Custom Orthotics & Insoles
Specialist Services
Custom Orthotics & Insoles
Orthotics can be an incredibly effective treatment for many foot, ankle and lower limb conditions, but they aren’t the answer to every problem.
At Feet & Motion, we don’t prescribe orthotics simply because someone has foot pain. Every recommendation is based on a thorough clinical assessment, looking at how your feet, ankles, knees and hips work together as part of your whole body’s movement.
For some people, custom orthotics are exactly what’s needed. For others, the best solution may be footwear advice, rehabilitation exercises, shockwave therapy, or a combination of treatments.
What Are Orthotics?
They don’t simply “support your arches.” Modern orthotics are designed to influence how your feet function during walking and running, helping to reduce excessive stress on injured tissues while improving comfort and efficiency of movement.
Depending on your condition, orthotics may:
- Reduce pain
- Improve foot function
- Redistribute pressure
- Improve stability
- Reduce strain on muscles and tendons
- Improve comfort during walking, work or sport
Who Might Benefit from Orthotics?
Orthotics can help with a wide variety of conditions, including:
- Plantar fasciitis (heel pain)
- Achilles tendon problems
- Tibialis posterior dysfunction
- Metatarsalgia
- Morton’s neuroma
- Arthritis affecting the feet
- Some knee, hip and lower limb problems
- Sports injuries
- Pressure redistribution for high-risk feet
- Flat feet where symptoms are present
- High arches causing excessive pressure
However, not everyone with these conditions needs orthotics. Every patient is different, which is why assessment is so important before deciding on the right treatment.
We Don't Prescribe Orthotics to Everyone
In reality, that’s simply not true.
Sometimes changing your footwear is enough.
Sometimes improving strength, mobility or movement patterns is the better solution.
Sometimes treatments such as shockwave therapy are more appropriate.
And sometimes a carefully prescribed orthotic is exactly what your body needs.
One of the most important parts of our job is recognising when an orthotic isn’t the right treatment. Recommending the most appropriate solution, even if that doesn’t involve an orthotic, is all part of providing evidence-based, patient-centred care.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to foot pain. The important thing is understanding the cause of your symptoms and recommending the treatment that’s most likely to help you move comfortably and confidently again.
Custom or Prefabricated?
In reality, the right choice depends entirely on your condition, your goals and how your body moves.
High-quality prefabricated orthotics can be extremely effective for many people and often provide an excellent first-line treatment.
For more complex conditions, unusual foot shapes or where greater precision is needed, custom-made orthotics may offer significant advantages.
Our recommendation is always based on clinical need, not simply on whether a device is custom-made.
Why We Use Phits® 3D-Printed Orthotics
Designed using advanced digital technology and manufactured using precision 3D printing, Phits orthotics are tailored to your individual biomechanics rather than relying on generic, off-the-shelf designs.
Every prescription is based on the findings of your biomechanical assessment and, where appropriate, digital gait analysis, ensuring your orthotics are designed specifically for the way you move. Benefits of Phits® custom orthotics
- Tailored to you – Every orthotic is individually designed to suit your foot shape, pressure distribution, movement patterns and clinical needs.
- Precision manufactured – Advanced 3D printing technology produces lightweight, durable orthotics with exceptional consistency and accuracy.
- Targeted pain relief – By reducing excessive stress on injured tissues, orthotics can help relieve pain while supporting recovery from a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions.
- Support for everyday life and sport – Whether you're walking the dog, standing all day at work, training for a marathon or competing in sport, your orthotics can be designed with your activities in mind.
- Comfort without compromise – Modern 3D-printed orthotics are lightweight, slim and designed to fit comfortably into appropriate footwear.
- Designed around your goals – Every prescription considers not only your diagnosis, but also your lifestyle, occupation, footwear and long-term objectives.
How Do We Decide?
Depending on your condition, lifestyle and goals, your assessment may include:
- Clinical history
- Foot and lower limb examination
- Weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing assessment
- Functional movement assessment
- Digital gait analysis using Footscan, Walk3D and/or Run3D where clinically appropriate
This allows us to understand not only where you have pain, but why it has developed, ensuring that any orthotic prescribed is targeted to your individual needs.
Learn More
If you’d like to explore the subject in more detail, we’ve written two articles answering some of the most common questions we hear in clinic.
Do Orthotics Really Work? And Will I Have to Wear Them Forever?
This article explains how orthotics work, when they're appropriate, and why they aren't always a lifelong treatment.
Read Article >>
Prefabricated vs Custom-Made Insoles – Which Is Right for You?
Not every patient needs a custom-made device. This article explains the differences between prefabricated and custom orthotics, and how we decide which option is best for each individual.
Read Article >>
Is an Orthotic Right for You?
Following a Biomechanical Assessment or Advanced Biomechanical Assessment, we’ll explain our findings, discuss your treatment options, and recommend the approach that’s most appropriate for you. That may include custom orthotics, prefabricated orthotics, rehabilitation, footwear advice, shockwave therapy, or another evidence-based treatment.
Every recommendation is tailored to you, not just your feet