Custom Orthotics and Gait Analysis in Bradford

Custom orthotics are shoe inserts made for your feet. At WellCare Medical in Bradford, our chiropractor carries out a biomechanical exam and gait analysis, takes the measurements and prescribes orthotics made for the way you stand and walk. They are used for arch and heel pain, and for knee and lower back pain when the way the feet move is part of the problem. Many work benefit plans cover them: you pay at the clinic and claim from your plan. One pair costs $500, and that price includes the exam, the gait analysis, the measuring and the fitting.

• people with arch or heel pain, including plantar fasciitis
• people with flat feet, high arches or overpronation that causes pain or tiredness
• people with knee pain or lower back pain that is linked to the way their feet move
• people with discomfort under the ball of the foot or around a bunion
• people who stand or walk for most of the working day
• children with foot or leg pain

Orthotics are not the answer to every foot or knee problem. The exam is there to find out whether they are likely to help you.

Our chiropractor asks about your pain, your work, your activities and your footwear, then looks at your feet while you sit and stand, checks how your ankles, knees and hips line up, and watches you walk. Bring a pair of shoes you wear often, because the wear on the soles is part of the picture. See what happens at a gait analysis and biomechanical exam.

Feet move differently with each step. Overpronation is when the arch rolls inward too far, which puts extra strain on the ankles and knees. A neutral foot stays balanced. Supination is when the foot rolls outward, so less of the shock of each step is absorbed. Your orthotics are prescribed for your foot type and for the problem you came in with.

• Exam and gait analysis with our chiropractor.
• Measuring and prescription. The chiropractor takes the measurements and writes the prescription for your orthotics.
• Making. Your orthotics are made to that prescription. This takes around three weeks, depending on the case.
• Fitting. We check the fit in your shoes and how they feel when you walk, and adjust them if needed.
• Your claim. Once you have your orthotics, you send your insurer the invoice showing your payment, the proof of purchase and the gait analysis.

The price covers everything, from the exam to the fitting. There is no separate assessment fee.

Many work benefit plans cover custom orthotics up to a set amount. Extended health plans ask for a prescription that gives the reason for the orthotics, and a family doctor's referral is recommended. What is needed depends on your plan, so check with your benefits administrator or your insurer's app before your visit.

Custom orthotics are not billed directly. You pay for them at the clinic, and once you have received them you submit the claim to your insurer yourself, with the invoice showing your payment, the proof of purchase and the gait analysis. There is more on plans and limits under using your work benefits.

Start by wearing them for an hour or two a day and build up over the first couple of weeks. A mild ache in the feet or legs is common at first as your body adjusts. If they still feel uncomfortable after that, call us so we can check the fit. With proper care, orthotics can last from a year to several years, and we recommend having them checked each year.

We fit children as well as adults. Many children's flat feet are a normal stage of growth and need no treatment, so the exam comes first. See children's orthotics.

Walk-ins are welcome for every treatment on any day we are open. If we have availability we will see you right away. Calling ahead is the best way to avoid a wait. The exam is done by our chiropractor, so calling ahead is the surest way to be seen the same day. We are accepting new patients for every treatment.