insoles: custom or prefabricated?
I keep getting foot pain. My friend recommended looking into orthotics. What is the difference between custom insoles and prefabricated ones?
A lot of patients ask us about insoles. Do I need them? Will they help me with my foot or knee pain? What does the research tell us?
Physica Health offers two different kinds of insoles: prefabricated insoles by a German company called Currex, and custom Insoles by Footmaxx.
prefabricated insoles
Currex insoles were developed by Bjorn Gustafsson, a former triathlon world champion. He studied numerous athletes and investigated their biomechanics in their different sports. The goal of the insoles is to prevent injury. The aim is to improve foot stability, which eventually helps with knee support. We have different kinds, which include specific ones for hiking, running, walking, and various sports insoles for hockey, soccer, volleyball, football, and basketball. Learn more about Currex insoles.
custom insoles
Physica Health also offers custom insoles. We use a force plate that takes an imprint of your foot, providing us with biomechanical information on foot position, forces that occur during your gait cycle, and pressure points. We used the Metascan system together with a 3D scanner to get a perfect impression of your feet. We then analyze this information to see which custom insole is right for you; this allows us to observe different movements during locomotion, and as each foot contacts the ground, we get information on how the foot lands. All the data is recorded in real-time, which sends information to software that can determine movement patterns, alignment, and symmetry of the foot. A detailed, customized report is then used to inform us of the need for an orthotic and treatment plan going forward.
Custom insoles can be made for your sports, for your daily usage and even for dress shoes! We work closely with a lab in Toronto, and podiatrists make the insole. All custom insoles are hand-made. Click here to learn more.
Both prefabricated and custom insoles are used for different foot and knee conditions. Common musculoskeletal conditions that we treat include:
Plantar fasciitis
Achilles tendonitis
Knee collateral ligament injuries
Ankle ligament sprains
Pain in the front of the knee
Lower back pain
Assessing a patient’s footwear is a must.
How do we differ from other
clinics?
Physica Health performs a complete examination of your limb mobility and strength. Our goal is to get you stronger without the use of insoles, but if we find that insoles can aid in your support, we recommend them.
Physica Health values continued education and current research. All our practitioners have extensive training and regularly participate in continuing education courses. We offer the latest in treatment to help you get back into the game as efficiently and safely as possible.