Menu

Get in touch

Fill in your details to begin the process of making your appointment with Firefly Foot & Ankle Clinics. Our staff will be in touch with you to complete your appointment booking or to answer your query.

ROI

01 9696 055

NI

028 9543 64000

Make Appointment

Orthotic Therapy

Orthotic Therapy

Orthotic Therapy is a physical therapy involving the prescription, manufacture and fitting of foot orthotics to improve the foot or lower limb, back and/or musculoskeletal function to resolve or reduce foot pain.

At Firefly Foot & Ankle Clinics we specialise in podiatric biomechanics and orthotic therapy. We produce custom made foot orthoses from our own lab in Sligo. This insures we can produce accurately designed, bespoke orthotic devices; crafted to treat the unique needs of each individual patient.

The devices produced by our skilled orthotic technicians are recognised as industry leading. As such, Firefly custom made foot orthoses are prescribed by many hundreds of Podiatrists across the UK and Ireland.

Typically foot orthotics are prescribed to treat pain that occurs from the hips down. However, orthotics can be used to improve posture. Those who suffer from supinated or pronated feet can benefit from orthotic therapy.

Pronated Feet

A pronated foot is sometimes (and not alway accurately) described as a flat foot. A pronated foot has a fallen arch, this leads it sometimes, incorrectly, to be described as a flat foot. However, it just appears flat when the foot bears weight. A pronated foot can be a symptom of:

  • the leg rotating inwards so the foot also rolls causing the arch to collapse.
  • an unstable heel, this can allow the foot to roll inwards.
  • tight muscles at the fore of the foot could pull the foot to the inside causing pronation.
  • or, a neurological abnormality may cause some muscles to weaken.

All of the above can lead to a mal-alignment of the foot and ankle and/or also the knee, hip, pelvis and back. Orthotic therapy can help realign the foot and reduce pain or prevent potential future injury.

Supinated Feet

The supinated foot sees forces exerted on the outside of the foot. This can be evidenced by examining a running shoe. If the sole of the shoe is worn on the outside border of the sole [from heel to toe] it would indicate supination. How the heel of a shoe wears can also be an indication. Heels that wear on the outside edge would also indicate supination.

Both pronated or supinated feet suggest some form of mis-alignment within the musculoskeletal structure of the foot is present. Typically this can result some joint surfaces not working in concert to produce efficient foot function. Over time this could lead to Osteoarthritis, the degeneration of the joint surfaces. Custom made foot orthotics can support the foot, realigning affected joints.

Flat Feet: Flat feet can appear similar to pronated feet, however, if the suspect foot is elevated and there is no evidence of a foot arch, then it is likely the person suffers from flat feet. This is contrasted with someone who suspects their feet pronate. When someone who pronates, elevates their foot by lifting it away from the ground, the arch should be visible.

High arches, those who have a high arched feet may not suffer misalignment of joints. The challenge with high arched feet is they may not get the support provided in-shoe or by using over the counter devices, as the arch of the foot is much higher than the average arch height.

Some Commonly asked questions about foot orthotics

What are orthotics?

Foot orthotics, or orthotics, are devices that have been used for decades to treat many problems that affect the foot, ankle or lower extremity.

Foot orthotics can come in many forms. They can be bought Over The Counter [OTC] or they may be custom made.

The function of an insole is to provide a layer of comfort and shock absorption in a shoe or footwear. An orthotic is designed to get to the address the biomechanics of the foot. An orthotic will alter the posture of the foot to relieve pain and optimise the functionality of the patient’s foot.

Do I require foot orthotics?

Over time, repetitive forces on the foot can lead to damage, resulting in pain. This occurs as a result of overuse and can present in a variety of scenarios. For example, running amplifies forces of movement on the foot, ankle, knee and hip. When running, the foot repetitively strikes the ground with a force that far exceeds walking. Here runners commonly experience foot pain that can be alleviated through prescribed custom made orthotics. However, foot pain is not exclusive to high level activity. Patients who engage in all levels of activity can pain that is treatable with orthotic therapy.

Are there different types of foot orthotics?

Custom made orthotics are designed to meet the needs of the patient. Device design can also take account of the footwear for which the patient intends to wear in concert with the orthotic. For example a female patient may have a set of orthotics designed to be worn dress shoes and a set designed for wear in sports shoes. Each set will combine different materials. The materials used will depend on the foot type, the diagnosed condition, level of activity and the forces required to achieve the desired foot posture.

How will Firefly orthotics help me?

As previously discussed, custom made orthotics and OTCs serve different purposes. Functional custom made orthoses are designed to alter the forces exerted on the foot in an effort to reduce pain or improve the patient's biomechanics.

When should I wear my foot orthotics?

When first prescribed orthotics, it is advised to only wear them for short periods of time. This allows the patient's foot to adjust. As time passes the patient should become more accustomed to the orthotics. Your Firefly podiatrist is best placed to advise on when to wear your orthotics. Certain orthotics are designed with certain footwear and should only be worn during particular activities or with the suitable footwear.

How are Firefly foot orthotics made?

Each set of custom made orthotics are unique to the patient. When one of our Podiatrists prescribe a patient with a custom orthotic, a Plaster of Paris cast of the patient's foot is captured. From this cast a unique orthotic device is manufactured, designed to the anatomy of the patient's foot, incorporating features that meet the specific needs of the patient.

Over the Counter Foot Orthotics

OTCs are generic, mass manufactured devices for the treatment of foot and ankle conditions. These devices can relieve and end foot pain by simply adding support to the arch and comfort to the foot.

At Firefly Foot & Ankle Clinics we provide a range of our own OTCs:

Dragon Fly

The Dragon Fly is designed to replace a removable insole. It combines a soft, cushioned top cover that extends to the end of your toes and fills the shoe for a better fit. The Dragon Fly orthotic is great for general foot fatigue, ankle leg and lower back pain.

Super Fly

This tri-laminated orthotic comes with a semi-rigid polypropylene shell. The shell is laminated between a top and bottom cover. The top cover to the toes provides shock absorption, with the bottom cover adding additional comfort and proper shoe fit.

Butter Fly

The purpose of Butter Fly shell is to relieve general fatigue, ankle, and lower back pain. With just the right amount of support the Butter Fly is great for active individuals.

An excellent choice for tighter fitting dress and sports shoes without remopvable insoles.