Custom orthotics are a treatment method for common running injuries like foot pain and knee pain. San Diego Running and Sports Injury Clinic can also fix, repair, refurbish/recondition and even transform your currently uncomfortable and useless orthotics into a comfortable orthotic that will help your condition. Typically repairing or refurbishing your orthotics is less than half the cost of a new pair of orthotics! To schedule your custom orthotic appointment call 858-268-8525 or TEXT: 858-322-8581 or email your questions to drallen@sdri.net and the doctor will answer them.

What Is A Custom Orthotic?

A custom orthotic is a device made and customized to the shape of your foot. It is meant to stabilize the foot and hold it in an optimal position, increase function, limit motion of a painful joint, decrease weight bearing on painful areas and protect your foot from excessive impact and shearing forces.

How Much Does a Custom Orthotic Cost?

Custom orthotic prices vary depending on the place you purchase them and the knowledge, experience and expertise of the person making them. We make true custom orthotics. Our molding process is done in house and we physically hand craft your orthotics. The cost of San Diego Running & Sports Injury Clinic custom orthotics is $427 for one pair or $750 for two pairs. You can choose whether you have one pair for dress shoes and one for running or if you prefer you can have two pair for running or athletic shoes

San Diego Custom Orthotics are made at the San Diego Running & Sports Injury Clinic. Custom orthotics are generally made to correct muscle imbalances and over-pronation during walking and running, prevent knee pain in running and jumping sports, and to correct leg length differences.

What Are Custom Orthotics Used For?

Custom orthotics assist with some common foot/leg issues that can result in pain or injury, including:

Structural Imbalances

Your foot is an adaptable unit comprised of 26 bones. It has the ability to accommodate to various terrains by flexing and spreading out as well as the ability to become a firm lever for push-off during walking and running. Structural and positional deformities of the feet or lower limb can negatively influence foot function during walking and running.

San Diego Custom Foot Orthotics are used to decrease abnormal compensation. The most common abnormal compensation is termed over-pronation. Over-pronation is when the foot rolls excessively inward towards your midline resulting in excessive, abnormal stresses on the knees and back resulting in pain injury. San Diego Custom Orthotics are effective in returning runners to previous levels of activity.

Pronation and Supination

Excessive pronation is movement of the ankle towards your midline during the stance phase of the gait cycle (insert picture). With this excessive, abnormal movement at the foot and ankle comes excessive, abnormal internal rotation of the tibia resulting in shearing forces at the knee. When the knee rotates inward the hip and pelvis follow resulting in shearing forces at the hip and sacroiliac joints. Depending on how a runner or walker compensates will dictate where injuries occur.

No two runners or walkers compensate the same. However, the same injuries usually occur in the same areas but for different compensations.

San Diego Custom Orthotics decrease excessive pronation and excessive shearing forces at the knee, hip and lower back. In this way the quadriceps angle is effectively reduced and your Vastus Medialis Oblique is allowed to function without inhibition. Very few walkers or runner’s actually over-supinate. Supination results during the gait cycle during push-off. After your foot comes in full contact with the ground and is in its maximally pronated position then the motions are reversed and your foot supinates, becomes a rigid lever and you are able to then effectively push-off your big toe.

Shock Absorption

San Diego Custom Orthotics provide shock absorption during walking, running and other athletic activities. Runners and walkers with high arched, rigid feet typically have trouble with absorbing shock due to their foot’s inability to flex and dissipate force on impact. This type of foot requires and flexible, soft orthotic, not a hard rigid device.

Shearing Forces

San Diego Custom Orthotics decrease shearing forces. Many runners develop knee pain that worsens with increased running miles. This is generally a result of excessive shearing forces at the knee and kneecap resulting in a condition known as Chondromalacia (runner’s knee) or another common condition called Iliotibial Band Syndrome.

By changing the way your foot interacts with the ground San Diego Custom Orthotics change the way the forces affect your knee decreasing knee pain and making running enjoyable again.

Injuries

Some of the injuries successfully treated with custom orthotics are:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Custom Orthotics

Read on for more detailed information to frequently asked questions about custom orthotics and San Diego Custom Orthotics.

What are Custom Orthotics?

Custom orthotics – also known as custom insoles or even custom foot beds – are commonly prescribed and used in the treatment of running and other athletic injuries involving the lower extremity. Your lower extremity consists of your hip, thigh, knee, leg, calf, ankle and foot. Custom insoles can be used to correct abnormal alignment of your foot which can have a negative effect on the rest of your lower extremity. For example, if your foot pronates excessively it can cause your ankle to roll inward while walking and even more so when running. Because your knee is attached to your ankle via your leg/calf your knee will also twist inward if you over-pronate. Of course your hip is connected to your knee via your thigh and it to will twist inward if you over-pronate. Since your body is mechanically connected it is functionally related. By supporting your feet mechanically you will improve your function throughout your body.

What is an over the counter orthotic?

An over the counter orthotic differs from a custom as they are prefabricated on an assembly line with the left and right being identical. For those whose feet are identical in length, width and arch height they may be suitable and help alleviate a certain condition. Very few people are perfectly symmetrical and therefore it is common for an over the counter orthotic to not work effectively. Often an over the counter orthotic helps the condition “a little”. This typically indicates that a San Diego Custom Orthotic will dra