How do I know if I need custom orthotics or if a store-bought insole will do?

The honest answer is that you need a biomechanical assessment to know for certain. Store-bought insoles can work well for mild, generalized foot discomfort. But if you're dealing with recurring or specific pain — plantar fasciitis, knee pain, hip pain, or back pain with no clear cause — there's a good chance the mechanics of your foot are contributing, and a store-bought insole won't correct that. Book a consultation and we'll give you a straight answer.

Are custom orthotics covered by insurance?

Most extended health plans in Ontario cover custom orthotics in full — but unlike physiotherapy or chiropractic, they can't be direct-billed. The process requires a physician's prescription, which Propel makes straightforward: after your assessment, we provide a clinical note your family doctor can simply stamp and sign. When you pick up your orthotics, we give you a paid invoice, your biomechanical assessment report, and a proof of manufacturing — the three documents your insurer needs. You submit those along with the physician prescription and most patients are fully reimbursed. Orthotics are $500 at Propel.

How long do custom orthotics last?

Well-made custom orthotics typically last 3–5 years with normal use, though this varies depending on activity level, body weight, and the materials used. Athletic orthotics used in high-impact sport may need replacement sooner. Your provider will let you know when your orthotics are showing signs of wear and whether an adjustment or replacement is warranted.

Can I use my orthotics in different shoes?

In most cases, yes — custom orthotics are designed to be transferable between shoes with a removable insole. Your provider will advise you on footwear compatibility during your fitting appointment and can recommend shoe types that work best with your prescription.

Do orthotics weaken my feet over time?

Yes, they can! Therefore, you should know how to prevent it! This is a fair concern — and we'd rather be straight with you than dismiss it. Research does suggest that prolonged reliance on orthotics can reduce the demand placed on intrinsic foot muscles, and over time that reduced demand can lead to some degree of muscle weakening. It's a real consideration, and we think every patient deserves to know that upfront. Here's how we approach it at Propel: orthotic prescription is routinely paired with a foot and lower limb strengthening program through our rehabilitation services, specifically to maintain muscle function while the orthotic is doing its corrective work. We also counsel patients on using orthotics as a transient solution — not a lifelong dependency. The goal, where appropriate, is to correct the underlying mechanics, build the strength and movement patterns needed to support the foot naturally, and eventually wean off the orthotic entirely. Some patients will always need their orthotics due to structural issues that can't be changed with exercise alone. But for many, the orthotic is a bridge — not a permanent fixture.

Can orthotics help with sports performance?

Yes. Custom orthotics designed for athletic use optimize foot alignment during dynamic, high-load activity — improving force transfer, reducing energy leakage through faulty mechanics, and decreasing injury risk. Our Sports Specialist Chiropractor regularly incorporates orthotic assessment into athlete care plans for this reason.

Custom Orthotics Burlington | Clinician-Prescribed

This is the question most people have but rarely ask directly, and the answer matters.

Store-bought insoles are designed for an average foot. They provide cushioning and modest arch support, and for mild discomfort they can help. But they're not designed around your biomechanics — how your foot actually strikes the ground, how your arch collapses or compensates under load, or how those patterns travel up through your knee, hip, and spine.

Custom orthotics are different in three important ways:

They start with a clinical assessment. Before any orthotic is prescribed at Propel, a chiropractor or physiotherapist performs a full biomechanical examination — watching how you walk, assessing how your foot shape changes under load, and testing the mobility and alignment of the joints in your foot, ankle, knee, and hip. No assessment means no prescription.

They're built for your specific mechanics. The prescription generated from your assessment accounts for the exact degree of correction your foot needs — not a general arch height or cushion level, but the precise angulation and support structure required to bring your joints into optimal alignment.

They address the source, not just the symptom. A generic insole might reduce foot pain temporarily by adding cushioning. A custom orthotic changes the mechanical input to your entire lower kinetic chain — which is why they're effective not just for foot pain, but for knee, hip, and low back pain driven by poor foot mechanics.

The research behind this is well-established. A systematic review of plantar fasciitis interventions found significant improvements in both pain and function with orthotic devices across short, medium, and long-term follow-up. For knee pain, a systematic review of foot orthoses for patellofemoral pain syndrome found an immediate and long-term reduction in pain and improvement of function following orthotic intervention. At Propel, orthotics are always prescribed as part of a broader treatment plan — not as a standalone fix — which is consistent with what the evidence recommends.

Step 1: Biomechanical Assessment Your chiropractor or physiotherapist performs a thorough orthopedic and biomechanical evaluation. This includes gait analysis, static foot assessment, joint mobility testing, and a review of your injury and health history. This step cannot be skipped — the assessment is what makes the prescription accurate.

Step 2: Orthotic Prescription Based on your assessment findings, your provider generates a custom prescription specifying the exact correction your foot mechanics require. At Propel, we source our custom orthotics exclusively from reputable, industry-standard laboratories to ensure quality and durability.

Step 3: Fitting and Follow-Up When your orthotics arrive, your provider fits them and confirms they're functioning as prescribed. A follow-up appointment is included to assess your response and make any adjustments needed.

At Propel, orthotics are prescribed as part of a broader treatment plan for patients dealing with:

Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
Flat feet or fallen arches
Bunions and forefoot pain
Knee pain (patellofemoral syndrome, IT band syndrome)
Hip pain and bursitis
Low back pain driven by leg length discrepancy or foot mechanics
Achilles tendinopathy
Shin splints and tibial stress injuries
Arthritis affecting the feet, ankles, or knees
Athletic performance and injury prevention

Orthotics are not right for every patient — and at Propel, we only prescribe them when the clinical assessment confirms they're indicated. If they're not the right tool for your situation, your provider will tell you directly and guide you toward what is.

Your first appointment is an assessment — not an immediate prescription. Your chiropractor or physiotherapist will review your health and injury history, perform a static and dynamic foot assessment, observe your gait, and test the mobility of your foot, ankle, knee, and hip joints. The full assessment typically takes 30–45 minutes. If orthotics are indicated, your provider will explain exactly what type of orthotic is being prescribed and why. If they're not indicated, they'll tell you that too — and recommend what would actually help. Orthotics are typically ready for pickup within 2–3 weeks of the assessment.

Custom orthotics at Propel are priced at $500, which falls within the typical Ontario range of $500–$600. Most extended health benefit plans cover the full cost of custom orthotics — but unlike chiropractic or physiotherapy, orthotics cannot be direct-billed. Here's exactly how the process works so there are no surprises:

Step 1: Assessment and physician note. After your biomechanical assessment, Propel provides you with a clinical note addressed to your family physician. This note outlines your specific diagnosis and our recommendation for custom orthotics. Your physician can simply stamp and sign it — or write their own prescription if they prefer.

Step 2: Orthotic prescription and pickup. Once your orthotics are ready and fitted, you pay the $500 fee at pickup. Propel provides you with three documents required for your insurance claim: a paid invoice, a copy of your biomechanical assessment report, and a proof of manufacturing from the orthotic laboratory.

Step 3: Submit and get reimbursed. You submit those three documents along with your physician's prescription directly to your insurance provider. Most patients are fully reimbursed, depending on their plan's orthotic benefit.

Propel's team will walk you through this process and ensure your documentation package is complete and ready to submit before you leave.

How do I know if I need custom orthotics or if a store-bought insole will do?
The honest answer is that you need a biomechanical assessment to know for certain. Store-bought insoles can work well for mild, generalized foot discomfort. But if you're dealing with recurring or specific pain — plantar fasciitis, knee pain, hip pain, or back pain with no clear cause — there's a good chance the mechanics of your foot are contributing, and a store-bought insole won't correct that. Book a consultation and we'll give you a straight answer.
Are custom orthotics covered by insurance?
Most extended health plans in Ontario cover custom orthotics in full — but unlike physiotherapy or chiropractic, they can't be direct-billed. The process requires a physician's prescription, which Propel makes straightforward: after your assessment, we provide a clinical note your family doctor can simply stamp and sign. When you pick up your orthotics, we give you a paid invoice, your biomechanical assessment report, and a proof of manufacturing — the three documents your insurer needs. You submit those along with the physician prescription and most patients are fully reimbursed. Orthotics are $500 at Propel.
How long do custom orthotics last?
Well-made custom orthotics typically last 3–5 years with normal use, though this varies depending on activity level, body weight, and the materials used. Athletic orthotics used in high-impact sport may need replacement sooner. Your provider will let you know when your orthotics are showing signs of wear and whether an adjustment or replacement is warranted.
Can I use my orthotics in different shoes?
In most cases, yes — custom orthotics are designed to be transferable between shoes with a removable insole. Your provider will advise you on footwear compatibility during your fitting appointment and can recommend shoe types that work best with your prescription.
Do orthotics weaken my feet over time?
Yes, they can! Therefore, you should know how to prevent it!

This is a fair concern — and we'd rather be straight with you than dismiss it. Research does suggest that prolonged reliance on orthotics can reduce the demand placed on intrinsic foot muscles, and over time that reduced demand can lead to some degree of muscle weakening. It's a real consideration, and we think every patient deserves to know that upfront.

Here's how we approach it at Propel: orthotic prescription is routinely paired with a foot and lower limb strengthening program through our rehabilitation services, specifically to maintain muscle function while the orthotic is doing its corrective work. We also counsel patients on using orthotics as a transient solution — not a lifelong dependency. The goal, where appropriate, is to correct the underlying mechanics, build the strength and movement patterns needed to support the foot naturally, and eventually wean off the orthotic entirely. Some patients will always need their orthotics due to structural issues that can't be changed with exercise alone. But for many, the orthotic is a bridge — not a permanent fixture.
Can orthotics help with sports performance?
Yes. Custom orthotics designed for athletic use optimize foot alignment during dynamic, high-load activity — improving force transfer, reducing energy leakage through faulty mechanics, and decreasing injury risk. Our Sports Specialist Chiropractor regularly incorporates orthotic assessment into athlete care plans for this reason.