LEAH CLAYDON

Orthotics and Insoles

Custom Orthoses (Orthotics) and Insoles

Prescribed after, postural and gait analysis and physical examination.

At Leah Claydon Podiatry in Buntingford, Hertfordshire, we provide expert solutions for a wide range of foot and lower limb issues through custom-made orthotics and insoles. Whether you’re struggling with foot pain, dealing with the discomfort of flat feet, or seeking improved posture and mobility, our bespoke orthotic devices are carefully designed to enhance your comfort and support your overall foot health.

We believe in delivering personalized care and take the time to thoroughly assess your unique needs. Unlike clinics that rely solely on pressure mats or foam impressions, we go beyond the basics to ensure your orthotics prescription is accurate and truly effective. We focus on the bigger picture, which means your treatment plan may also include targeted exercises, manual therapy, and valuable advice on footwear and lifestyle adjustments.

At betterNOW, we specialize in crafting every kind of orthotic solution to suit your specific requirements. From corrective orthotics for biomechanical issues to supportive insoles for everyday comfort, our goal is to make a meaningful difference in your quality of life. Many of our patients come to us after years of struggling with chronic injuries or being unable to enjoy simple activities like walking without pain. Through our tailored treatments, we’ve helped countless individuals regain their mobility, confidence, and active lifestyles.

We are passionate about using custom orthotics to improve lives and help our patients get back to doing what they love. Whether you’re looking to alleviate pain, recover from an injury, or simply feel more comfortable on your feet, we are here to help every step of the way.

If you’re in Buntingford or the surrounding areas of Hertfordshire, don’t let foot discomfort hold you back. Contact Leah Claydon Podiatry today to schedule a consultation and discover how our custom-made orthotics can support your journey to better foot health and overall well-being.

Book Online With The Clinic Now

How does an Orthotic Work?

At betterNOW we do a thorough history taking and physical examination. We’ll work out what is too stiff, too loose, too weak or not working properly and observe you walking and if necessary running. Our physical examination informs what we see when you move. We will work out WHY you have a problem not just understand WHAT the problem is. We then aim to fix the WHY. We also work very closely with a private laboratory where we can get very exact prescriptions that are tailored to your needs.

An example:

A 50 year old active woman of slim build came to us with a complaint of pain in the ball of her right foot. On examination her ankle was very stiff on that foot and on further questioning we found out she sprained it badly years ago and had to wear a cast. She hadn’t mentioned this on her medical questionnaire. She also tells us that she had right knee, hip, low back, neck and jaw pain. We also discovered she had a shorter left leg. We could have only treated her forefoot pain with a simple insole, but that would not have addressed the WHY did she have the pain. We corrected the limb length, shifted her ankle joint axis, blocked a twisting movement she was making, changed her footwear and gave her exercises. Hey presto, in time, her symptoms subsided.

Who needs an orthotic?

The Active and Sporty Foot

Sometimes a sports person will need an orthotic to get over an injury faster – this type of orthotic would be used in combination with an exercise programme and would be designed for wear whilst you recover.
Chronic pain can be caused by abnormal loading during the gait cycle or due to a deformity, range of movement, overuse or alignment problem – in this instance a permanent custom insole or orthotic might be of benefit
Performance – sometimes an athlete wants and orthosis to improve performance or reduce impact.
Is your love of walking being spoilt by pain? We can help make you feet comfortable with a custom made insole for your walking boots or wellies.

Sport Specific Orthotics

We can make orthotics for particular sporting activities such as cycling, tennis, dance, skiiing, running.

Children’s Orthotics and Insoles

Supporting the growing foot – sometimes children’s feet need a little help as they grow, perhaps a child is hypermobile or has a very flat foot, or a painful heel or knee as they grow.
Maybe as a parent you are worried about your child’s foot posture – if in doubt, get it checked with us.
Is your child tripping? Not reaching milestones? Get it checked.

Orthotics for a Painful forefoot or ball of foot

Bunions, low arches, high arches, skinny feet, bony feet, your occupation, all can have an impact on the ball of your foot – an orthosis can help spread the load

Pain in the rear of the foot, heel or ankle

There is a whole lot going on around the ankle – tendons, ligaments and nerves can get irritated by how your foot moves, its shape, your weight, use and footwear.
Some pains around the ankle can signal a serious foot threatening condition so get it checked by us.
Plantarfasciitis or heel pain – Not all heel pain is plantarfasciitis, it needs to be properly diagnosed and the causes dealt with – an orthosis can be part of this.
Posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction/injury – this is when the main tendon that holds your arch up is injured or failing. It is very important to see us if you have pain or swelling around the inside of your ankle. If left untreated PTTD can result in a permanently flat foot.

The Aging Foot

Some conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson’s, other neurological diseases, arthritis, strokes etc can cause you to walk differently resulting in painful conditions such as corns, calluses which need off-loading with a special insole
As we age our feet and bodies change, often we become more unstable, an insole can be made to bring stability and can help prevent falls.
The elderly foot often lacks the bouncy fatty pad and become quite inflexible, an insole can help support and add comfort

Highly Specialist Orthoses

Some patients have complex needs, for example ‘drop foot’, accommodating an amputation, rigid deformity, extreme laxity, in-toeing. We can help here to, if we can’t do it ourselves we can find the right place for you to be referred to.

Heel raises and Shoe Modifications

Shorter leg or injured Achilles? We can supply heel raises
Bunion problems or need a wedge, rocker or phlange? We can assist.

The Orthoses Process (that almost rhymes!)

Make an appointment – tell our receptionist the nature of your problem and that you think might need orthoses.
On the day of your appointment wear loose clothing – wear shorts or leggings and a sports top/bra/vest or something you feel comfortable in that we can view your shoulders and spine.
Bring a variety of your footwear – ideally what you do your main activity in and also a well worn old favourite pair.
Before your come, have a good think about any past physical traumas or surgeries you might have had.
Bring a hair tie if you have long hair.
Be prepared to be prodded and handled!
We’ll observe your stance, gait and balance, strength and movements (it’s ok to feel self concsious – we see all ages, sizes and shapes, we don’t make judgements, we just try to help).
We may take some measurements.
We might use cameras, treadmill and force plate, we might get you doing squats, walking heel to toe and other diagnostically interesting things and we have some really fun stuff for kids.
Sometimes we get other practitioners in to have a ‘palpate/feel’ or observe to get another’s input on a situation and some patients like to have the opportunity of more than one practitioner for the whole process. We offer multi-practitioner appointments.
If we think orthoses are appropriate we’ll either find an off-the-shelf solution if the problem is easily solved that way, or we will re-book you in for a plaster casting and prescription taking appointment. NB: sometimes an orthosis is not appropriate, sometimes an exercise programme is what you need, or change of running shoe or possibly a referral to a specialist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Orthotics Expensive? They can be quite expensive. I like to compare them to spectacles: you can buy a pair of reading glasses in Tesco for under a fiver, or you can go and have a funky pair of designer varifocals with all sort of coatings, thicknesses and materials for hundreds. Same goes with orthoses, the more bespoke the greater the cost. They can be anything from £25 for an off the shelf to £450 for custom made. A brace or AFO will cost more.
How long do they last? It depends on the materials that are used. As a general rule of thumb off the shelf will last a couple of years. A hard pair of bespoke up to 10 years, softer ones 3-5 years. Of course activity levels and body mass have an impact too.
How long does it take to get used to them? It depends on your underlying problem, age, health and activity. An average person who breaks them in as directed will be used to them in under a month, niggles can persist for up to 4 months.
Can they be adjusted? Yes, a small percentage need to be altered, this is usually a comfort issue, shoe fitting issue or a new unexplained pain. We adjust them in the first 6 weeks at no additional charge.
Can they be refurbished? Mostly yes. It depends on the materials type and condition.
Can I buy two pairs? Not initially, we need to know that they are working for you.
Is an orthosis a cure? No. Orthoses manage a problem. They alleviate pain by shifting force away from an injured area or by making structures perform better, they can also prevent a problem from deteriorating. In children they be used to permanently correct a problem.

Orthotics – what are you waiting for?

Hmm, they are a bit expensive ….. if your washing machine breaks down, what do you do? You think nothing of getting another one straight away because it is an essential piece of equipment, a washing machine makes your life easier doesn’t it?

Well ….. your body is pretty essential isn’t it? If it is breaking down, make your life easier, come and talk to us about whether an orthosis could help you.