"Do I need orthotics?" is one of the questions I get asked most — usually by someone who's already tried three pairs of shoes and a chemist insole and is still sore. And my honest answer is: sometimes yes, sometimes no. Orthotics are genuinely useful tools, but there's a lot of confusion about what they do and when they're worth it. So let's clear it up.
What an orthotic actually does
Foot orthoses — orthotics — are shoe inserts that change how load moves through your foot. They can support an area that's working too hard, take pressure off a sore spot, or nudge your foot into a position that's easier on the tissues that are grumbling. What they don't do is "correct" your feet like braces on teeth. Think of them as changing the load, not permanently reshaping the foot.
Used for the right problem, that change in load can make a real difference to pain and function.
Custom or off-the-shelf?
This is where people are often surprised. For a lot of common complaints, a good off-the-shelf orthotic performs about as well as a custom one — the research comparing them for things like plantar heel pain often shows little difference. So I won't send you down the custom path just because it sounds fancier.
Where custom devices genuinely earn their keep is when the foot is more complex: a significant deformity, a big difference between your two feet, a diabetic foot that needs precise offloading, or a specific pressure area that an off-the-shelf shape just can't target. That's also where footwear modification — the pedorthic side of things — comes in, adjusting or building shoes for feet that are hard to fit.
Been sold orthotics before and not sure they helped? We'll give you a straight answer on what your feet actually need, across South East Queensland — Caboolture, Beenleigh, Browns Plains and Victoria Point.
Book an appointmentThe bit that makes the difference
Whatever device you end up with, orthotics work best as part of a plan — not the whole plan. Pair them with the right footwear, some strengthening, and sensible load management, and they do their job. Rely on them alone and you often leave results on the table. That's why we start with an assessment: work out what's actually driving your pain, decide whether an orthotic is even the right tool, and if it is, get the simplest one that does the job.
Questions I get about orthotics
Custom or off-the-shelf?
Off-the-shelf is fine for many everyday problems. Custom is worth it for complex feet — deformity, big left-right differences, diabetes, or precise offloading.
Do orthotics actually work?
For the right problem, yes — especially alongside footwear and strengthening. Less so as a standalone fix.
Will I need them forever?
Not always. Sometimes long-term support, sometimes a tool to settle a problem while you build strength, then wean off.
What's pedorthics?
The craft of modifying footwear and making devices for feet that are hard to fit — it pairs naturally with podiatry.
Want to know if orthotics are right for you? We'll assess your feet and recommend only what genuinely helps. Clinics at Caboolture, Beenleigh, Browns Plains and Victoria Point.
Book an appointmentReferences & further reading
- Better Health Channel (Victorian Government) — Foot orthoses.
- Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health — Custom-Made Foot Orthoses versus Prefabricated Foot Orthoses: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness. NCBI Bookshelf.
- Rasenberg N, et al. Custom foot orthoses improve first-step pain in plantar fasciopathy: a randomised controlled trial. PubMed Central.
This is general information, not individual advice. Whether orthotics suit you depends on your feet — see a podiatrist for an assessment.