Footprints

Foot Orthoses

Patient information:Instructions for the issue of a new foot orthoses

Your symptoms are consistent with those caused by mechanical problems associated with posture and the way your foot functions when walking.

These problems can sometimes be corrected with the use of functional orthoses. These are designed to improve foot function and posture, thereby eliminating or reducing any abnormal movement and forces that may have caused your injury (or predisposed you to a particular injury).

Often orthoses will form only part of your treatment and you may also be prescribed specific exercises. If this is the case, it is important that you do these exercises, as without them your recovery will be delayed.

As the orthoses are intended to make adjustments in your posture and the way in which you walk, it is possible that you may experience minor aches and pains for the first few days. This is because some muscles are being used differently, causing some to overtire. For this reason you are advised to undergo a breaking-in period. This period of adjustment may take a week or two and you should avoid unusually long walks for the first month while you muscles fully adjust.

On the first day, the orthoses should be worn for only an hour. Increase the wearing time by an extra hour each day, until you are wearing them all day.

If you are going to wear them whilst participating in any sporting activities, you will probably need a different adjustment programme. If this is the case, you will need to discuss this with your podiatrist before wearing the orthoses when playing sport or training. In most cases you should not wear your orthoses for playing sport until you are comfortably wearing them all day for normal walking.

Sometimes orthoses need to make a significant adjustment to gait and some people can experience more than the usual adjustment ‘pains’. If this happens to you, stop wearing the insoles and contact your podiatrist, so that together you can review the insole and your breaking-in programme.

If you experience any new symptoms, such as back, hip or knee pains you should stop wearing the insole immediately and inform your podiatrist.