Your feet are the base for everything above them. When a foot rolls too far inward or outward, the shin, knee, hip and lower back all have to adjust with every step. At WellCare Medical in Bradford, our chiropractor checks whether the way your feet move is adding to your knee or lower back pain, and prescribes custom orthotics when they are likely to help.
How the feet affect the knees and the back
- Knees. When the arch collapses inward, the shin turns with it and the kneecap is pulled slightly off its usual track. Over thousands of steps this can irritate the front or the inside of the knee.
- Lower back. Uneven movement at the feet, or a difference between the two sides, changes how the pelvis moves as you walk, and the muscles and joints of the lower back take up the extra work.
When orthotics are worth considering
- knee pain that is worse with walking, stairs or running, in someone whose feet overpronate
- pain at the front of the knee, around the kneecap
- lower back pain that builds up with standing or walking and eases when you sit
- one shoe that wears very differently from the other
- a job that keeps you on your feet on hard floors
Research suggests foot orthotics can help some kinds of knee pain, particularly pain around the kneecap, in the short term. The evidence for lower back pain is more limited. For that reason the exam matters: orthotics are prescribed when your feet are part of the problem, and other treatment is advised when they are not.
Orthotics as one part of your treatment
Orthotics are usually combined with treatment for the knee or the back itself:
- chiropractic treatment for joint pain and for back pain
- chiropractic adjustments for posture and gait problems
- physiotherapy to strengthen the hips, thighs and trunk
- deep tissue massage for lower back pain
Your exam and your orthotics
Our chiropractor examines your feet, knees, hips and back, and watches you walk. See what happens at a gait analysis and biomechanical exam. If orthotics are right for you, they are ready in around three weeks, depending on the case.
| Custom-made orthotics, one pair, including the biomechanical exam, gait analysis, measuring and fitting | $500 |
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Fees at WellCare Medical Bradford, October 2026
Many work benefit plans cover custom orthotics. You pay at the clinic and claim from your plan: see using your work benefits.
When to get medical help first
Go to the emergency department for back pain with numbness around the groin, loss of bladder or bowel control, or new weakness in a leg. See your doctor about a knee that is swollen after an injury, locks, or gives way, and about back pain with a fever, unexplained weight loss or pain that wakes you at night.
Walk-ins and new patients
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.
Common questions about orthotics for knee and lower back pain
Can orthotics help knee pain?
They can when the way your feet move is adding to the load on the knee. Our chiropractor checks this at the exam.
Can orthotics help lower back pain?
For some people, particularly when the feet move unevenly or one side differs from the other. The research is limited, so orthotics are prescribed only when the exam points to the feet.
How soon will I notice a difference?
It differs from person to person. Your body needs a couple of weeks to get used to orthotics, and we check your progress at follow-up.
How much do orthotics cost?
A pair of custom orthotics costs $500 at our clinic, including the exam, the gait analysis, the measuring and the fitting.