Designed following a comprehensive biomechanical analysis of your gait. To correct imbalances, relieve pain in the foot, knee or back, and improve athletic performance.
Custom insoles (technically known as foot orthoses) are bespoke devices, manufactured following a comprehensive biomechanical analysis of your gait. They are not the same as off-the-shelf insoles. Each pair is designed to correct your specific gait pattern, relieve the specific area causing you discomfort and, where necessary, redistribute pressure to prevent strain on your joints.
They can be for everyday use (street shoes, work), sports (running shoes, football, hiking) or postural correction (correcting alignment issues affecting the knee, hip or back). The material — EVA, polypropylene, carbon fibre, thermoformable materials — is selected based on your weight, activity and therapeutic goal.
It is important to clarify what they are not: generic shock-absorbing insoles bought from a chemist. Those have their place (for healthy feet, occasional knocks) but do not correct anything because they do not adapt to you. A custom orthosis is created through measurement, diagnosis and design. If someone offers you ‘custom insoles’ without a prior biomechanical assessment, it is not what it seems.
Insoles are not for everyone. They are recommended when there is a specific biomechanical cause behind the symptom. The most common situations:
In the clinic, we start with a biomechanical assessment. If insoles aren’t what you need, I’ll tell you. I’ve prescribed treatments without insoles for patients who were convinced they needed them — and sometimes the problem is down to footwear, posture or an exercise done incorrectly.
A custom insole is made over several visits. This is what you’ll get with me:
A well-used insole lasts between 1 and 2 years depending on weight, activity and type of footwear. For high-mileage athletes (runners covering 50+ km/week, footballers), the lifespan drops to 9–12 months. For daily use by people with moderate activity levels, they can last up to 24 months.
Basic care: clean with a damp cloth (do not soak), air-dry (not on a radiator or in direct sunlight), check the pressure points every few months (the material compacts over time). If you notice the pain returning that the insoles had previously eliminated, this is a sign that they need checking — it does not mean they are ‘broken’, but that the material has lost its effectiveness.
Pain relief is usually felt within the first 2–3 weeks. Full adaptation takes between 4 and 6 weeks. If you don’t notice any improvement after 6 weeks, they need to be readjusted.
Yes, but the shoe must be suitable for their use: a firm sole, sufficient interior space and good support. During your consultation, I will recommend compatible models for everyday and sports use. There are thin insoles designed specifically for dress shoes if you need them.
Not always. If your gait is functional and causes no symptoms, I do not prescribe them. Insoles are recommended when there is a specific problem to correct. I carry out preventive biomechanical assessments on athletes or people with a family history of foot problems, and I only prescribe them if the assessment warrants it.
You start with 2–3 hours a day during the first week, and gradually increase this until you are wearing them continuously. I will provide you with a written adaptation protocol.
Some private health insurance providers offer partial reimbursement. I will provide you with a detailed invoice including the medical device code so that you can claim it through your insurer.
Pharmacy insoles are generic: they’re designed for the ‘average foot’, which doesn’t exist. Customised insoles are made after a detailed assessment of your specific foot. For functional problems, the former are usually useless and sometimes make the symptoms worse because they push on structures that shouldn’t be pushed.
One session and you’ll walk differently.