Orthotics
Biomechanical Foot Orthoses are shoe inserts prescribed to try and optimise foot and leg function. We stock a range of ready made orthoses, heel raises and metatarsal pads. A simple example of the use of a heel raise would be when we detect on assessment that the patient has a leg length difference and that this is contributing to or causing the symptoms.
Prescription biomechanical foot orthoses are individually made inserts for the patient. In Swords Physiotherapy we fully assess lower limb mechanics, take measurements and then make plaster molds of the feet which we then send to a lab for manufacture. We work closely with Podiatry Products Ltd. a Cork based company which ensures quick turnaround and cost competitiveness.
Conditions which often result from poor foot bio-mechanics are;- plantar fascitis, shin splints, achilles tendonitis,metatarsalgia, ilio-tibial band friction syndrome and condro-malacia patella.
It should be noted that orthotics will not necessarily cure the problem. They work to improve the foot and leg mechanics in order to prevent the problem recurring. Hence they are not always prescribed with the first incidence of a leg problem but if the problem is recurrent or chronic they are often advised.
