Custom Orthotics – Improving the Quality of Life

What are Custom Orthotics?

A custom orthotic is a shoe insert that has been custom-moulded for your feet to provide support and shock absorption and has many benefits to the body including pain relief, good posture and stability. 

Orthotics can be worn in any type of shoe, ladies or gents. There is no need to go up a size as specially designed narrow and slimline orthotics can be made to suit a fashion dress shoe. 

Orthotics can be prescribed for patients from 3 years upwards, they are very beneficial for children as a preventative measure to good health. 

Why Orthotics?

As a Podiatrist I work in the area of medicine called biomechanics. Biomechanics is a science of assessing the effects of mechanics on the human body in motion, it addresses the structure and function of the feet as they relate to each other and to the knees, legs, hips and back.

Poor foot function contributes to poor biomechanics so causing many symptoms throughout the body such as foot pains, ankle, knee and hip pains, back and neck pains. 

More and more people every day are suffering from these symptoms and pains. Proper foot function is a necessity in these busy times as the feet are the foundation for a healthy posture. 

The use of orthotics as a preventative approach to good health is overwhelming and beneficial for everyone. 

The many Conditions Helped by Orthotics

Foot Conditions :

Heel spur / plantar fasciitis / metatarsalgia / arch pains / bunions / neuroma / hammer toes / calluses and corns / mallet toes / Morton’s neuroma / diabetic foot. 

Conditions of the Lower Extremities :

Achilles tendonitis / shin splints / chondromalacia / patella (runner’s knee) / iliotibial band syndrome / hip pains. 

Other Conditions Orthotics can Assist :

Lumbago / osteoarthritis / sciatica / anatomical leg limb discrepancy / ankle joint synovitis / polymyalgia / fibromyalgia / scoliosis / lordosis / kyphosis. 

Also as a practitioner I prescribe Ankle Foot Orthotics for the following conditions :

Drop foot / tarsal coalition / degenerative arthritis / lateral ankle instability / tibialis posterior dysfunction / sinus tarsi syndrome / charcot foot deformity / peroneal tendinopathy.

What are Sport Orthotics?

A Sport Orthotic is a shoe insert custom-moulded to the feet and individually designed to each sport, so a golf orthotic is designed very differently to a running orthotic. 

Sports orthotics are commonly worn by many top sports people, each orthotic is designed to each sports person’s biomechanical needs.

Sports orthotics protect the stressed areas and redistribute the abnormal weight to the entire body protecting the feet and joints from the repetitive stress involved in sport. 

This protection helps to prevent sports injuries, ligament, tendon and muscular strains, giving the sports person comfort, support and a competitive edge. 

Specific Sports Orthotics can be prescribed for :

Cycling / marathon / running / sprinting / soccer / gaelic games / rugby / golf / skiing / basketball / volleyball / tennis / squash / boxing / hill walking / climbing / dancing / gym / aerobics. 

Gait Scanning Technology

This technology is a very effective diagnostic tool we use in the clinic to assess a patient’s poor biomechanics while standing and walking. It measures the distribution of force throughout the patient’s feet, evaluating areas of high pressure and gait abnormalities. For a sports person a patient can be assessed while running. 

All consultations consist of a gait scan assessment and a full biomechanical and gait cycle assessment. 

Orthotics are VHI / BUPA / Vivas Health / and HSE approved. 

Declan Healy has been a registered Podiatrist for nearly 12 years, specialising in Custom Orthotics and Ankle Foot Orthotics.

He has much clinical experience from the US, UK and Ireland.

Contact Details 

All consultations are By Appointment Only.

Phone 086 8137880

Website address: www.customorthotics.net

Clinic Address :

Orthotics Clinic, Weedle Pharmacy, 63 Main Street, Mallow, Co. Cork.