Custom Orthotics in Great Dunmow & Royston
Custom-made orthotic insoles built from a detailed biomechanical assessment, designed to relieve foot, knee, hip and lower back pain at the root.
What Are Custom Orthotics?
Custom orthotics are precision-made shoe inserts, built specifically for your feet based on a detailed biomechanical assessment of how you stand, walk and load through each joint. Unlike off-the-shelf insoles, they are designed to correct your individual movement patterns, support your arches where you actually need it and offload the areas that are causing pain or strain.
Patients use them to relieve plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon issues, knee pain, hip pain, recurring lower back pain and sports injuries that have not responded to generic insoles. The result is a small, comfortable insert that you wear in your everyday shoes, taking the strain off the right structures every time you walk.
HOW IT WORKS
Our 3-step process to get you feeling better:
We carry out a thorough biomechanical assessment of your feet, ankles and lower limbs to identify the root cause of your pain. You'll leave knowing your diagnosis, your personalised plan and a confident answer on whether custom orthotics are right for you.
If orthotics are the right next step, we take precise scans and measurements of your feet to manufacture insoles built specifically for your biomechanics. We fit them at a follow-up appointment and check that the support is sitting where it should.
We'll send you home with a clear plan to keep your feet, knees, hips and lower back moving well: footwear advice, simple strengthening exercises and a follow-up schedule. Most patients see us once or twice a year for adjustments and care.
"How Do I Know If Custom Orthotics Can Help Me?"
Click the button below to find out whether custom orthotics can help your specific foot, knee, hip or lower back issue.
Click on a condition to learn more about how we can help:
What is Gait Analysis
Gait analysis is a detailed assessment of how you stand, walk and move, looking at the alignment, timing and mechanics of every joint from the foot up through the knee, hip and lower back. Using a combination of clinical observation, functional testing and movement assessment, we identify the patterns that may be contributing to pain, injury or reduced performance.
Patients use gait analysis to get to the root cause of persistent issues like shin splints, Achilles problems, knee pain, hip pain and recurring back pain – particularly when treatment elsewhere hasn’t fully resolved the problem. It’s equally valuable for runners and active patients wanting to improve performance, prevent injury or return to sport after time off. You leave with a clear understanding of what’s happening when you move and a tailored plan for addressing it.
FREQUENTLY ASKED CUSTOM ORTHOTICS QUESTIONS
We're here to help!
Custom orthotics are precision-made shoe inserts designed specifically for your feet, based on a detailed biomechanical assessment of how you stand, walk and load through each joint. Unlike off-the-shelf insoles from a pharmacy, they are built to correct your individual movement patterns and provide targeted support exactly where you need it.
Custom orthotics are commonly used to manage plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon issues, shin splints, flat feet, fallen arches, bunions, Morton's neuroma, knee pain, hip pain and recurring lower back pain. They can also help athletes and runners offload pressure from a problem area while training. Your practitioner will confirm whether orthotics are the right next step based on what is actually driving your symptoms.
Custom orthotics are most useful when your symptoms have a clear biomechanical component, for example uneven loading, an overpronated or supinated foot, or a compensation pattern further up the chain. They are not usually the answer on their own for purely inflammatory or post-surgical issues. A short biomechanical assessment with one of our practitioners is the fastest way to know whether orthotics will help in your specific case.
For your first appointment, allow up to 60 minutes. This gives us enough time for a thorough history, full biomechanical assessment, scanning and a clear discussion of next steps. Follow-up appointments, including the fitting, are typically up to 30 minutes for the vast majority of patients.
Most patients need an initial assessment, a fitting appointment once the orthotics are made, and one or two follow-ups to check comfort and progress. More complex cases or sports-specific work may need additional sessions. We will always be upfront about the expected number of visits before you commit.
The assessment and fitting themselves are non-invasive and should not cause pain. We use scanning, video and movement tests to understand how you load through each foot. If a particular movement is painful for you, just tell us and we will adapt the assessment around it. Once the orthotics are fitted there is usually a short adjustment period as your body gets used to the new support, but the orthotics themselves should not cause new pain.
No. You can book a custom orthotics appointment directly with us with no GP referral needed. If you have a referral letter from your GP or another practitioner, bring it along and we will factor it into your assessment. We can also write to your GP after your appointment if there is anything they should know.
Wear something you can move comfortably in. Shorts or loose-fitting trousers you can roll up are ideal so we can see your knees, ankles and feet during the assessment. Bring the shoes you wear most often, including any sports or work footwear that is relevant to your symptoms, along with any insoles you are already using.
With proper care, custom orthotics typically last between 2 and 5 years depending on your activity level and the materials used. We will advise you on care and when they may need replacing or adjusting.
Custom orthotics are available at both our Great Dunmow clinic at 12 Stortford Road, CM6 1DA, and our Royston clinic at Upton House, Baldock Street, SG8 5AY. On-site disabled parking is available on request at our Dunmow clinic — just give us a call ahead of your appointment.
Most patients don't. The biomechanical assessment we run as part of your first orthotic appointment is enough to identify the patterns that matter and prescribe orthotics that work. A dedicated gait analysis becomes useful if you are a runner working towards a specific goal, an athlete with a recurring injury you want to fully unpack, or someone who wants a written stride and joint-angle report to share with a coach or other practitioner. You can add gait analysis to your first appointment when you book.
Request a Free Phone Consultation
Got foot pain, a stubborn nail problem, or questions about whether custom orthotics can help? Fill in your details below for a free phone consultation with our team. No commitment, just honest advice.
Professional, friendly and very helpful. I’m kept informed of appointments. I have been going for sometime and each time I have been treated respectfully and offered information on my body function and exercises that will help. A great team.
Location
Our custom orthotics service is available at both our Great Dunmow clinic at 12 Stortford Road, CM6 1DA, and our Royston clinic at Upton House, Baldock Street, SG8 5AY. Both are in the heart of their town centres with parking close by. For patients with limited mobility, on-site disabled parking is available at our Dunmow clinic – simply give us a call or email in advance and we will reserve a space for you.