Find out if orthotic inserts are right for you

What are orthotics?

Orthotics are devices designed to help relieve heel, foot and ankle pain. In fact, if you’ve ever worn a heel insert from a pharmacy or sporting goods store, you’ve used an orthotic device.

While you can buy orthotic devices such as wedges, inserts, cushions and braces at a local store, our team offers custom-made orthotics designed to target and treat your specific condition.

Our dedicated orthotic specialists work closely with our sports medicine team providing specialized braces, slings, casts and orthotic inserts to manage conditions or help injuries heal. They also work closely with your primary care doctor as well as our orthopaedic, podiatry and physical therapy teams to help you get the most custom fit possible for your orthotics.

What conditions do orthotics treat?

Orthotics help by either providing support, protection or cushioning to areas of your feet that are causing pain or discomfort. For example, if your ankles overpronate (roll slightly inward or downward), your doctor can provide an orthotic insert that helps support your arch and prevent pronation.

Orthotic devices are often used to:

• Prevent or correct foot deformities, especially in children
• Provide alignment and support for your foot or ankle
• Improve how your foot or ankle functions

Orthotics are especially useful in helping runners, walkers and other athletes prevent and treat many conditions. Our orthotics specialists provide custom braces and shoes that offer treatment devices for people of all ages.

Orthotics help to treat conditions including:

• Arthritis
• Bunions
• Corns and calluses
• Diabetic foot conditions
• Forefoot pain
• Fractures
• Heel spurs
• Knee pain, including runner’s knee
• Plantar fasciitis (heel pain)
• Sprains and strains
• Spine conditions
• Pediatric neurological conditions
• Torn ligaments and tendons

Your doctor may prescribe orthotics alongside other treatments like physical therapy to help treat the source of your pain and help prevent future injury.

Orthotics for diabetes

When you have diabetes, taking care of your feet is important to help prevent foot pain or other foot conditions. If you suffer from a diabetic foot condition, your doctor may recommend orthotics for diabetes.

Our orthopaedic specialists create orthotics designed specifically for your foot condition to relieve pain, numbness and discomfort associated with diabetic foot conditions. These orthotic devices, such as special shoes, can help you protect your feet.

Learn more about diabetic foot conditions.

Orthotics for pediatric neurologic conditions

If your child is living with a neurologic condition, our team can help with the latest treatment tools and techniques. For children between 3 months and 18 months old with moderate to severe deformity in head shape, our team specializes in a custom molded orthosis device called STARband.

This lightweight device can help safely reshape your child’s head by redirecting head growth to improve proportion and symmetry — before and after any needed pediatric neurosurgery.

Orthotics for spine conditions

If you have a scoliosis condition, a post-traumatic spinal injury or need a post-surgical spinal brace, our team offers custom orthotic devices that can help you throughout your recovery.

Learn more about spine conditions.

*Contact your doctor for a referral to see our orthotic specialists.