In orthotic therapy we utilize custom made corrective shoe inserts (orthotics) to correct improper biomechanical motion in the foot and ankle.  This form of therapy has been around for many years and is helpful for a great many conditions.  The following is a partial list of conditions that may be helped with orthotic therapy.

The effectiveness of orthotic therapy has been demonstrated in a number of scientific studies. Perhaps the most common form of foot or ankle pain is that due to plantar fasciitis. In this condition, the strong band of connective tissue (plantar fascia) that spans the bottom of the foot from the heel bone (calcaneus) to the forefoot (metatarsal heads) becomes irritated by repetitive stress or excessive pronation of the foot. This condition commonly results in foot pain on standing and walking after rest that improves after walking a short distance. In extreme cases, it will not improve on walking. Suffers often find the pain worst first thing in the morning after the foot has rested for the night.

Custom fit corrective orthotics correct the over-pronation of the foot and reduce the tension on the plantar fascia. Once the foot motion is corrected, the strain on the tissue causing the pain will be eliminated and so will the pain. So, the question is, do customized mechanical orthotics correct more effectively treat the condition than off the shelf shoe inserts you can buy at a sports or drug store? To answer that question lets look at a couple of scientific studies.

In a 1998 study published in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association by Lynch, et. al., evaluating the various methods of conservatively treating plantar fasciitis,  it was demonstrated that patients reported much better results with mechanical (corrective) orthotics than with either accommodative orthotics or anti-inflammatory medications.  In addition, none of the patients reported any intolerance to the orthotics, there was a very significantly lower rate of treatment failure with mechanical (corrective) orthotics, and very few patients using mechanical (corrective) orthotics terminated treatment compared with the other treatment methods. 

Another study, published in the Journal of Orthopedic Sports Physical Therapy in 2002 by Gross, et. al., evaluated the level of pain and disability in patients using corrective orthotics 12 to 17 days after their dispersal to patients.  This study demonstrated an approximately 67% decrease in pain and disability with the use of corrective orthotics.

So what is the best way to evaluate measure a patient for orthotics? Click the link to the left to view the measurement technologies most widely used today.