About Functional Orthotic Therapy

Functional Orthotic Therapy is the use of custom orthoses designed to control the function of your feet as you walk.

Functional Orthotic Therapy does not simply mean choosing a pair of arch supports and hoping for the best, it is a calculated and responsible approach to optimising foot function and controlling other causative factors to improve health and wellbeing in the long-term.

The Root2Being definition of Functional Orthotic Therapy is that orthoses must be:

• Custom-made to control each individuals abnormal foot function problems;
• Prescribed with an accurate and direct understanding of how foot function affects the individual;
• Used as part of an holistic healthcare plan that treats all aspects of health.

What Functional Orthotic Therapy is Not

This means that the use of arch supports, heel lifts, over-the-counter shoe inserts and anti-pronation shoes does not constitute Functional Orthotic Therapy. Whilst such options may help some people in some cases, the results cannot be predicted or guaranteed.

Custom orthoses prescribed using indirect assessments like plaster casts or video gait analysis do not always provide the most effective control, and whilst they may be useful for some people, their use doesn't qualify for Functional Orthotic Therapy as described above.

Indeed, there are gaitscanning systems available which capture the digital data of foot function, but do not use it directly to create the orthotic. These systems may not offer the most comprehensive approach to Functional Orthotic Therapy, as the orthoses are still prescribed using a subjective assessment of the scan results.

An Holistic Approach Is Key

Of equal importance, the use of any custom orthotic device without an awareness and active control of other health problems does not constitute Functional Orthotic Therapy.

For maximum benefit, properly designed custom orthoses should be used as part of an overall healthcare plan targetted at improving all aspects of health, not simply muculoskeletal pain and dysfunction.

After all, the effects of an unstable foundation can impact on many other areas of health, from increased stress to sleep problems, so it makes sense to treat the whole body at the same time rather than focussing on individual problems separately.