Orthoses
Many of us now wear orthoses as a treatment for our foot conditions, but what are they and how do they work?
If you have ever experienced aches, pains or twinges in your feet and legs during walking or exercise, this may well be due to the way you are walking. Biomechanics refers to the complex series of movements that make up the walking and any anomalies in this process can lead to pain - not only in the feet, but elsewhere in the body such as knee and lower back.
Podiatrists can examine your walking characteristics to identify these biomechanical problems, and check to see if the joints and muscles in your feet and legs are functioning normally. They can then prescribe a course of treatment to help resolve your condition that will commonly include corrective devices called orthoses.
Orthoses are designed to alter the way your feet and legs work, restoring more normal function and relieving stress on the painful areas. They can be manufactured from a number of different materials, ranging from soft foams to rigid plastics, and are normally designed to fit slightly behind the balls of the feet – although some can be manufactured to the full length of the foot.
Many of us now wear orthoses as a treatment for our foot conditions, but what are they and how do they work?
If you have ever experienced aches, pains or twinges in your feet and legs during walking or exercise, this may well be due to the way you are walking. Biomechanics refers to the complex series of movements that make up the walking and any anomalies in this process can lead to pain - not only in the feet, but elsewhere in the body such as knee and lower back.
Podiatrists can examine your walking characteristics to identify these biomechanical problems, and check to see if the joints and muscles in your feet and legs are functioning normally. They can then prescribe a course of treatment to help resolve your condition that will commonly include corrective devices called orthoses.
Orthoses are designed to alter the way your feet and legs work, restoring more normal function and relieving stress on the painful areas. They can be manufactured from a number of different materials, ranging from soft foams to rigid plastics, and are normally designed to fit slightly behind the balls of the feet – although some can be manufactured to the full length of the foot.
Choose shoes to work with your orthoses by making sure they have the following features. Extra depth at the toe and the heel, an adjustable fastening to hold the foot securely in the shoe and a low heel height of no more that 4 centimetres (13/4 inches). 
There are numerous conditions which affect the feet, and it’s important that you wear the right style of shoe depending on your symptoms. These pages should act as a guideline as each case will be different. Please always consult your podiatrist if you have any concerns regarding the health of your feet.
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