Orthoses
Foot orthoses are medical devices worn inside shoes to support, align and improve the function of the feet and lower limbs. They are prescribed following a thorough clinical assessment and are tailored to your specific diagnosis, activity level, footwear and goals.
Orthoses are not simply “arch supports.” They work by modifying load, redistributing pressure, improving stability and influencing lower-limb biomechanics to reduce strain on injured tissues.
What Can Orthoses Help With?
Orthoses may be used in the management of:
Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
Achilles tendinopathy
Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD)
Peroneal tendinopathy
Forefoot pain (metatarsalgia)
Morton’s neuroma
Stress fractures
Shin splints
Knee pain associated with foot posture
Flat feet or high-arched feet (with associated pain or dysfunction)
Arthritis affecting the foot and ankle
Pressure redistribution in patients at risk of ulceration
Importantly, orthoses are just one tool in a broader management plan. Strengthening, footwear modification, load management and education are often equally — if not far more — important.
TYPES of Orthoses:
Customised Prefabricated Orthoses
Custom Orthoses
AFO (Ankle Foot Orthoses)
Customised Prefabricated Orthoses
For many patients, a high quality prefabricated orthotic provides excellent outcomes. These devices are manufactured in standardised shapes but are selected based on your foot type and diagnosis. In our in-clinic orthoses lab, we can modify these devices to suit your individual needs.
Benefits of Customised Prefabricated Orthoses
Significantly lower cost compared to fully custom devices
Immediate fitting and same-day dispensing
In-clinic modifications including rearfoot wedging, forefoot posting, heel lifts, padding, offloading modifications and top-cover adjustments
Excellent evidence base supporting their use in many conditions and pathologies
Research shows that for a wide range of musculoskeletal pathologies — including plantar fasciitis and many overuse injuries — prefabricated orthoses can provide the exact same clinical outcomes to custom devices at a fraction of the cost.
For many people, this option provides the right balance of effectiveness, affordability and practicality.
Custom Orthoses
Custom orthoses are manufactured from a 3D scan or cast of your foot and are designed specifically around your individual foot structure and pathology.
They are typically indicated when:
There are significant structural deformities
The foot is rigid and requires more precise control
There is advanced flatfoot deformity
There is moderate to severe posterior tibial tendon dysfunction
Complex biomechanics are contributing to recurrent injury
Custom devices often utilise more rigid materials and more specific prescription variables to achieve greater control or targeted offloading when clinically required.
They are not “better” by default — they are a more specific tool for specific problems.
Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFOs)
An Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) extends above the ankle to provide additional support and stability to both the foot and ankle.
AFOs may be recommended for:
Moderate to severe PTTD
Advanced flatfoot deformity
Severe ankle instability
Drop foot
Neurological or arthritic conditions
When a standard orthosis is not enough, an AFO can help limit painful motion, protect vulnerable structures and improve walking stability.
Our Philosophy at The Hunter Foot Clinic
At The Hunter Foot Clinic, we are committed to evidence-based practice. Our clinicians stay up-to-date with the latest research and clinical guidelines to ensure that every recommendation is appropriate, justified and tailored to the individual.
Orthoses are prescribed only when they are indicated — and when they are likely to make a meaningful difference to your outcome.
For some patients, that may mean a customised prefabricated device.
For others, a fully custom orthoses.
And for many, it may mean no orthoses at all.
Our priority is always the most effective, evidence-supported and cost-appropriate solution for you.