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Footwear models & designs change frequently, therefore consult a qualified podiatrist to determine the correct shoe style.
Footwear and Orthotics
Athletic footwear
The athletic shoe is commercially available in many styles, designs and colours. In fact there are over 300 different footwear models available to the consumer. How do you know what shoe is best suited to your feet, running style, or injury? Our team has vast experience in footwear prescription.
The Centre obtains regular briefs from all the athletic footwear companies, and liaises closely with specialty running shoe stores to disseminate information. Furthermore, podiatrists within the practice are involved in post graduate footwear related research. Therefore, allow our team to prescribe the shoe for you, provide a list of suitable models matched to foot type, and a shoe matched lower limb kinematics, injury history and body shape.
Footwear Tips for shoe selection & use
- Purchase footwear at the end of the day, or following a strenuous workout to allow for foot-ankle swelling.
- Purchase footwear from a reputable sport shoe provider.
- Footwear models & designs change frequently, therefore consult a qualified podiatrist to determine the correct shoe style
- The life of a shoe ranges from 300km to 900km dependent upon body weight, activity, injury and purpose of the shoe
- Shoe specificity for your individual mechanics & comfort is possible by a simple analysis of foot type, injury, & gait.
- Techniques used by the Centre For Podiatric Medicine to determine suitable footwear includes the use of sophisticated 2D computer kinematic analysis techniques
Further information & online store athletic shoe products & information, see the links below:
Orthotics
Scientific evidence shows that musculoskeletal conditions of the foot-ankle & lower limb can be assisted with the use of an orthotic. Stabilisation of foot mechanics and altering the angular alignment of the foot & using orthotics unloads the muscles, tendons & joints of the foot-ankle & lower limb. Improved overall postural body position may also be achieved when an orthotic is tailored for an individual. If the foot-ankle complex are not aligned correctly, the lower limb will compensate and create other imbalances within the entire musculoskeletal system.
Who needs orthotics?
Orthotics (arch supports) assist foot, leg and postural discomfort due to a walking or running imbalance. Joint and muscle imbalances such as flat feet, rigid high arch feet, knock knees, leg length differences bunions and bowed legs are all implicated in many musculoskeletal foot-leg discomfort conditions. What specific conditions may be helped?
- Arch pain / Plantar fasciitis
- Heel pain
- Achilles Tendinopathy
- Great toe joint pain
- Metatarsalgia
- Sesamoiditis
- Flat Feet
- Pronation
- Runners & Jumpers Knee
- Shin Splints
Which orthotic is correct for me?
There are many types of orthotics ranging from simple cushioned gel insoles, inserts which support the arch & customised orthotics. If your needs require simple cushioning or arch support visit the online help store for product information. If your condition is chronic (more than 6 weeks) we recommend you make an appointment with us for an individual biomechanical appraisal of your needs.
The library has relevant articles about orthotics which may be downloaded:
- How do orthotics work? (PDF)
For further information on orthotic products & information, see the links below: