The pros, the pitfalls, and why they’re not always the full solution.
If you’ve ever had foot pain, flat feet, plantar fasciitis, or knee issues, chances are someone’s mentioned orthotics — custom or off-the-shelf inserts designed to support your arches, correct alignment, or reduce pressure through your feet.
And they can help.
But they don’t always fix the problem.
In fact, sometimes they can create new ones.
Let’s break it down.
What Orthotics Can Do
Orthotics are designed to:
✅ Support fallen arches or overpronation
✅ Distribute pressure more evenly through your feet
✅ Reduce irritation or inflammation in specific areas (e.g. plantar fascia, heel pad)
✅ Offer short-term relief for pain caused by poor foot mechanics
✅ Improve comfort for people who spend long hours standing or walking
When prescribed by a podiatrist after a proper assessment, they can be a helpful part of managing foot pain or injury — especially when someone’s dealing with repetitive strain or structural imbalance at the level of the foot.
But Here’s the Problem…
Your feet don’t work in isolation.
They’re part of your entire structural system — and often, they’re reacting to problems happening further up the body.
For example:
A rotated pelvis can change how you load through your feet
Weak glutes can cause the knees to collapse inward
A shifted posture can force the arches to drop as compensation
So while orthotics may relieve symptoms in the feet, they don’t always address why the issue developed in the first place.
And that’s the catch.
Orthotics Don’t Fix:
🚫 Weak glutes or hips
🚫 Poor spinal alignment or postural collapse
🚫 Compensation patterns elsewhere in the body
🚫 Underlying dysfunction higher up the chain
In fact, relying too heavily on orthotics can sometimes create new issues — especially if they interfere with the foot’s natural movement and ability to act as a shock absorber.
When the feet become too braced or passive, the forces of walking and running don’t just disappear — they travel upward.
That’s when you start to see secondary problems in:
- Knees
- Hips
- Low back
- Even neck and shoulders
Most Podiatrists Focus on the Feet — Not the Whole Body
And that’s not a criticism — it’s just the scope of their training.
A podiatrist will assess:
- Your gait
- Foot structure
- Pressure patterns
- Range of motion in the ankle
But unless they work alongside a structural specialist (like a chiropractor or movement therapist), they may not assess:
- Pelvic alignment
- Spinal posture
- Muscle compensation
- Nervous system tension
Which means orthotics might be prescribed to treat the symptom, not the cause.
So… Should You Wear Them?
Maybe.
But they shouldn’t be the only approach.
Orthotics have a place — especially for short-term support, acute foot pain, or situations where structural correction isn’t possible. But they’re not a long-term fix for global alignment issues.
Before committing, ask:
- Has my whole body been assessed?
- Do I have weakness or dysfunction above the feet that needs attention?
- Am I relying on the orthotics instead of fixing the real issue?
If the answer is yes, it might be time to look higher up the chain, and that’s where a chiropractor can help.
Final Thought
Your feet matter.
But they don’t operate in isolation.
They reflect — and respond to — everything happening above them.
Orthotics can help.
But they’re not a magic fix for poor posture, weak muscles, or deeper imbalances.
If you’re going to support your feet, make sure you’re supporting the rest of your body too.
That’s where long-term results come from — not just comfort underfoot.
