Footwear And Custom Orthotics Northmead

Orthotics aim to improve foot posture (and, by extension, overall posture) by supporting the feet with specially designed shoe inserts. Orthotics may help reduce pain and discomfort in the feet and lower limbs by altering muscle activation and excessive loading of various structures. 

Although orthotics fit many shoe styles, they aren’t suitable for all footwear options. Your podiatrist will evaluate your current footwear and suggest alternatives that align with your orthotic treatment and foot health. As specialists in sports podiatry, we guide you in choosing fashion footwear that balances comfort, style, and support, including your preferred heel height. 

Specially crafted shoe inserts, foot orthotics are used to support weak or injured areas of your feet. Routine evaluations every six, nine, or twelve months ensure their continued fit. While patients often wear them for comfort, our aim is to empower you to use them only when necessary. 

The benefits of orthotics include effective cushioning, support, pressure distribution, and reduced pain from issues like arthritis, bunions, plantar fasciitis, and flat feet. 

The type of shoe you wear plays into your postural alignment. Our experienced podiatrists will guide your footwear choice following an extensive gait analysis and assessment. Footwear will enhance or detract from your condition, your treatment, foot function and performance. These functional considerations will be considered with any footwear prescription. 

Good shoes don’t just protect against rough surfaces—they also support balance and posture. Properly designed footwear makes foot function easier and more effective, especially for those using orthotics. At the Foot and Leg Pain Centre, we’re happy to review your footwear choices to ensure they meet your treatment needs. Wearing supportive shoes can also help prevent common issues like plantar fasciitis and calluses, giving your feet the care they deserve. 

No, you don’t need a referral for orthotics, so feel free to make an appointment today! 

All of our treatments are rooted in evidence-based care. For further insights on footwear and orthotics, explore the references provided. 

• Burns, J., et al. (2006). “Effective orthotic therapy for the painful cavus foot: A randomized controlled trial.” Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 96(3): 205-211.
• Staheli, L.T., Shoes for children: a review. Pediatrics, 1991. 88(2): p. 371-375.
• Walther, M., et al., Children sport shoes. A systematic review of current literature. Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, 2008. 14: p. 180 – 189.
• Barwick, A., J. Smith, and V. Chuter, The relationship between foot motion and lumbopelvic–hip function: A review of the literature. The foot, 2012. 22(3): p. 224-231.
• Bird, A.R., A.P. Bendrups, and C.B. Payne, The effect of foot wedging on electromyographic activity in the erector spinae and gluteus medius muscles during walking. Gait and Posture, 2003. 18(2): p. 81-91.
• Bleck, E. E. (1983). “Metatarsus adductus: Classification and relationship to outcomes of treatment.” Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 3(1): 2-9.
• Barwick, A., et al. (2012). “The relationship between foot motion and lumbopelvic–hip function: A review of the literature.” The Foot 22(3): 224-231.
• Chard, B. A. (2017). The effect of unsupportive and supportive footwear on children’s multi-segment foot dynamics during gait. USYD: Thesis
• Gordillo-Fernández, L. M., et al. (2015). “Effect by custom-made foot orthoses with added support under the first metatarso-phalangeal joint in hallux limitus patients: Improving on first metatarso-phalangeal joint extension.” Prosthetics and Orthotics International.
• Kothari, A., et al. (2016). “Are flexible flat feet associated with proximal joint problems in children?” Gait and Posture 45: 204-210.
• Mundermann, A., et al., Foot orthoses affect frequency components of muscle activity in the lower extremity. Gait & Posture, 2006. 23(3): p. 295-302.
• Nawoczenski, D.A., C.L. Saltzman, and T.M. Cook, The effect of foot structure on the three-dimensional kinematic coupling behavior of the leg and rear foot. Physical therapy, 1998. 78(4): p. 404-416.
• Tomaro, J. and R.G. Burdett, The effects of foot orthotics on the EMG activity of selected leg muscles during gait. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 1993. 18(4): p. 532-536.
• Murley, G.S., K.B. Landorf, and H.B. Menz, Do foot orthoses change lower limb muscle activity in flat-arched feet towards a pattern observed in normal-arched feet? Clinical Biomechanics, 2010. 25(7): p. 728-736.
• Murley, G. S. and A. R. Bird (2006). “The effect of three levels of foot orthotic wedging on the surface electromyographic activity of selected lower limb muscles during gait.” Clinical Biomechanics 21(10): 1074-1080.