Cost Custom Orthotics

[Miranda]

Depends on what's wrong with your foot and your podiatrist is what I found. A friend of mine went to a sports medicine clinic in Boston and had his made for $100 a couple of years ago. They haven't gone up in price because a couple of years ago, another friend of mine had hers made and they were $300. Carbon ones are obviously going to be pricey, but from what I understand, certain foot conditions aren't happy about carbon ones or overly stiff ones as you can develop plantar fasciitis from them. I would say make sure you find a doc that understands cycling but it's so hard. There is a place in Peabody, MA called Fit Werx- not sure where you are but you might want to check them out, I think they have an online store and they sound like they know what they are talking about. I'll be making the trip once someone figures out what's wrong with mine.

Thx, that sounds like a good link. I hope they get you sorted out as well!

The scheduling gal told me that besides exam, history etc., he does a gait analysis, and would probably do an x-ray.

Well, my issues have been going on for a while, but got worse with using my feet more for cycling. I figured out NOW that 20yrs of unsupportive high heel shoes at work for my high arches, high impact aerobics in cheap shoes, or just ditching shoes any time possilbe due them not really doing much for me anyways... and when not active, carrying an extra 40-80#s extra on my feet was probably not such a great thing.

From that with my pain that I thought was "just-me", I'd say I have the ankle pain issues (plantar fashiatis?), the ankles hurt and turn in (lbs told me that had something to do with my over pronating watching me walk), the high arch collapsing unsupported, Morton's neuroma (numb tingly feet, cramping, callases on the balls), dropped met heads (my foot print test left these toes glued flat to the floor... and part of toes are "stuck" together... I can't make em stretch open like the rest, ... OH, and lbs said my knee issue was related to my foot they felt. Turning a cleat out helped that some. Gheez... is that enough junk? I think I should have went a looonng time ago.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

I have had problems with my feet forever. Ha...I hardly ever wore high heels, and I still have foot problems. I can only wonder if years of wearing Vans tho did something. Those things have no support.


I wish finding doctors that are geared towards cycling was easier. I picked a guy that knows alot about athletic injuries in hopes he knows something about what I have.

[Miranda]

Well, the thing I don't know is about the shoes and different activities...

I'm thinking I can't pay for a custom orthotic for each thing. My current shoes I know now don't fit so great. Too tight at the balls for one thing in my sport stuff. Well, I went from classic Uggs boots all winter (no socks, just loose barefoot fancy tall winter slippers, to Old Navy $2.50 flip flops... which I'd still be wearing now even with the chill had the puppy not chewed them. Had to upgrade to the Payless $4.99 pool palm tree flip flops. (theme: hind-sight 20/20 = zero support)

The things my feet need to do besides walking mobility, hiking w/the dog, are... 1) road shoes, 2) mtb shoes, 3) spin class shoes, 4) xc ski boots, 5) snow shoe boots (if I buy them now w/the neuroma *sigh* thinking about the over bindings on the forefoot), 6) quad roller rink skates boots, 7) indoor court shoes (raquetball), and 8) pool... oh YEA, yippie... I don't need shoes there... score for the wet ones.

There's gotta be a way to multi-task some of that ...I hope.

[Crankin]

I had custom orthotics made about 23 years ago. Back then they were $500.00! My insurance paid for all of it. Basically, I had plantar fascitis from teaching aerobics on concrete floors. The orthotics totally helped, along with a change to wood floors and better shoes.

[Tri Girl]

2 years ago I had to have custom orthotics made by a PT/orthopedic person specifically for running b/c of my plantar fasciitis and severe overpronation.
They cost $300 and insurance didn't cover a dime (and we have REALLY good Federal Blue Cross insurance). I could get a slimmer cut one made for dress shoes for about the same price. I decided to stop wearing dress shoes and wear running shoes to work (yes, even with skirts- my feet are much more important- and luckily my boss looks the other way, or I wear work appropriate shoes only when I HAVE to).

They're worth it, but it sure bites to have to pay that much.

[KnottedYet]

I run the injured cyclist program at my clinic, and I do temporary orthotics for no extra charge. (they are included in your insurance payment for the PT session). A good PT should be able to post a pair of insoles for you, AND give you exercises to help correct the problem, AND show you how to trim down the posting until you are strong enough that you only need the neutral footbed.

A good PT should also be very aware of the needs of a cyclist's forefoot, and absolutely should put you on your bike in the clinic and assess your body function ON YOUR OWN BIKE.

ETA: of course, if you have a true deformity the PT will recognize that and send you on to a licensed Orthotist, which likely will be covered by your insurance.

[Miranda]

I run the injured cyclist program at my clinic, and I do temporary orthotics for no extra charge. (they are included in your insurance payment for the PT session). A good PT should be able to post a pair of insoles for you, AND give you exercises to help correct the problem, AND show you how to trim down the posting until you are strong enough that you only need the neutral footbed.

A good PT should also be very aware of the needs of a cyclist's forefoot, and absolutely should put you on your bike in the clinic and assess your body function ON YOUR OWN BIKE.

ETA: of course, if you have a true deformity the PT will recognize that and send you on to a licensed Orthotist, which likely will be covered by your insurance.

Thx for the what they "should do" list. I've had bad PT experiences at a clinic, and excellent experiences. Unfortunately it sux when your "good PT person" leaves a clinic to elsewhere. I was thinking later after I posted this that if I don't like, or question, the plan of action I get from doc #1, I can get another op prior to paying privately for the orthotics.

[Miranda]

I could get a slimmer cut one made for dress shoes for about the same price. I decided to stop wearing dress shoes and wear running shoes to work...
They're worth it, but it sure bites to have to pay that much.

Ya know... I was just thinking this yesterday. I like Uggs. They get sold out very quickly when the come in stock for the season. I have a 'fashion' pair I bought earlier this year before I started to figure out my foot pain. OK, sure the toe box is a narrow pointy thing, and it has no arch support, and is high heeled, etc.... but it's super cute, so I kept the order anyway in Ugg lust. Now I'm thinking the boots are going back to Zappos. I think you reach a point where it's like "ok, this is dumb... if xyz hinders my ability to do the things I love, then it's not worth it". Oh, btw, I bet those tennys look stunning with the skirt (& kudos to your boss).

[teigyr]

I probably spent maybe $200 for my orthotics (one running pair, one dress pair) along with PT. I wasn't looking at immediate salvation to my problems but I worry about long-term effects from running. I also got a pair of footbed type insoles for my cycling shoes that were done by a cycling PT.

I like what I got. It isn't always perfect and I have a certain degree of responsibility to stretch (which I don't always do) and attempt to use proper form but I feel my mechanical abnormalities benefit from the personalized orthotics.

There might be a benefit to "one size fits all" insoles. I appreciate that some people are more structurally sound than I am but to me, I like the fact that I was evaluated by some one who knew what they were talking about and (hopefully) everything now looks like it is not causing problems.

I've never had problems with cycling because my pedals (and cleats) are adjusted to counter-act any problems I might have. Running though? It's a whole different beast.

Knot, it's nice to see you

[Tuckervill]

I like Knott's advice. Shouldn't we all be able to walk around barefoot with no pain? And shouldn't that mean we can wear flat soled shoes, and it would be similar to walking around barefoot?

There's a movement: http://www.unshod.org/pfbc/index.html

Karen