Discussion
I've recently (last couple of years) developed a pain under the base of my first two toes after the big toe on my left foot if I walk far on consecutive days. A few miles each days for about three days will do it.
There was a stall selling othotics (shoe inserts) at the East of England Show, I stood on a panel which flashed up where the pressure was applied on my foot.
I was told that custom made orthotics at £300 a pair would help.
Now this strikes me as a lot for one pair of shoe inserts that may or may not work.
Does anyone use these things? How did you get them? Do they work? How much did they cost? Any help appreciated.
There was a stall selling othotics (shoe inserts) at the East of England Show, I stood on a panel which flashed up where the pressure was applied on my foot.
I was told that custom made orthotics at £300 a pair would help.
Now this strikes me as a lot for one pair of shoe inserts that may or may not work.
Does anyone use these things? How did you get them? Do they work? How much did they cost? Any help appreciated.
Well, if you are diagnosed correctly, and othotics are correctly specified and fabricated they may be helpful, particularly if you are able to tackle any muscle tightness/postural issues, then you may find your pain is solved.
Equally you could get some superfeet orthotics from amazon for 30 quid and make sure you stretch everything you can think of, and find you are more comfortable too....
But dont spend 300 quid on something from a stand at a county show. Also if you see someone who is just using a computer to diagnose your problem, limp away.
Computers and force plates look great but they are not diagnostic in themselves and should really be used to aid diagnosis rather than create a diagnosis
Equally you could get some superfeet orthotics from amazon for 30 quid and make sure you stretch everything you can think of, and find you are more comfortable too....
But dont spend 300 quid on something from a stand at a county show. Also if you see someone who is just using a computer to diagnose your problem, limp away.
Computers and force plates look great but they are not diagnostic in themselves and should really be used to aid diagnosis rather than create a diagnosis
Edited by sawman on Friday 31st August 16:58
I wear orthotics and they make every pair of shoes I wear comfortable, wouldn't be without them now.
Paid 150 for them through a chiropractor I was using at the time. They are simple arch supports really but will last my lifetime as they are well made from carbon fibre then covered in leather.
Paid 150 for them through a chiropractor I was using at the time. They are simple arch supports really but will last my lifetime as they are well made from carbon fibre then covered in leather.
Shaolin said:
Thanks for the replies, the carbon fibre ones sound more like it, I shall investigate further.
The materials are one thing, but how its designed and fabricated are more important, all the carbon fibre really does is make the device thinner for a given stiffness, this may help fit it in slimmer shoes, but thats about it. Some foot types do not deal well with the stiffness that the carbon fibre providesI have had a slim bloke in his mid seventies completely destroy a well made pair of carbon fibre orthotics inside 2 years - it turned out later that he spent a lot of time outdoors and the grit in his boots destroyed the laminate - polypropylene devices still going strong after 5 years
The single most important factor when looking at orthotics is the skill of the person who determines what you need and how they came to that conclusion.
Get a personal recommendation if you can
I use Dorset Orthopaedics.
I have my right shoe modded following a bike accident leaving my femur an inch too short, they are pretty good.
Their chap practices in both Ringwood and Harley St. Dr Andrew Collins. Not cheap but the most important part is correct diagnosis as mentioned above.
I have my right shoe modded following a bike accident leaving my femur an inch too short, they are pretty good.
Their chap practices in both Ringwood and Harley St. Dr Andrew Collins. Not cheap but the most important part is correct diagnosis as mentioned above.
dave_s13 said:
Just ask your GP to refer you to your local podiatry service.
This. Not your £££ computer whizz-bang flashing lights 21st century diagnosis (at a show of some sort...).Edited by dave_s13 on Friday 7th September 13:35
Also, the poster a few answers above makes a good point - think of anything in terms of £ per year. When I first got orthotics, I had remoulds every year. Thankfully, this was NHS, but paid for privately, this would be prohibitively expensive.
I got mine from here: http://www.mkclinic.org.uk/orthotics.htm
Bought them over 10 years ago and they make whatever pair of shoes I wear very comfortable.
For this alone they've been worth every penny imo
Bought them over 10 years ago and they make whatever pair of shoes I wear very comfortable.
For this alone they've been worth every penny imo
Big_Dog said:
I use Dorset Orthopaedics.
I have my right shoe modded following a bike accident leaving my femur an inch too short, they are pretty good.
Their chap practices in both Ringwood and Harley St. Dr Andrew Collins. Not cheap but the most important part is correct diagnosis as mentioned above.
I've got a bit more than you missing and I get mine done for nowt on the NHS. Had the same insert probably fifteen years now I have my right shoe modded following a bike accident leaving my femur an inch too short, they are pretty good.
Their chap practices in both Ringwood and Harley St. Dr Andrew Collins. Not cheap but the most important part is correct diagnosis as mentioned above.
tori said:
Wait 6 months and get some prefab shoite which falls apart in a year and made by some disinterested band 5 who has just had to deal with a clinic full of the obese, demented and neurotic. I'm afraid the quality you'll get in the NHS is usually markedly inferior to its private counterpart.
Thats a bit of a wide generalisation, there are some very good NHS departments out there. If yours in no good why not improve it?
Absolutely, but my experience has been so varied that it's difficult to predict if you'll get a reliable treatment. And I would love to change biomechanics in the departments that I have worked for but with limited funding and belligerent management, it would be easier to broker a Middle East Cease fire than get reform.
sawman said:
tori said:
Wait 6 months and get some prefab shoite which falls apart in a year and made by some disinterested band 5 who has just had to deal with a clinic full of the obese, demented and neurotic. I'm afraid the quality you'll get in the NHS is usually markedly inferior to its private counterpart.
Thats a bit of a wide generalisation, there are some very good NHS departments out there. If yours in no good why not improve it?
dave_s13 said:
sawman said:
tori said:
Wait 6 months and get some prefab shoite which falls apart in a year and made by some disinterested band 5 who has just had to deal with a clinic full of the obese, demented and neurotic. I'm afraid the quality you'll get in the NHS is usually markedly inferior to its private counterpart.
Thats a bit of a wide generalisation, there are some very good NHS departments out there. If yours in no good why not improve it?
it's their job, they spend alot of time there, why not enjoy it and make it better for everyone, particularly their patients?
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