Foot orthoses or supports are made to correct biomechanical abnormalities of the foot and to improve the biomechanics of the foot. There are several various kinds of foot orthotics and methods of fabricating them for podiatrists to use and choose from. A lot of people require and do gain from made to order foot orthotics while others could be helped by the simpler and cheaper mass-produced foot supports. Which one is the best for each person depends on exactly what is leading to the problems and what the treating clinician proposes is right for that individual. Many different foot orthoses include several design characteristics and a good podiatrist will attempt and match those up to the needs of the individual. If that is not done properly, then there might not be any kind of improvement in the issue.

Foot orthotics are not without their issues. When they are not the correct one for the individual, chances are they will not work. You are also restricted by what footwear you need to use, in that you need to be able to fit them into the shoe and there may not be adequate space. There are also types of footwear, just like the flip flops which they just can't be used in. This could present a challenge in warmer climates which make closed in shoes meant for foot orthotics uncomfortable. You can find options, for example, the Archies that have a foot support integrated. The shape of the arch supports in these Archies footwear are like what you would get in an over-the-counter arch support, but probably not as good as what you would get from a custom made foot orthotic. Using these do give you a practical replacement for foot supports, depending on where one can wear them and also the nature of the biomechanical problem. If you do require foot supports there is no harm in trying these types of alternatives or raising it with your treating clinician to see what they believe.