How can I find quality orthopaedic insoles?

You've just been diagnosed with flat feet or plantar fasciitis, or simply want to treat foot pain. To do this, you'll need orthopedic insoles to wear in your shoes on a daily basis. Wondering where you can buy quality, custom-made insoles at the best price? Smart Feet gives you all the answers in this article.

Making orthopedic insoles at the podiatrist's

👣 If you have a foot or posture problem, you may have gone to the podiatrist to diagnose your pain. The good news is that the same doctor who identified your problem is in a position to solve it.

The podiatrist can create custom-made orthopedic insoles for you. Choice of thickness, materials, shape: the podiatrist will create orthopedic insoles that fit your foot and help you correct your posture and relieve your pain.

When you buy your insoles from a podiatrist, you can be sure that the diagnosis is tailored to your health.

Generally speaking, orthopedic insoles made by a podiatrist are made of leather and hard foam, in a material similar to fairly sturdy pasteboard.

✅ Orthotics ordered from a podiatrist are therefore of the highest quality and last longer.

The good news is that there are numerous chiropodists' offices in France, and you're bound to find one in your town.

The downside is that you'll probably need several appointments to diagnose your problem, then resolve it with the creation of orthopedic insoles.

❌Orthotics made by a podiatrist are generally expensive.. What's more, only part of the cost is reimbursed by Social Security (60%).

Buying insoles at an orthopedic center

An orthopedic center is a medical facility specializing in the treatment of bone, muscle and tendon disorders. This applies to all parts of the body.

There, you can not only request custom-made orthopedic inserts, but also benefit from an orthotic creation service if required.

✅ The orthopedic center will create custom-made insoles, based on a diagnosis tailored to your health.

The orthopedic insoles you order from the orthopedic center are sturdy and long-lasting.

It's important to know that you won't be going to an orthopedic center at the first appointment: your GP, who will have identified the source of your pain, will be able to recommend an orthopedic surgeon or orthopedic center for you to consult. You need to be sure beforehand that your pain is linked to a bone, muscle, nerve or tendon problem.

❌ The process of creating insoles is slowerThe orthopedist-orthotist will need to take measurements of your foot and make a precise diagnosis of your insoles before they can be made. This can take several weeks. between the first appointment and the delivery date of your insoles.

Making orthopedic insoles in a dedicated center is done in the same way as at a podiatrist's: an orthopedist-orthotist will analyze the different pressure points on your foot, analyze your gait, take measurements and create orthopedic insoles adapted to your posture or foot problem.

You will then need to return a few weeks after the first appointment to try out your new insoles and take them home with you.

This means you'll have to make several trips to the clinic to buy your insoles.

In terms of price, custom-made inserts are more expensive than off-the-shelf inserts: orthopedic inserts from a specialized center are generally expensive. Only part of the cost is reimbursed by Social Security (60%).

Finally, in terms of accessibility, you may not find an orthopedic center near you, as there aren't orthopedic centers all over France. This can be a problem if you live far from major cities, for example, and urgently need orthopedic inserts. 

Buying orthotics in pharmacies

The quickest, cheapest and easiest way to buy orthopedic inserts is to visit a pharmacy.

All pharmacies have orthopedic inserts or heel pads available for purchase. Gel insoles, leather insoles, silicone insoles: pharmacies offer a wide range of shoe insoles to suit all budgets.

✅ The advantage of a pharmacy is that orthopedic inserts are available immediately. So if you're looking to treat acute or chronic pain, you can benefit from immediate relief.

Pharmacy-bought orthotics are also inexpensive.

It's a solution to suit everyone, as orthotics can be cut to size (which is convenient if you have a small or very large foot!).

In such cases, you'll need to order from your pharmacist.

❌ Orthotics ordered from a pharmacy need to be renewed more frequentlyThey are less durable than custom-made insoles. What's more, they don't fit your foot perfectly, since they haven't been specially designed for you.

Orthotics sold in pharmacies are not reimbursed by Social Security.

Order insoles online

Today, it's possible to find all kinds of products online. Orthopedic insoles are one of them.

Specialized sites such as Smartfeet offer a wide range of orthopedic inserts, heel cups, sports inserts and other accessories to improve your posture.

Best of all, you can easily browse the site to find the product you're looking for. In fact, orthotics are classified by use (daily, pain relief, sport, slimming) or by pathology to be treated (plantar fasciitis, heel spur, flat foot).

Online, you'll also find orthopedic insoles in any desired material: gel, silicone, leather, foam...

Ordering orthotics online means you're guaranteed a low-cost solution, with insoles available immediately.

✅ Men or women, adults or children: you're bound to find an insole to suit your needs on an online shoe insoles site.. What's more, stock is guaranteed, and each category features several models of insoles to give you the choice.

Customer reviews will also help you determine the reliability of the site you're buying from, and help you choose the best model of orthopedic insoles.

The downside is that orthopedic inserts ordered online are not reimbursed by Social Security, but can be reimbursed by certain mutual insurance companies!

In the case of complex or multiple pathologies, they are also less suited to your problem than custom-made insoles.

Conclusion

Now you know where to buy your orthotics. Podiatrist, orthopedic center, pharmacy, specialized online site: it's up to you to choose the solution that best suits your needs and budget. 

For an economical, fast and multi-functional solution, an orthopedic website remains the ideal place to order insoles.