Do You Need Custom Orthotics? Signs Your Feet Could Benefit
Dec 11, 2025
Custom orthotics can help with pressure relief, shock absorption, alignment, stability, and even pain that travels up to the knees, hips, or lower back. Are they right for you? Find out with a consultation: Our team examines your feet, evaluates your gait (how you walk), and shows you how these custom shoe inserts can help.
At South Texas Foot Surgeons, PA, in San Antonio and Kerrville, Texas, we’re well-equipped and highly experienced in creating custom orthotics that fit comfortably and provide proper support — the kind that makes a real difference to your life on the go.
Custom orthotics aren’t the same as the cushioned inserts you grab off a store shelf. Those generic insoles offer a bit of padding, but they can’t correct the way your foot moves or support the places where you personally carry the most pressure.
Custom orthotics, on the other hand, are made from a mold or scan of your feet to match their exact shape, structure, and walking pattern.
Your feet support your entire body, and when they’re not aligned properly, everything above them compensates. Custom orthotics guide your foot into better positioning. When your weight is distributed more evenly, there’s less strain on your heels, arches, ankles, and knees.
Orthotics don’t dramatically change how your feet feel right away. Instead, they reduce overpronation, support weak arches, and relieve pressure points that cause calluses or pain. Over time, those corrections add up, significantly improving your quality of life.
Many people who could use orthotics don’t realize the difference a custom fit makes. Runners with constant heel pain, people with flat feet or high arches, anyone who stands for hours, and people who keep getting the same kinds of foot injuries over and over can all benefit.
But you don’t have to be in severe pain to need orthotics. Pay attention to patterns like:
If you notice one or two of these signs regularly, a consultation is worth it. Many people don’t realize how much their feet affect the rest of their body, until they try custom orthotics.
A good fitting starts with a short history. We’ll ask about where it hurts, when it started, what shoes you wear, and which treatments you’ve tried. We examine your feet, watch you stand and walk, and use a pressure plate or digital scanner to capture how your feet contact the ground.
From there, we design orthotics tailored to your needs. Materials and stiffness vary. Athletes may need firmer shells for performance, while seniors or those with neuropathy may need softer cushioning. The lab makes the orthotics to your specifications, and you return to our office for a fitting.
Most people feel some relief within the first few days of wearing custom orthotics. However, full benefits build gradually as your body adjusts. Expect a short break-in period where you wear them for just a few hours each day. Within a couple of weeks, they should feel natural, and your feet should feel more supported and less strained.
If you’re still uncomfortable after that phase, we may need to adjust your orthotics. Fine-tuning is normal, especially for people with complex foot shapes or long-standing foot pain.
If you’re struggling with recurring foot, ankle, knee, or lower leg pain, custom orthotics are worth considering. They support, protect, and correct in ways store-bought insoles simply can’t.
Schedule an evaluation with our experts at your nearest South Texas Foot Surgeons, PA, office in San Antonio or Kerrville, Texas, today. You’ll get answers, options, and customized inserts that help you move through your day with more comfort and less strain.