Custom orthotics are shoe insoles made specifically for your foot to fix any lower body pain you are experiencing. They provide the wearer with more comfort and stability than over the counter shoe insoles. For most people, standard insoles are effective in healing lower body pain and injuries. However, for a small portion of the population, regular insoles do not work so people resort to custom orthotic inserts.
Custom molded orthotics are prescribed by doctors and are molded to fit your foot structure and gait. Because of the extra work that goes into fitting out and crafting custom orthotics they tend to be more expensive than regular ones.
If you’re looking for providers in your area, keep reading to find out how to locate reliable custom orthotics near you.
Who Should Purchase Custom Orthotics?
Custom orthotics are suitable for three main groups of people. The first are high-performance athletes, particularly marathon runners, as they put a lot of strain and weight on their feet when they run.
The second is diabetics who usually have a lot of foot injuries and discomfort due to their illness. Finally, there are those with serious biomechanical issues and recurring injuries that can’t be fixed by regular insoles.
There are also two types of orthotics that help fix foot pain- functional and accommodative. Functional orthotics are quite hard and made from plastic or graphite. They prevent abnormal foot movements and help with proper foot function and healing foot pain such as tendinitis and shin splints.
Accommodative orthotics, on the other hand, are soft and provide cushioning for the foot. Accommodative orthotics are for people with diabetic foot ulcers and painful calluses on the soles of their feet. Once a podiatrist diagnoses your lower-body injury and prescribes a customized insole then your next task is to find reliable custom orthotics in your area.
Go For A Physical Fitting
One way to know that an orthotic provider is unreliable is if they don’t do a face to face physical evaluation. Customized fitting for insoles cannot be done remotely. The provider needs to give you an assessment as well as ask questions about your daily routine.
There is a professional way to measure your foot in order to get the proper insoles to improve your painful condition. You also may have many questions and concerns about how the insoles will be crafted and the provider’s payment and returns policies. It is best to have such discussions face to face.
Look For Experienced Providers
The most reliable custom orthotics providers are those that have many years of experience making custom orthotics. There are many factors to know when it comes to getting the perfect fit for insoles and these can only come with lots of experience.
The more years a provider has been in business and the more satisfied clients they have, the better the chance that they will produce perfectly fitted orthotics.
Check The Qualifications Of The Provider
Orthotics providers that have a background, as well as qualifications in foot treatment, can be expected to provide better orthotics services. When choosing a provider for your custom made insoles look through the qualifications of all the providers.
The best providers may be podiatrists, experienced chiropractors or pedorthists. The training on foot mechanisms and experience working with various foot illnesses make such providers’ expertise incomparable to generally trained providers.
Go With Providers That Craft Their Own Insoles
Another way to select a reliable provider is to check where the providers manufacture their insoles. Some take your measurements and then forward the information to a factory for the insoles to be fabricated.
These suppliers may not be as accurate as those that custom-make their own insoles on site. A lot of miscommunication can occur between a provider and factory that leads to mistakes on your orthotics. Take your time to research their production process to make sure you’ll get the best fit.
Look For Providers With Fair Returns Policies
Custom orthotics can be expensive so they need to do what they have been prescribed to do. When choosing a provider for your orthotics seek out providers that are willing to take back and correct any insoles that have been made incorrectly. If your insoles do not provide the expected comfort and pain relief you should definitely need to return them for alteration.
Look Up Google Reviews
Another easy way to find reliable custom orthotics providers is to search for them on google. A location-based search such as “custom orthotics in North Naples” will bring up a list of providers in the area.
The best part about Google is that the providers are all given star ratings by previous clients. You can look up the best-reviewed providers and read client experiences to find out if they are a right fit for you.
Ask Your Podiatrist For A Recommendation
Podiatrists generally know the best custom orthotics providers from their own professional experience and those of their clients. Ask the foot doctor that recommended you for custom orthotics if they know any good providers that they can recommend.
While foot surgeons will probably refer providers that they have a business relationship with, they will not put their names on the line by referring you to unreliable providers.
User Training Given By Providers
Check whether the provider has any user training on how to make the best use of your custom made orthotics. Some patients get no relief from wearing orthotics, but this may be due to incorrect use of the insoles.
The most reliable providers will have training on how best to use your orthotics, how to care for them to ensure they last long and what to do if your symptoms don’t decrease.
Find Reliable Custom Orthotics Near You
Reliable custom orthotics have been shown to help heal foot-related pain and illnesses. However, it is necessary that you find a trusted provider to make your customized insoles.
