Functional orthotics are custom-made inserts designed to go into your shoes. They are configured based on the findings of a detailed biomechanical assessment (with digital video gait analysis) combined with a plaster-of-Paris cast impression of your feet. Each cast impression is taken with your foot held in its neutral functioning position. Then, the casts, along with a detailed prescription for treating your foot condition, are sent to a specialist orthotic laboratory. Each cast is filled with liquid plaster-of-Paris and allowed to dry overnight.

Once the original cast shell is removed, an exact plaster replica of your foot results. Necessary corrections are made in the laboratory based on prescription requirements. Then, the appropriate orthotic materials are vacuum-pressed to this corrected model of your foot. Following a series of carefully monitored finishing steps, your durable (lifetime guarantee) orthotics are complete and ready for dispensing.

The purpose of functional orthotics is to control/improve the way your feet and legs work. More specifically, they help the bones and muscles of your feet, legs, pelvis and back to function correctly. This reduces the underlying functional abnormality causing your discomfort in the first place. Any "substitute" for a thorough biomechanical assessment and plaster-cast impressions of your feet (eg. "high-tech laser scans" or " stepping on a pressure mat") will yield a less functional orthotic; this will decrease the likelihood of eradicating your foot, knee or low back pain.

Sports orthotics extend the full length of your foot. As such, they are designed to replace the original foot bed of your running shoe, trainer, casual walking shoe, hiking boot or ski boot. This creates a supporting surface that is configured exactly to the shape of your foot. Dress orthotics are for use in more formal footwear. Therefore, they are narrower than sports orthotics and only extend to the ball of the foot to allow more space in the front of your dress shoe.