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Home » The Secret to Perfect Orthotics: What Your Podiatrist Should Be Telling You (But Probably Isn’t)
The Secret to Perfect Orthotics: What Your Podiatrist Should Be Telling You (But Probably Isn’t)

The Secret to Perfect Orthotics: What Your Podiatrist Should Be Telling You (But Probably Isn’t)

The perfect orthotics can change your life—if you get them right. But here’s the truth most podiatrists won’t tell you: not all orthotics are created equal, and the wrong ones can set you back months in recovery while burning a hole in your wallet.

I’m not here to sell you anything. I’m here to empower you with insider knowledge—so you can make informed decisions and get orthotics that actually work for you.


What Podiatrists Should Be Telling You

Custom vs. Prefabricated: What’s Best for You?

There’s a persistent myth that custom orthotics are always better. But that’s not necessarily true. Orthotics work by applying pressure to specific areas of your foot, and if you only need mild support, like a small push through the arch, a prefabricated orthotic can work brilliantly.

The challenge arises when your needs are more complex. For example, if your gait is unstable, or you’re dealing with Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, or forefoot issues like neuromas or bursitis, you likely need a more tailored solution.

Here’s where one of my favourite analogies comes in:

Think of orthotics like eye glasses. If you’ve ever tried on someone else’s glasses, you know the feeling—everything looks blurry, uncomfortable, and distorted. It’s hard to imagine how someone could see through them! But when you wear your own glasses, everything is crystal clear. Orthotics work the same way.

The right orthotics, whether firm or soft, should feel like your glasses: perfectly matched to you, providing effortless comfort and clarity. The wrong orthotics, on the other hand, are like wearing someone else’s glasses—uncomfortable and ineffective.

To get your pair of foot spectacles, orthotics, your podiatrist will analyse:

  • The range and quality of motion in your joints.
  • The joint axes of your feet—how and where they rotate.
  • The strength and capacity of the muscles in your legs and feet.
  • Your biomechanics, the way your body moves in response to gravity, your speed and direction of travel.

Based on this assessment, your podiatrist will recommend the right orthotic for your needs, ensuring it provides the perfect balance of comfort and support.


What Does Your Investment in Orthotics Really Pay For?

At Pride Podiatry, we believe in being upfront about costs because your trust matters to us. Last year, our margin on orthotic devices alone was 17.8%. This reflects only the cost of manufacturing and delivering the device itself—not the expertise, assessments, and ongoing support that are included in your orthotic care.

Orthotics aren’t just a product; they’re a tool in a bigger plan to relieve pain, restore function, and improve your quality of life. When you invest in orthotics with us, you’re paying for more than the device—you’re investing in advanced 3D printing technology, precise tailoring to your biomechanics, and a podiatrist who’s committed to long-term results.


Are You Wearing Your Orthotics Wrong? (Yes, It’s Possible!)

Orthotics are designed to work with specific shoes and activities. A common mistake people make is switching shoes without considering how it impacts their orthotics.

For example, you might start with an orthotic designed for a stable running shoe like the Asics Nimbus. Things are going great, but 18 months later, you switch to a softer, more flexible shoe like an Allbirds Wool Runner. While the orthotic technically fits, the softer shoe changes how the orthotic interacts with your foot, increasing compression in certain areas and potentially bringing back your pain.

And the perfect orthotics are only as effective as the shoes they’re paired with. To keep them working well:

  • Stick with shoe styles that match the features of the original pair your orthotics were fitted for.
  • Regularly review your orthotics and footwear with your podiatrist to ensure they’re still supporting you properly.

It’s about finding the right balance between orthotic support and shoe structure.


Why Most Podiatrists Don’t Tell You This

It’s not necessarily malpractice, but the truth is that some clinics focus more on selling than solving.

Orthotics can reduce stress on overstressed tissues, providing quick relief. But here’s the issue: if we don’t also work on building the capacity of those tissues through proper strengthening, you’ll end up relying on orthotics more and more over time.

Orthotics alleviate muscle and tendon strain by redistributing forces. However, if tissue strength and elasticity are not simultaneously improved, their capacity diminishes over time. This creates a dependency cycle, where orthotics must become increasingly supportive, eventually performing more and more work by pushing harder and harder on your foot. These harder pushes can take an orthotic from a comfortable nudge to an unbearable shove each stride.

At Pride Podiatry, we take a holistic approach. We use orthotics to relieve stress in the short term while building strength in the long term through targeted exercises. This dual approach ensures you get the best of both worlds.


Debunking the Myths About Orthotics

Myth #1: Orthotics Are Just for Old People

Not even close. Orthotics are for anyone who needs support to reduce stress on their feet. They’re helpful at every stage of life:

  • Kids: Growth spurts can leave muscles and tendons struggling to catch up with growing bones. Orthotics can provide short-term support during this phase.
  • Teens: High activity levels and sports can sometimes require orthotics to support developing tissues.
  • Adults in their 20s and 30s: Orthotics can help manage stress from elite sports, recreational activities, or busy lifestyles.
  • Midlife movers: As elasticity in tissues naturally decreases, orthotics provide extra support to stay active and avoid injury.

Myth #2: Once You Get Orthotics, You’ll Always Need Them

Orthotics are a tool, not a life sentence.

Initially, they’re essential to reduce stress on injured tissues. But with proper strengthening and load management, most people transition to using orthotics situationally—like during long walks or specific activities—rather than all the time.


Myth #3: Orthotics Fix Everything on Their Own

Orthotics alone don’t “fix” anything. They reduce stress, but unless you work on building the capacity of your tissues through strength and mobility exercises, you’ll eventually find yourself needing more aggressive orthotics over time. Orthotics work best when paired with a plan to improve your overall foot health.


The Solution: How to Get Perfect Orthotics That Work for You

Here’s how to make sure your orthotics actually solve your problem:

  1. Book a podiatry assessment: A good podiatrist will analyse your gait, foot function, and lifestyle to determine what kind of support you need.
  2. Get a tailored orthotic plan: Whether it’s custom or prefabricated, your orthotics should work with your shoes and activities.
  3. Focus on capacity building: Pair your orthotics with an exercise program designed to strengthen and improve the elasticity of your tissues.

At Pride Podiatry, we combine orthotic therapy with tailored rehab plans to ensure you get results—not just for now, but for the long term.


Take the Next Step

Don’t waste money on orthotics that don’t work. Here’s a free checklist: “6 Questions to Ask Your Podiatrist Before Buying Orthotics” to make sure you’re informed and able to get your perfect orthotics.

About The Author

tim mulholland podiatrist melbourne and pascoe vale

Tim Mulholland is a Melbourne-based podiatrist and educator passionate about helping people move with comfort, confidence and live their best lives. As the founder of Pride Podiatry, Tim combines cutting-edge clinical expertise with a practical, holistic approach to foot health. When he’s not in the clinic, you’ll find him sharing insights, running trails, or obsessing over his beloved Geelong Cats.