Orthotics

This appointment is an opportunity for our podiatry team to develop an initial understanding of your injury.

We offer two types of initial appointments:

• Long consultations are 60 minutes and are suitable for complex presentations, or for an initial injury assessment. During this consultation, a treatment plan is developed to meet your needs.
• Standard consultations are 30 minutes and are suitable for skin or nail care of the feet. They can also be used for straightforward injury presentations.

Our podiatry team are here to help get you back on your feet. Book an appointment today.

These thorough assessments involve a series of tests related to strength, flexibility, control, and endurance.

A biomechanical assessment examines the health and strength of your joints and muscles, as well as movement and gait (walking) assessment. This may involve more demanding functional tasks like:

• Hopping.
• Skipping.
• Running.

Our podiatrists will use the data gathered from these assessments to determine whether an orthotic is an appropriate next step for you.

Tissue injuries can be categorised as acute or chronic/overload. The category of your injury will determine the most suitable orthotic pathway.

Acute injuries typically stem from an injury event, such as a sprained ankle or a sporting injury.

Chronic/overload injuries generally involve excessive stress or strain of a particular part of your foot. This is usually caused by day-to-day activities.

Orthotics are tailored to your needs to ensure you are receiving support where you need it most.

There are three orthotic pathways: custom, semi-custom, and prefabricated orthotics.

• Custom orthotics are completely customised for you.
• Semi-custom orthotics are essentially a templated style of orthotic selected from a range of 30 pre-existing templates.
• Prefabricated orthotics involve a generic arch and some cushioning to support the foot.

Your individual orthotic pathway is dependent on your foot structure and its compatibility with these options.

Our podiatrists undertake a thorough design process to ensure your orthotics are tailored to meet your needs.

This allows your orthotics to be customised to offload or support specific structures of your foot.

1. The first step involves taking a 3D scan of your foot.
2. Next, this footage is uploaded onto a computer where we craft your orthotics to mimic the exact foot mechanics of your feet.
3. Once we’ve designed your custom orthotics, they are printed by a 3D printer here in Melbourne. This is typically a two-week process.

Our aim is to use orthotics as a short-to-medium term intervention to provide support.

Orthotics are generally used for six to twelve months. We call this an adaptation period, where you become stronger over time.

Our podiatrists will assess your progress and may gradually dial down the dosage of your orthotic. Often, after the initial period of wearing an orthotic, you may only need to wear them whilst exercising.

Of course, advice is always tailored to suit your unique presentation and needs.