At Optimum Wellness Centres, we provide custom orthotics to support healthy movement for patients across Calgary and surrounding communities, including Airdrie, High River, and Strathmore. Your feet are the foundation of your body, absorbing impact with every step at work, during exercise, and in daily life. When they are not properly supported, stress can travel up the kinetic chain and contribute to shin splints, knee pain, hip tightness, and ongoing lower back discomfort.
Custom orthotics are designed to address these issues at their source. By supporting your unique foot structure and movement pattern, they promote better alignment, reduce strain on joints and soft tissues, and improve overall comfort and function.
Why Choose Custom Orthotics at Optimum Wellness Centres
Over-the-counter insoles may offer cushioning, but they are not designed to correct underlying biomechanical problems. Custom orthotics at Optimum Wellness Centres are prescribed and fabricated based on a detailed clinical assessment of your feet, ankles, knees, and gait, ensuring support that matches your specific needs.
At one of our Calgary-area locations, your visit typically includes:
- Review of health history and symptoms.
- Assessment of posture, walking pattern (gait), and joint mobility.
- Identification of areas of pain, overload, or inefficient movement.
From this assessment, an orthotic is recommended and fabricated to match your foot structure, with the goal of reducing pain, improving alignment, and supporting long-term mobility.
Conditions and Concerns Orthotics Can Help
The position and function of your feet influence how the rest of your body moves. When your feet are stable and aligned, forces are better distributed through the lower limbs and spine, which can be especially beneficial for patients with:
- Chronic conditions: Plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, patellofemoral knee pain, and chronic lower back discomfort may all be influenced by abnormal foot mechanics.
- Injury recovery and prevention: Custom orthotics help spread pressure more evenly across the feet, reducing focal overload that can contribute to stress fractures, tendonitis, and recurring overuse injuries.
- Posture and performance: Improved alignment can enhance balance, walking efficiency, and athletic performance, while decreasing fatigue in daily and recreational activities.
For many patients, orthotics form part of a broader care plan that may also include chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy, or other rehabilitation services available at our clinics.
What to Expect at Our Calgary-Area Clinics
Patients seeking custom orthotics can access this service at multiple Optimum Wellness Centres locations in the Calgary region. Our administrative team assists with intake, helps confirm extended health benefits, and offers direct billing to many major Canadian insurance providers where available.
Your practitioner will explain the assessment findings, discuss whether orthotics are appropriate for your goals, and review how to use and gradually adapt to your new devices. Follow-up may be recommended to monitor progress and make adjustments if needed, supporting the best possible outcome over time.
Custom Orthotic FAQs
1. Who can benefit from custom orthotics?
Custom orthotics may benefit individuals with foot pain, heel pain, arch strain, shin splints, knee pain, hip discomfort, or chronic lower back pain related to their foot mechanics. They are also often recommended for people who stand for long periods at work, athletes, and those with conditions such as plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinopathy.
2. How are custom orthotics different from store-bought insoles?
Store-bought insoles provide general cushioning but are not designed for your specific foot structure or gait pattern. Custom orthotics are prescribed after a detailed assessment of your posture, walking pattern, joint mobility, and areas of discomfort, allowing them to correct biomechanical issues and provide targeted support.
3. How long do custom orthotics last, and will I need follow-up appointments?
With regular use, custom orthotics typically last 1–3 years, depending on activity level, footwear, and wear patterns. Follow-up appointments are often recommended to assess your progress, make any necessary adjustments, and determine when your orthotics should be refurbished or replaced.
Book an Orthotics Assessment
Small changes at the feet can lead to meaningful improvements throughout the body. If you live in Calgary or a surrounding community and are experiencing foot, knee, hip, or lower back discomfort, an orthotic assessment may be an appropriate next step.
Contact Optimum Wellness Centres or book online to schedule a custom orthotics consultation at a location convenient to you in the Calgary area. Our multidisciplinary team is committed to helping you stand, walk, and move with confidence.