How to Use Foot Orthoses

How does one use orthotic devices? Whether you have had plaster casts made of your feet and have just been handed a pair of custom made orthoses by your podiatrist or you have just been to the local drug store or sports store and now have an 'over-the-counter' (OTC) pair of orthoses, these recommendations will benefit you. Any type of shoe insert or orthotic must be gradually 'broken-in'. This means that the wearer (that's you) must get used to wearing the device in the shoe over time. For some people, this means a few days. For others, this means a couple of months. In general, functional orthotic devices take more time to 'break-in' than the accommodative devices. Remember that the functional orthotic is attempting to control or change the way the foot functions. The accommodative device is providing padding, cushion and / or shock absorption. Most podiatrists recommend that the orthotic be worn for one hour the first day, two hours the second day, etc., increasing the wear time until the device can be worn for a full day without discomfort.

Any insert or orthotic device placed in the shoe affects the way the foot functions, thus affecting the joints proximal to (above) the foot. Those joints include the ankle, the knee, the hip, the back and the neck, in general. If at any time knee pain, hip pain or back pain occur, the devices should be removed from the shoes for the remainder of the day, then re-inserted in the shoes the following day. Should this cycle of pain continue for over a week, contact your podiatrist for reevaluation.

When attempting to purchase shoes to wear with foot orthoses, the orthotic devices should be tried on with the shoes prior to purchase. The heel cup of the shoe must be relatively deep in order to accommodate the orthotic device. If the heel cup is too shallow, the heel will slip out of the shoe during ambulation. Most athletic shoes will accommodate orthotic devices easily. Some prefer to remove the insole that comes with the shoe; others prefer to wear the orthotic under the insole, while others prefer to wear the orthotic on top of the insole. Most styles of men's dress shoes will accommodate orthotic devices, as long as the heel cup is not too shallow. Women usually have to go with a 'boxier' or 'chunkier' type of dress shoe to accommodate the orthotic device. A specialized dress orthotic can be custom-made to fit into dress pumps or high heels.