Many people have experience fitting themselves with store-bought shoe insoles, but they’re now looking for truly customized orthotics to address foot pain or other issues. However, the fact that they need to spend some time getting fitted for custom orthotics may be a sticking point for some people. This may be because they aren’t aware of the many reasons why this fitting process is necessary and helpful. It could also be because they don’t know what a typical custom orthotics fitting process involves.
Why is getting fitted for custom orthotics so important?
No matter what anyone says, orthotics aren’t truly customized unless they're built for your feet specifically. An evaluation and fitting session is a crucial part of what allows orthotics to be truly customized. It’s in this session that a certified pedorthist will get to know you, your symptoms, your issues and your feet. Having this information allows pedorthists to create custom orthotics that are more likely to:
- Reduce pain.
- Improve stability.
- Decrease the risk of future injuries and conditions.
What is the general process for getting fitted for custom orthotics?
The fitting process may be slightly different for each person, but there are certain general steps that your fitting session is likely to include, such as:
- A question-and-answer period — Your pedorthist will typically take some time to ask you several types of questions. They may ask about your past medical history or previous lower body injuries. In addition, they may ask about your current condition or symptoms. You may also get asked questions about what type of shoes you wear and how long you’ve been wearing them.
- A comprehensive lower body examination — A top-notch pedorthist will examine the area that’s currently stiff or painful, but they’ll also take the time to examine the rest of your lower body, too. The reason? Issues in one part of your lower body are often caused by a problem in a seemingly unrelated area. For instance, a chronically unstable ankle can lead to knee, hip or even lower back pain.
- Taking a foam impression of your feet — The data your pedorthist gathers from questioning and examining you is very valuable. However, it’s also important that they have a way to physically see every line and curve of your feet even after you’ve gone home. Pedorthists can accomplish this by taking a foam impression of your feet while you’re getting fitted for custom orthotics. This impression gives them a physical model upon which to build orthotics that are customized to the needs of your feet.
Biocorrect can help you get fitted for custom orthotics
Eager to go through the process of getting fitted for custom orthotics but aren’t sure where to go to do so? Don’t worry! Our Biocorrect team can help you get a pair of custom orthotics that are designed specifically for you. We follow each of the steps outlined above in our comprehensive
