If your feet hurt when you walk, work, exercise or simply get through the day, you may have wondered whether custom orthotics are worth it
For many people, they can be. But not everyone with foot discomfort needs a custom orthotic. The real question isn’t whether custom orthotics are better than an inexpensive shoe insert. It’s whether your particular feet, footwear, activities and symptoms require the additional support and customization that a custom orthotic can provide.
At The FootLab, we evaluate your feet, how you stand and walk, your footwear and the problems you’re experiencing before recommending custom orthotics. Here’s what you should know before deciding whether custom orthotics are worth the investment.
What Are Custom Orthotics?
Custom orthotics are individually made foot supports designed around your feet and your specific needs. Unlike a standard insole purchased from a store, a custom orthotic can be designed to address factors such as your foot shape, arch structure, pressure areas, pronation, footwear and activity level.
The goal isn’t simply to add cushioning. A properly designed orthotic can help support the foot, redistribute pressure and improve how your foot interacts with your footwear and the ground.
Are Custom Orthotics Worth the Money?
Custom orthotics may be worth considering when foot discomfort is persistent, repeatedly returns or isn’t adequately addressed by footwear changes or over-the-counter insoles. They can be especially valuable for people who spend significant amounts of time on their feet.
That can include:
- Runners and walkers
- Athletes
- Construction and trade workers
- Nurses, teachers, retail workers and other people who stand for long periods
- People experiencing recurring foot discomfort
- People with unusual foot shapes or pressure areas
- People whose shoes show significant or uneven wear
Custom orthotics may also be considered as part of managing problems associated with plantar fasciitis, flat feet, pronation, high arches, metatarsalgia and other foot conditions. However, custom orthotics aren’t automatically the right answer for every person.
When Might You NOT Need Custom Orthotics?
Sometimes a good over-the-counter insole provides all the support someone needs. For example, if your discomfort is minor, recently developed or clearly related to worn-out or inappropriate footwear, changing shoes may be a reasonable first step.
That’s one reason The FootLab offers a FREE Foot Evaluation. We can look at what’s happening with your feet before you make an investment in custom orthotics. If we don’t believe custom orthotics are appropriate for your situation, we’ll tell you.
Custom Orthotics vs. Over-the-Counter Insoles
One of the biggest questions people have is whether custom orthotics are really that different from insoles available over the counter. They are different products designed for different levels of need.
Over-the-Counter Insoles
An over-the-counter insole is manufactured to fit a broad range of people. Depending on the product, it may provide:
- Additional cushioning
- General arch support
- A different fit inside the shoe
- Improved comfort
For someone without significant foot problems, that may be enough.
Custom Orthotics
A custom orthotic is made specifically for an individual’s feet and requirements. Customization allows the orthotic to account for things such as:
- Foot shape
- Arch height
- Pronation or supination tendencies
- Areas of excessive pressure
- Activity
- Body weight
- Shoe type
- Individual comfort requirements
For someone with persistent symptoms or more complicated foot mechanics, that difference can be important.
What Problems Can Custom Orthotics Help With?
Custom orthotics are commonly used as part of a broader approach to managing a variety of foot and lower-extremity problems. These may include:
Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain. Appropriate foot support may help manage stresses placed on the plantar fascia.
People with flat feet or low arches can benefit from an orthotic designed to provide appropriate support and distribute pressure more comfortably.
Pronation is a normal part of walking. When the foot rolls inward excessively, however, additional support may sometimes be useful.
High Arches and Supination. High-arched feet can create their own pressure and cushioning challenges. Orthotics for high arches aren’t necessarily designed the same way as those for flat feet.
Metatarsalgia. Pain or excessive pressure beneath the ball of the foot may sometimes be addressed by changing how pressure is distributed across the foot.
Other foot and lower-extremity problems may also benefit from appropriate footwear, orthotics or a combination of approaches.
Why Custom Orthotics Can Be Particularly Valuable for People Who Stand All Day
Foot problems aren’t limited to athletes. People who work on their feet eight, ten or twelve hours a day can put enormous cumulative stress on their feet. Construction workers, tradespeople, healthcare professionals, teachers, warehouse employees, restaurant workers and retail employees are good examples.
A custom orthotic can be designed not only around the person’s feet but also around the footwear they spend their working day wearing. Work boots, athletic shoes and dress shoes can have very different requirements.
What About Runners and Athletes?
Athletes place different demands on their feet than someone primarily looking for everyday walking comfort. Running, court sports and other activities involve repetitive loading and greater forces.
A runner’s orthotic should therefore be evaluated in the context of:
- Running mechanics
- Training volume
- Footwear
- Previous injuries
- Foot structure
- Comfort
- The surfaces and activities involved
The goal isn’t to make every athlete’s feet function identically. It’s to provide appropriate support for that particular person and activity.
How Much Do Custom Orthotics Cost?
At The FootLab, adult custom orthotics are $399.
Children’s custom orthotics are $199.
When comparing the price of custom orthotics with over-the-counter insoles, remember that you’re not simply comparing two pieces of material that go inside a shoe. With custom orthotics, you’re paying for an individualized evaluation, fitting and fabrication of a device designed specifically for you.
How Long Do Custom Orthotics Last?
The lifespan of custom orthotics varies. How long yours last can depend on:
- How frequently you wear them
- Your activity level
- Body weight
- Orthotic materials
- Footwear
- Changes in your feet
- Normal wear and tear
The top cover or cushioning material may show wear before the underlying orthotic structure does. That’s why an older orthotic doesn’t necessarily need to be completely replaced simply because the top surface looks worn. If your orthotics no longer feel or function the way they once did, having them evaluated is a good idea.
Why Professional Fitting Matters
The value of a custom orthotic isn’t simply that it’s “custom.” The evaluation and fitting process matter. At The FootLab, your feet are evaluated by experienced Certified Pedorthists who specialize in footwear, foot support and orthotic solutions. We consider your feet along with how you stand and walk, what you do every day and what shoes you’ll actually be wearing. That last point is important. A technically excellent orthotic isn’t very useful if it doesn’t work properly with the footwear you need for your job, sport or everyday life.
Custom Orthotics Made in About One Hour
Getting custom orthotics doesn’t necessarily require waiting weeks for an outside laboratory. The FootLab uses an in-house fitting and fabrication process that allows us to make custom orthotics in approximately one hour. That means your evaluation, fitting and fabrication can be handled directly by our team rather than sending your information elsewhere and waiting for a device to be returned. It also gives us greater control over the fit and allows us to work directly with you.
So, Are Custom Orthotics Worth It?
If a basic insole and good footwear solve your problem, you may not need custom orthotics. But if you have recurring foot discomfort, unusual pressure areas, significant pronation or supination, demanding work or athletic requirements, or you’ve struggled to find adequate support from standard insoles, custom orthotics may be worth considering. The best way to answer the question isn’t to start by buying an orthotic.
Start by finding out what’s happening with your feet.
Start With a FREE Foot Evaluation
The FootLab offers a FREE Foot Evaluation with no obligation. During your evaluation, we’ll discuss your concerns, look at your feet and footwear, evaluate how you stand and walk, and explain what we’re seeing. If custom orthotics make sense for you, we’ll explain why. If they don’t, we’ll tell you that too.
Schedule your FREE Foot Evaluation at The FootLab and find out whether custom orthotics are worth it for your feet.
