For over 30 years, Sport & Spine Physiotherapy in Adamstown, Newcastle has been helping clients from elite athletes to growing kids with orthotic assessments and custom prescription of semi-rigid orthoses. If you’ve ever wondered whether orthotics could help you, here’s everything you need to know — what orthotics are, who might need them, their benefits and how our team can help.

What Are Orthotics?

Orthotics are specially designed devices, custom inserts or supports for your shoes that help correct biomechanical issues in your feet and lower limbs. At Sport & Spine, we use semi-rigid orthoses, which are built to provide both support and flexibility. Physiotherapists assess your lower limb and foot alignment, movement and function, then prescribe a device tailored to your biomechanics.

While not everyone with lower limb discomfort requires orthotics, when they are appropriate, they should be customised to your needs — not generic off-the-shelf pads. Accurate measurement, prescription and fitting make all the difference.

Who Needs Orthotics?

Orthotic devices may be useful for people who:

• Have foot, ankle, knee, hip or back pain caused by biomechanical malalignment

• Experience repetitive injury or overuse syndromes, often from running, jumping or walking long distances.

• Have flat feet or asymmetries in gait or leg length.

• Are young children with developing foot and lower limb structure — early detection can prevent long-term issues.

• Elderly individuals who may benefit from better balance, stability and decreased risk of falls.

• Athletes or active people wanting to maximise performance and prevent injury.

Benefits of Orthotics

Orthotics, when properly designed and fitted, can offer many benefits:

• Reduced pain — by correcting alignment and distributing pressure evenly, they alleviate stress on joints, tendons and muscles.

• Improved biomechanics — they help your feet, ankles, knees and hips work in better alignment during walking, running or other activities.

• Injury prevention — malalignment often leads to overuse injuries; orthotics can reduce risk.

• Better function and mobility — improved support often means better comfort during daily activities, workouts and long periods of standing or walking.

• Long-term health — early intervention, especially in children, can prevent deformities or degenerative changes later in life.

• Enhanced performance for sportspeople — by optimising movement patterns and reducing inefficiencies.

What’s the Process at Sport & Spine Physiotherapy

At Sport & Spine in Newcastle:

• Our physiotherapists are all trained in assessing lower limb biomechanics — covering feet, ankles, knees, hips.

• Assessment begins with a thorough history and examination of: how you stand, walk, move; what pains you have; where alignment might be off.

• If orthotics are indicated, we prescribe custom semi-rigid orthoses, tailored to your foot shape, biomechanics, activity level, and any existing issues.

• We ensure devices are affordable, even for young families, and many health funds cover a significant portion of the cost.

• Follow-up is important: we check function, comfort, and make adjustments as needed.

Why Act Early?

Many issues with feet and lower limbs, if unaddressed, can lead to bigger problems down the road: knee pain, hip issues, even back pain. Identifying mechanical problems early — particularly in children whose bones/body alignment are still developing — provides the best chance of preventing chronic pain or degenerative problems.

At Sport & Spine, we believe maintaining mobility is essential to quality of life. When problems are caught early, many issues can be addressed both short term and over life’s stages.

How to Get Assessed

No referral is needed. Whether you're an athlete, a parent, or just someone who’s been living with discomfort, booking an orthotic assessment may be the first step towards feeling better.

Call us at 02 4957 3747 or Book Online to schedule your assessment today.