Are my new Custom Foot Orthotics supposed to hurt this much?

Breaking down what is expected, and what is a cause for concern when getting foot orthotics

This shouldn't sum up your new foot orthotic experience...

Custom made foot orthotics are designed to capture the shape of your foot, but in many cases they have additional "goodies" built in to help with things like alignment, stability, better pressure distribution, pain relief and much more! With all that goes into a custom made orthotic, especially if its goal is to change your "normal" foot positioning, we are bound to have some people not enjoy their first few steps. An important thing to recognize, especially over the first 2 weeks, is differentiating between the discomfort from "something weird in my shoe", and discomfort leading to pain.

I believe this is an essential part of the orthotic treatment process, and can make or break the goals that we lay out in the initial assessment. So where do we start?

Tip #1 - NO PAIN, NO GAIN

Well, actually we want the opposite.

Many clients come to see orthotic specialists like Pedorthist's for foot pain, and the last thing we are trying to do is create more of it. If you feel like the orthotic is causing more or different pain, the worst thing you can do is continue to wear the orthotic and fight through it. This "NO PAIN, NO GAIN" mentality almost always leads to...

• Decreased compliance to wear the orthotics - due to an increase in pain

• Decreased trust in their clinician because they believe they were given a faulty device

• Decreased wear timeline - usually too short to see the benefits that the orthotic can provide

  • Leading to frustration and a dislike for orthotics - In some cases for life...

Tip #2 - The Expectation

Making sure the expectation is set that an orthotic should NOT be painful, but you may experience some discomfort throughout the first 2 weeks. This doesn't mean that the symptoms will be gone within the first 2 weeks, that usually takes longer. Always having a conversation on the break in period is essential, whether you the client has worn orthotics before or not!

"A custom-made foot orthotic should never be painful to wear" (Pedorthic Association of Canada, 2023)

Tip #3 - The Break In Period

At Full Stride Orthotics, we will recommend a 2-3 week break in period - a time to get familiar with the orthotics. Starting off with a few basic rules;

• If the orthotic feels great, use it as much as you would like

• If the orthotic doesn't feel quite right, we recommend removing the orthotic from your footwear and replacing it with the insole you were wearing before the appointment (if appropriate)

  • Increase your wear time by 1 hour each day (if tolerable)

• Limit your high intensity activity with the orthotic for the first week

  • Get use to the support first, putting lots of pressure may cause unwanted discomfort, blistering, or a "bruised achy" feeling

These are the main take home points, but for example if you notice the orthotics feel good in your casual shoe and not good in your work footwear, maybe we have to look at a different culprit.

Tip #4 - The Shoe Culprit

Not all shoes are made equal. Most people that I ask "what shoe size are you" will give me a range, sometimes up to 1.5-2 US sizes different depending on the brand. If you find that your new orthotics are feeling good in the shoes you brought to the fitting appointment (which should be trimmed to fit perfectly), but in other shoes you are noticing discomfort, more or less support, loose or tighter fit, ect... it would be a good idea to stick with the shoe that feels the best for the interim. If you find that you will be wearing a different shoe more often that doesn't feel great with the orthotic, you can always book in for an orthotic adjustment.

Tip #5 - Adjust To Impress

A clinic that sells orthotics should allow for adjustments, more times than not this should be included in the price for a certain length of time (3 months, 6 months, ect...). If the orthotics feel great and you notice your reason for getting them is becoming a reality, don't over think it. They are working, and classify yourself as one of the shining stars of the orthotic world where you and the orthotic have become one!

On the other foot, if you've reached that 2-3 week period and things are still feeling off or you cant quite go a full day or shift in your orthotics - its time to book that adjustment. Sometimes this can be a simple adjustment that takes 2 minutes, and you immediately feel the difference. Other times you may need to come back a few times to try the adjustment out, and that's why the adjustment period is there. At the end of the day, a clinician should be proud of the orthotic they made for you, and they should want to see your needs met and you happy in your new orthotics. After all, most individuals that wear orthotics may use them as much as the use shoes, day in and day out!

The Recap For Orthotic Success

If you have been down the road of orthotics not living up to your standard, or if you are thinking about getting orthotics but have heard horror stories from friends, family or co- workers - Your Not Alone... At the end of the day your orthotics shouldn't be something that you need to wear, but rather something you should ENJOY wearing. Taking the appropriate precautions to find the right clinician, follow the correct break in period, and utilize getting your orthotics adjusted if needed will lead to better success in the long run. Orthotics can be a great treatment method for a lot of conditions, have benefits for those who are on their feet all day, and be the perfect addition in your active shoe - and Full Stride Orthotics wants to help you along the way.

Learn More About Full Stride's Orthotics

References

Pedorthic Association of Canada. (2023, January 6). Getting started with a new orthotic. https://pedorthic.ca/services/custom-orthotics/getting-started/