Shoe Inserts

Prescription shoe inserts provide an affordable and effective way to relieve foot and ankle pain caused by various problems. At Align Foot & Ankle Center, in Camarillo, California, experienced podiatrist Hai-En Peng, DPM and the team uses custom shoe inserts and arch supports to prevent injuries and help individuals function at optimal levels. Call the nearest office to request a shoe insert consultation today, or book online. 

What are shoe inserts?

Shoe inserts are prescription medical devices that go inside your shoes. They are also known as "orthotics". They support the balls, arches, and heels of your feet while relieving pain and inflammation.

Prescription shoe inserts look similar to the ones you can buy at the store, but they aren’t the same. Prescription shoe inserts require custom scans of your feet. These precise measurements support your individual foot structure, resulting in improved treatment outcomes.

What types of foot and ankle problems can shoe inserts treat?

At Align Foot & Ankle Center, the team prescribes shoe inserts to treat various foot and ankle problems, including:

• Arthritis
• Bunions
• Bursitis
• Diabetes
• Flat feet
• Hammertoes
• Heel spurs
• High arches
• Plantar fasciitis

You might also be a candidate for shoe inserts if you run, play sports, or participate in other physically demanding activities.

What are the types of shoe inserts?

At Align Foot & Ankle Center, the team offers several types of shoe inserts, including:

Functional inserts

Functional, or “rigid,” inserts are made from plastic or carbon fiber. They’re stiff but still flexible, slip inside closed-toed shoes, and relieve pain caused by abnormal movement. 

Accommodative inserts

Accommodative, or “functional,” inserts provide additional support and comfort. They take pressure off open wounds, like blisters or diabetic ulcers.

What does getting shoe inserts involve?

At Align Foot & Ankle Center, getting shoe inserts takes two visits spaced a week or two apart.

During the first visit, your provider reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms, including when the pain started, where it occurs, and if it’s worse during work or exercise. Next, your provider completes an exam, checking your foot, lower leg, and ankle for swelling, bruising, or redness.

Your provider presses on your foot and ankle to identify sensitive areas and gently moves your foot from side to side, testing its flexibility and range of motion. They also order a series of X-rays or an MRI to look at your bones, joints, and soft tissues.

If the team determines that you can benefit from shoe inserts, they take three-dimensional scans of your feet. Then, they send your scans to a podiatry lab that creates a custom pair of rigid or functional inserts.

When the lab finishes your inserts, you return to Align Foot & Ankle Center and try them on. The team makes adjustments and explains how to care for them.

Call the nearest Align Foot & Ankle Center office to learn more about shoe inserts today, or book online.