Original Publish Date: Jan. 2, 2020 | Updated: May 8, 2025
Custom-made shoe inserts are a common treatment for managing daily foot pain and other foot issues.
You may wonder why someone needs custom shoe inserts and whether they would work for your foot pain. Although it’s crucial to visit a podiatrist for a proper examination and a correct diagnosis, understanding the purpose and function of getting custom-made shoe inserts can help you decide whether or not you need them.
The Purpose of Custom-Made Shoe Inserts
Patients wear custom-made shoe inserts to correct biomechanical foot issues affecting normal foot function (e.g., how they walk, run, and stand).
Better known as orthotics by podiatrists like us, the Foot Specialists of Birmingham, custom-made shoe inserts can also help alleviate foot pain caused by abnormal foot function and conditions, including diabetes, arthritis, bursitis, and plantar fasciitis.
How Do Orthotics Differ From Normal Inserts?
Regular store-bought inserts and orthotics—the custom shoe inserts made by podiatrists—are similar in that you wear them inside your shoes for extra support. Realistically, however, the only potential benefit of non-prescription, mass-manufactured shoe inserts is providing an extra cushioning boost for people who stand all day, not to correct significant foot problems.
On the other hand, orthotics are custom-made shoe inserts requiring a podiatrist’s prescription that can treat serious foot problems.
Why You Might Need Custom-Made Shoe Inserts (Orthotics)
Patients get orthotics for many reasons, and understanding those reasons can help you determine if orthotics are right for you. Here are a few reasons one might need orthotics:
Foot Pain
While foot pain is one of the more obvious reasons to wear custom-made shoe inserts, many people suffer from unnecessary foot pain daily. Ill-fitting shoes play a prominent role in chronic foot pain, so it’s essential to wear shoes that conform to the natural shape of your foot. Adding orthotic inserts to the soles of your shoes can reduce daily foot pain.
Heel Pain
Severe heel pain is a common sign of plantar fasciitis. To treat this condition, you will need custom-made orthotics.
Flat Feet or High Arches
If your foot has no natural arch or a high arch, wearing regular shoes will not give your feet the support they need.
Under- or Over-Pronation
Everyone’s feet naturally turn inwards or outwards, which is called pronation, but sometimes patients’ feet have too much or too little turn to them, creating an issue with the alignment of their feet.
Custom-made shoe inserts (orthotics) align the feet to correct under- or over-pronation, reducing foot exhaustion and pain.
How to Test for Under- or Over-Pronation at Home
Although we recommend getting your diagnosis confirmed by a reputable podiatrist like Dr. Linde of the Foot Specialists of Birmingham, you can try this easy two-step trick to see if you might have under- or over-pronating feet at home:
- Wet your foot with a damp rag.
- With your damp foot, step on a blank piece of paper.
Determine your test results by checking to see if you have a natural c-curve in your footprint. A prominent c-curve suggests under-pronation, and no curve suggests over-pronation.
Talk to Your Podiatrist
If you are one of many Americans suffering from chronic foot pain, it might be time to talk to your podiatrist about treatment options to help you find relief.
Our podiatry practice, Foot Specialists of Birmingham, is here to help you get back on your feet pain-free. Call us at (205) 445-0664 or contact us online today to make an appointment.
