Choosing the Best Custom Orthotic Provider


Your doctor prescribed you custom orthotics for your pain and now start the search for where to get them made. You may be asking yourself, how much are orthotics going to cost? Will my insurance company cover the cost? Do I have to buy ugly shoes now? You might even be thinking, will orthotics fix my foot pain?


Where to start?


The search for the right orthotic provider is an important step. You might have a referral or put your faith in Google for answers. The process of getting proper custom orthotics should begin from the time you start explaining your symptoms to your clinician. Finding a provider that actively listens to you is essential. If the first question your provider asks you is 'how much insurance coverage do you have?' Red flags should start popping up in your head. Avoid providers that are worried about how you can benefit them. Instead, find a provider that is genuine about how they can serve you.


The Exam


When your provider truly appreciates what brought you into the clinic, the next step is a thorough biomechanical exam and gait analysis. As Chiropodists, we are piecing together a puzzle in our heads when we gather this information. The examination and your history help our Chiropodist decipher if custom orthotics are right for you or not. Many clinics will automatically make the assumption you need orthotics because it prescribed. They may skimp on the exam and jump right to the casting process.


Lasting Impressions


If your clinician feels custom orthotics are what you need, the next step is getting cast. Understand this, not all casting methods are equal, and your clinician will decide the best casting method for YOUR feet. Knowing which cases will benefit from plaster and which will benefit from 3D laser or foam is the clinician's job.

After taking impressions of your feet, your clinician will suggest the best orthotic type for your pain. Custom orthotics are available for casual shoes, sports shoes, dress shoes and even sandals. Custom orthotics designed to meet your lifestyle and footwear choices will encourage you to wear orthotics often enough for them to help. Wearing your orthotics a few hours a week won't cut it.

When you come back to pick up your new custom orthotics, they will need to be checked and fitted for you. You should not be required to cut your orthotics at home on your own. I've seen it too often. Many patients bring in old orthotics still in their bag years later, saying they never wore them because they were too long.  I also see patients that do cut their orthotics only to be missing half the padding under their toes. If your provider asks you to come in and pick up your orthotics, they will not have explained how to break-in your new orthotics, check to see if they are giving you any trouble or even bother to follow up and see how your feet are doing afterwards. You will, however, get a call a year later saying you are due for another pair because your insurance covers them.

I hope this helps even a little towards educating you about the possible pitfalls that lead to a poor quality orthotics and the unnecessary use of orthotics in some cases.



Our Location

5 Swan Lake Boulevard, Unit 10 Markham, Ontario L6E 0K7

Clinic Hours

Open Evenings & Weekends

Mount Joy Foot Clinic & Orthotic Centre

Monday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-7:30 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-1:00 pm

Saturday:

By Appointment Only

Sunday:

Closed