic may also improve other ailments over a period of time, such as posture and rebalancing the musculoskeletal system. The insole so closely matching the detail of your feet could improve this far better than an off-the-shelf product.

Manufacturing custom orthotics

Custom orthotics are often more expensive than regular orthotic insoles, because of the nature of their manufacture. This detailed process involves an individual being examined, scanned and measured and then the insoles are individually hand-made, rather than an organisation using mass production techniques which manufacture larger volumes of identical insoles much quicker and easier.

However, custom insoles provide firm arch support and can help to solve complex foot and lower body issues over a short, medium or long term period. At the end of the day, your feet are unique and very precious and so you need to look after them. For many people this means the investment in custom orthotics can be justified as a value for money expense and a very effective purchase, when balanced against the supreme, tailored comfort they provide and which is hard to replicate elsewhere.