What is a Foot Orthotic?

A custom foot orthotic (CFO) is a medical device that is used to control mal-alignments and manage symptoms in the feet and lower extremities.  A foot orthotic is an insole that is inserted into footwear and is typically custom made but also available in off-the-shelf (OTS), or premade, versions.  They are commonly prescribed to reduce or eliminate symptoms that present from various pathologies and can also be used pro-actively to help prevent issues from progressing.

Foot orthotics are commonly used to treat malalignments or disorders such as:

• pes planus (flat feet or low arches)
• pes cavus (high arches)
• plantar fasciitis
• over or under pronation
• excess supination
• heel spurs
• metatarsalgia
• bunions (hallux valgus)
• disorders of the 1st toe (1st MTP OA, hallux limitus/rigidus)
• diabetes
• forefoot/toe amputations
• shin splints
• knee pain (PFPS – Patellofemoral pain syndrome)

Who will I see?

Meet our team here

Custom made foot orthotics should be manufactured and dispensed by professionals with proper credentials and education in the field of Pedorthics.  At the Össur Motion Labs our clinicians are Certified Pedorthists and Certified Orthotists, both of whom are governed by Colleges that require their members adhere to a Code of Ethics and pursue ongoing training via Continuing Education. Please find more information on the College of Pedorthics in Canada here and Pedorthic Association of Canada here. 

How are they made?

A true custom made foot orthotic should be manufactured from a 3 dimensional volumetric foot model that is obtained manually or digitally.  Manual methods include a plaster of paris casting or foam impression boxes. Depending on the desired outcome the casting may be performed with varying degrees of weight bearing, but is typically performed in a non-weight bearing or semi-weight bearing method.

This negative cast is then used to manufacture a positive model of the foot (manually or digitally). This positive model is then modified with dressing to produce the desired correction and the foot orthotic is molded to the positive model.  This process is labour intensive and one of the main reasons behind the final cost of the custom foot orthotic.