Looking for Custom Orthotics on the Sunshine Coast?

If you are looking for custom orthotics on the Sunshine Coast, Footsmart Podiatry can assess your feet, biomechanics and gait to determine whether orthotics may be suitable for you.

We take an individual approach to custom orthotics. Rather than simply selecting a standard insert, our podiatrists assess how your feet function, how you move, the shoes you wear and the activities you enjoy. We then design your orthotics to suit your individual needs.

Our approach combines podiatry assessment, biomechanical and computerised gait analysis, 3D foot scanning, individual orthotic design and professional fitting.

Footsmart Podiatry provides custom orthotic services across the Sunshine Coast, including our clinics in Mooloolaba and Nambour.

Call Footsmart Podiatry on 07 5441 4822 or book your appointment online.

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What Are Custom Orthotics?

Custom orthotics, also known as custom orthoses, are individually designed devices that sit inside your shoes.

Unlike generic shoe inserts, custom orthotics allow your podiatrist to consider your individual foot structure, movement patterns, symptoms, footwear and lifestyle.

Depending on your circumstances, orthotics may help to:

Improve pressure distribution through the feet
Support foot and lower-limb function
Modify loading patterns during walking and running
Reduce stress on particular areas of the foot and lower limb
Improve comfort during everyday activities
Form part of a broader treatment plan for certain foot and lower-limb conditions

However, custom orthotics are not suitable for everyone. Therefore, your podiatrist will first assess your individual needs before recommending orthotic therapy.

What Can Custom Orthotics Help With?

Custom orthotics may be used as part of a treatment plan for a range of foot and lower-limb conditions.

Lower Back Pain

For some patients, addressing foot and lower-limb mechanics may be considered alongside other treatments when managing musculoskeletal symptoms.

Shin Splints

Orthotics may be appropriate for some people experiencing medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints), particularly where foot and lower-limb mechanics are contributing to symptoms.

Plantar Fasciitis

Custom orthotics may help manage the forces and pressure placed through the foot and heel and can be considered as part of a broader treatment plan for plantar heel pain and plantar fasciitis.

Knee Pain

The way your feet function can influence movement and loading throughout the lower limb. In some cases, orthotics may form part of a broader treatment plan for knee pain.

Other Conditions Where Orthotics May Be Considered

Depending on your individual assessment, your podiatrist may also consider custom orthotics for:

Stress fractures
Bunions and hallux abducto-valgus
Tendinopathy and tendonitis
Neuromas and neural compression
Sever’s disease
Osgood-Schlatter disease
Growth plate-related problems
Osteoarthritis
Corns and calluses
Arch pain
Foot fatigue

Your podiatrist will assess your individual circumstances before recommending orthotics.

How We Design Your Custom Orthotics

We don’t simply manufacture an orthotic to fit your foot.

We assess how you move, design the orthotic around your individual needs, and then finish and fit it to the shoes you actually want to wear.

Our process can include the following steps.

1. Biomechanical and Computerised Gait Analysis

First, your Podiatrist will discuss your symptoms, lifestyle, work, exercise, sporting activities and treatment goals.

Next, your podiatrist completes an up-to-date biomechanical and computerised gait analysis.This assessment provides information about how your feet and lower limbs function during movement and where you may experience increased pressure or mechanical stress.

2. 3D Scanning Your Feet

An up-to-date 3D scan of your foot is required as part of the custom orthotic design process.

The 3D scan provides a digital representation of your foot that can be used alongside the findings from your biomechanical and computerised gait analysis.

Combining the 3D foot scan with your clinical assessment, biomechanics and gait information allows your podiatrist to accurately design your orthotics around your individual requirements.

3. Digital Orthotic Design and Manufacturing

If your assessment indicates that orthotics may benefit you, your podiatrist determines the appropriate characteristics for your orthotic design.

These may include:

Arch support profile
Posting angles
Flexibility and stiffness
Pressure offloading areas
Forefoot and rearfoot modifications
Material selection
Orthotic thickness
Overall shape and profile

Every prescription is different because every patient has different needs.

We use modern digital technology to create individually designed custom orthotics.

Your podiatrist uses the information gathered during your assessment, including your 3D foot scan, to create a digital orthotic design that matches your prescription.

We can then use an appropriate manufacturing method to produce your orthotic.

Depending on your individual requirements, this may include a manufactured orthotic shell or 3D printed custom orthotics.

4. Finishing and Covering Your Orthotics

The manufacturing process is not the end of the treatment.

When your orthotic arrives, our podiatrists finish and cover it according to your requirements.

We can consider factors such as the type of footwear you use, cushioning requirements and the amount of space available inside your shoes.

5. Fitting Your Orthotics to Your Shoes

Your footwear is an important part of the fitting process.

An orthotic that works well in a running shoe may not be suitable for a dress shoe, work boot or everyday shoe. Therefore, we consider the shoes you actually want to wear.

Our podiatrists check the fit of your orthotics inside your chosen footwear and make appropriate finishing adjustments.

The aim is to ensure your orthotics sit correctly inside your shoes and provide the intended support and function.

6. Follow-Up and Adjustments

Your body may need time to adapt to a new pair of orthotics.

We can provide advice about wearing them initially and discuss any concerns you experience.

If an adjustment is required, your podiatrist can assess the orthotics and make appropriate changes.

Why Do Biomechanics Matter?

Your feet absorb and transfer forces every time you walk, run, work or exercise. Because your feet work together with your ankles, knees, hips and the rest of your body, changes in foot function can influence movement throughout your lower limbs.

Your foot posture, joint movement, muscle function, footwear and activity levels can all affect your biomechanics.

For this reason, we look beyond the shape of your feet when considering custom orthotics on the Sunshine Coast.

A biomechanical and computerised gait analysis allows your Footsmart podiatrist to assess how your feet and lower limbs function both statically and during movement. This information can then be considered alongside your symptoms, medical history, footwear and lifestyle to develop an appropriate treatment plan.

What Does a Biomechanical and Computerised Gait Analysis Look At?

Depending on your individual circumstances, your podiatrist may assess:

Foot posture and structure
Joint range of motion
Muscle function
Lower-limb alignment
Foot and ankle movement
Areas of increased pressure or loading
Walking and running mechanics
Existing footwear
Work, exercise and sporting requirements
Previous injuries and symptoms

Your computerised gait analysis can provide additional objective information about how your feet and lower limbs function during movement.

This information helps your podiatrist understand how your feet function, identify movement patterns and determine factors that may contribute to your symptoms or influence your orthotic prescription.

Learn more about our Biomechanical and Computerised Gait Analysis

Gait Analysis and Custom Orthotics

Computerised gait analysis examines how your body and feet move when you walk or run.

Rather than looking only at your feet while you stand, gait analysis allows your podiatrist to assess movement throughout different phases of your gait cycle.

At Footsmart Podiatry, we use computerised gait analysis technology to gather additional information about your walking and running mechanics. This objective information can complement your clinical assessment and help identify movement patterns that may contribute to pain, inefficient movement or increased loading.

Depending on your assessment, computerised gait analysis can provide information about:

Pressure distribution
Timing during the gait cycle
Left and right-side differences
Balance and stability
Walking and running mechanics
Loading patterns
Movement asymmetries

Your podiatrist interprets this information alongside your clinical assessment, symptoms and other findings to develop a more complete understanding of how your feet function during movement.

Learn more about Gait Analysis at Footsmart Podiatry

Force Platform Gait Analysis

Footsmart Podiatry uses the Freestep Force Platform System as part of our gait analysis services.

The force platform provides objective information about how you load your feet when you stand and move. This can give your podiatrist additional information about pressure distribution, balance and other aspects of your biomechanics.

For example, differences between your left and right foot may provide useful information when your podiatrist investigates an injury, ongoing pain or changes in your movement.

Importantly, computerised gait analysis does not replace a clinical assessment. Instead, it provides additional information that your podiatrist can consider alongside your medical history, physical examination and other clinical findings.

Custom Orthotics Designed Around Your Shoes

Your footwear matters when designing and fitting custom orthotics.

For example, the requirements of a running shoe can be very different from those of a work boot, school shoe, walking shoe or dress shoe.

For this reason, we encourage you to tell your podiatrist about the footwear you regularly use.

If you want your orthotics to work across several types of shoes, discuss this with your podiatrist during your assessment. We can then consider your footwear requirementswhen planning your orthotic solution.

3D Printed Custom Orthotics

We also offer 3D printed custom orthotics for suitable patients.

With 3D printing technology, we can turn a digital orthotic design into a physical device using a computer-controlled manufacturing process.

As with all of our custom orthotics, the process begins with an individual assessment.

Your podiatrist considers your biomechanics, gait, symptoms, footwear and lifestylebefore determining the appropriate orthotic design.

An up-to-date 3D scan of your foot is also required to accurately design the orthotic.

Once the 3D printed orthotic arrives, we finish, cover and fit it to your footwear.

The technology provides another manufacturing option, while the clinical assessment remains the foundation of the process.

Technology Is Only Part of the Process

Modern technology gives podiatrists more options when designing and manufacturing custom orthotics. However, technology alone does not determine what your orthotic should look like.

Your assessment comes first.

Our podiatrists use clinical findings, biomechanics, computerised gait analysis, 3D foot scanning, pressure information, symptoms, footwear and lifestyle to determine the most appropriate orthotic design.

We then select the manufacturing approach that best suits your individual requirements.

This combination of clinical assessment, biomechanics, computerised gait analysis, individual 3D foot scanning, digital design and professional fitting allows us to provide personalised custom orthotic care on the Sunshine Coast.

Custom Orthotics for an Active Sunshine Coast Lifestyle

The Sunshine Coast lifestyle means many people spend plenty of time walking, running, exercising and enjoying outdoor activities.

Whether you walk along the beach, run, play sport, work on your feet or simply want to stay comfortable throughout the day, your footwear and foot function can influence how you move.

For this reason, we consider more than your feet alone when prescribing custom orthotics.

We also consider the activities you enjoy, the shoes you wear and the demands you place on your feet.

Our goal is to develop an orthotic solution that fits into your lifestyle rather than forcing your lifestyle to fit around your orthotics.

How Much Do Custom Orthotics Cost?

The cost of custom orthotics depends on the assessment, orthotic type and consultations you require.

Footsmart Podiatry offers HICAPS facilities, so eligible patients can claim their private health insurance rebate at the time of their appointment.

However, health insurance policies vary. Therefore, we recommend contacting your private health insurer before your appointment to confirm your level of cover and expected rebate.

You can provide your health fund with the relevant item numbers below.

Orthotic Service	Item Number	Price
Biomechanical and Computerised Gait Analysis	118	$160.00
3D Scanning Consultation	302	$155.00
Custom Orthotics – 2 feet	221	$320.00
Formthotics – 2 feet	267	$180.00
PolyFab – 2 feet	267	$180.00
Fitting Consultation	012	$90.00
Recover Pair of Orthotics	381	$155.00

Prices and private health insurance rebates may change. Please contact Footsmart Podiatry and your health insurer to confirm current pricing and rebate eligibility.

Why Choose Footsmart Podiatry for Custom Orthotics?

Custom orthotics should do more than simply provide an insert for your shoes.

Your podiatrist needs to understand why you may benefit from orthotic therapy and how your feet function during movement.

At Footsmart Podiatry, we combine clinical podiatry assessment, biomechanics, computerised gait analysis, 3D foot scanning, individual orthotic design and professional fitting.

As a result, we can develop a treatment approach based on your individual feet, movement patterns, symptoms, footwear and lifestyle.

We also provide different manufacturing options, including 3D printed custom orthotics, where appropriate.

Most importantly, our podiatrists remain involved throughout the process, from your initial assessment through to the final fitting.

Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Orthotics

How much do custom orthotics cost on the Sunshine Coast?

The cost depends on the type of orthotics and consultations you require. Footsmart Podiatry currently lists custom orthotics for two feet at $320, in addition to the applicable biomechanical and computerised gait analysis, 3D scanning and fitting consultations.

Do I need a biomechanical and computerised gait analysis before getting custom orthotics?

Yes. An up-to-date biomechanical and computerised gait analysis is required as part of the process for accurately designing custom orthotics. Your podiatrist uses this information to assess how your feet and lower limbs function during movement and to develop an appropriate orthotic prescription.

Do I need a 3D foot scan for custom orthotics?

Yes. An up-to-date 3D scan of your foot is required to accurately design your custom orthotics. The 3D scan provides the digital foot information needed for the orthotic design and is considered alongside your biomechanical and computerised gait analysis.

What is computerised gait analysis?

Computerised gait analysis examines how your body and feet move when you walk or run. Your podiatrist can assess movement patterns, pressure distribution, balance and other biomechanical factors to better understand how your feet function during movement.

Can gait analysis help with foot pain?

Computerised gait analysis can provide additional objective information about your walking and running mechanics. Your podiatrist can use this information alongside your clinical assessment to investigate factors that may contribute to your symptoms.

Are custom orthotics suitable for everyone?

No. Orthotics do not suit every patient or every condition. Your podiatrist will assess your individual circumstances and determine whether orthotics could form part of an appropriate treatment plan.

Can custom orthotics help plantar fasciitis?

Custom orthotics may form part of a broader treatment plan for plantar fasciitis and heel pain. However, your podiatrist should assess your feet and symptoms before recommending them.

Can I use custom orthotics in different shoes?

It depends on the orthotic design and footwear. Your podiatrist can advise you about suitable shoes and discuss whether you may benefit from an additional pair for different footwear.

What are 3D printed custom orthotics?

3D printed custom orthotics use digital design and 3D printing technology to manufacture an individually designed orthotic device. Your podiatrist first completes an up-to-date biomechanical and computerised gait analysis and obtains a 3D scan of your foot before determining the appropriate orthotic design.

How long do custom orthotics take?

The timeframe depends on the type of orthotic, manufacturing method and services required. Your Footsmart podiatrist can provide an expected timeframe during your assessment.