Do Orthotics Even Work?

To be honest, I was not a proponent of orthotics for many years. As I moved from having super strong feet as a ballet dancer to the "functional fitness" model that swept across most fitness facilities in the early 2000s, orthotics seemed like more of a bandaid than a fix. Fast forward 8 years and after studying hundreds (if not thousands) of feet I'm changing my tune. Sure proper therapies and rehab should be administered with the specific client or athlete in mind, but what if the damage has been there for 2+ decades? What if the strain from the athletic load or amount of walking around the city (speaking as a walking/public transit commuter) is greater than the structures can bear?

 The Research
As with most alternative treatments, the results are mixed. This is because each individual human system is a special and unique butterfly. If you take one healing modality and apply it across the board, results will be inconclusive. However if are orthotics are recommended after a detailed assessment, there are more desirable outcomes. Research studies that pose positive results study the effect of orthotics on individual cases rather than across multiple cases. 

How are they customized? 
​Customized orthotics are made based on the three arches of the foot. How you bear weight across these three planes will determine the shape of your foot and potentially the ways injuries or degeneration can result in your foot, knee, hip, shoulder, etc. 

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How do I know if I should get assessed?
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1. Foot Flare During Gait

Your toes should track in a straight line from your heel and lower leg. If your feet or one of your feet turn outward when you walk it can cause the arch drop which puts more pressure on your knees and back. 

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2. Internal Knee Rotation

When the knee starts to internally rotate it dramatically increases how weight is distributed in the knee which can lead knee degeneration in the long term. In the short term it is more associated with ACL and MCL tears in cutting sports and even more in females (think decreased Q angle for you nerdy folks).

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3. Bowed Achilles Tendon

The ankle bones should line up directly over the heel. If the ankle bones lean inward than the three proper arches are not being maintained and degenerative processes can ensue.


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4. Flat Foot

Many times this can be an issue since birth. Typically you'll find it in people who never really utilized their glutes in normal and athletic movement. While you can still change their movement patterns and train those under utilized muscles, they still need adequate support as they roam the planet.

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5. Uneven Shoe Wear

Arches can differ from one foot to the other. This is common when people have sprained an ankle or have plevic instability. Again treating the source is preferred, but we must also take into consideration how to support these structures through rehabilitation. Some sprained ankles last two days, others 2-9 months.

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So, after much thought and study we now have custom designed orthotics at Ascent! If we've talked about it in the office or you think they may be a good fit for you, contact us to schedule a complimentary foot analysis at hello@ascentsportschiro.com.