Foot orthoses
Draft — clinical review requiredInserts worn in the shoe that change how load is distributed under the foot.
Go deeper
Open each part when you are ready.
Where it sits
- Inside the shoe, under the foot.
Joints crossed
- Foot joints only; does not cross the ankle.
Movements it may allow, resist or constrain
- Supports or redistributes pressure under the foot.
- May influence foot posture during stance.
Intended functional goals
- Reduce pressure on painful or at-risk areas.
- Support foot posture.
Potential applications
- Plantar heel pain, foot deformity, diabetic foot pressure management (with specialist input).
Limitations, tradeoffs and precautions
- Effects vary; requires appropriate footwear.
- Skin checks are essential where sensation is reduced.
Individual assessment and fitting
- Foot shape, sensation, footwear and activity level.
- Response depends on stiffness, alignment, footwear, available range, strength and motor control. No device produces the same result in every patient.
What additional information would you need before considering this device?
- Range of motion at the ankle, knee and hip.
- Strength and motor control.
- Tone and spasticity.
- Sensation and skin integrity.
- Footwear, goals, cognition and ability to don/doff.
- Who will review fit and response over time.
Apply it
A foot orthosis crosses which joint?
Sources and review status
Draft — clinical review required
Starting points for verification. Validated protocols are linked where available; clinical content has not yet been reviewed.
Learning objectives
- Identify where a Foot orthoses sits and which joints it crosses.
- Explain which movements it may allow, resist or constrain.
- List factors that require individual assessment and fitting.