Orthotics are custom made inserts utilized in your shoes to correct the position of the foot, thereby assisting in the proper alignment of the knee, hip, and even the spine.
To achieve the best outcomes, it is imperative to work with a clinician that possesses a thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the foot, as well as an understanding of the biomechanics of the entire lower extremity, referred to as the kinetic chain. After a thorough history taking of the patient’s symptoms, a physical evaluation begins with a static standing postural assessment, which is followed by a detailed gait evaluation, and then evaluation of lower leg flexibility and leg length symmetry. Lastly, an impression of the foot is made to then send to an orthotic lab that three dimensional he scans the impression to optimize a custom fit.
Unfortunately, not all practitioners accurately capture the proper alignment of the foot in the impression process, or utilize a certified lab with the computer scanning equipment and technology to capture the correct position of the impression to truly customize the orthotic for the perfect fit.