Custom orthotics at Pro Motion Healthcare are made from measurements, not a shoe size. Here is every stage, from the first conversation with a certified pedorthist (C.PED) to the check-in two weeks after you start wearing them.
The stages at a glance
| Stage | What happens | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment | Your symptoms, activities, footwear and history | At the clinic |
| 3D foot scan | A scan of each foot as you stand | At the clinic |
| Pressure mat | You walk across a mat that records your foot balance and walking pattern | At the clinic |
| Design | The orthotic is drawn from your scan and pressure data | Designed for you |
| 3D printing | Your design is printed | Made to order |
| Fitting | Fitted in your shoes, shells adjusted if needed | At the clinic |
| Follow-up | The clinic checks in after about two weeks | By phone or visit |
Assessment: the conversation comes first
The pedorthist starts by asking what brought you in: where it hurts, when it started, what makes it better or worse, and what you do all day. A nurse on 12-hour shifts, a runner training for a race and a retiree who walks the waterfront trail each need something different. The pedorthist looks at your feet and how you move, and the shoes you wear most.
This is also where the pedorthist decides whether custom orthotics are a good fit for you at all. Sometimes footwear or a different kind of support makes more sense, and you will be told so.
The 3D foot scan
Next, each foot is scanned in 3D while you stand. The clinic describes its equipment as a high precision 3D laser scan and pressure mat: cameras and the scan capture the shape of the foot, how it rotates and how you walk. Standing matters, because a foot changes shape when it takes your weight.
There is no plaster cast and no foam box. Plans such as Green Shield look for orthotics made from a 3D cast or scan of the foot, rather than from a footprint alone.
The pressure mat: how you walk
Then you walk across a pressure mat. It records where your weight lands and how it moves from heel to toe with each step: whether the heel takes a hard strike, whether the arch flattens, whether the ball of the foot or the big toe carries too much. The result is a pressure map of both feet, the kind of gait analysis that shows what the eye alone can miss.
Design and 3D printing
Your orthotic is designed from the scan and the pressure data. Support goes where the map shows the foot needs it, and relief where it is taking too much load. The model is chosen for the shoes and activities you described: everyday, running, wellness, industrial, ski, kids, soccer or golf. The design is then 3D printed, so the shape that comes back is the shape that was designed.
How long this takes is something to ask when you book, as it can vary. The clinic will give you a pickup appointment.
The fitting
At pickup the pedorthist fits the orthotics in your shoes and checks them as you stand and walk. The shells can be adjusted if something presses in the wrong place. You leave with a plan for breaking them in.
Breaking them in, and the two-week check
Some pressure at first is normal. The clinic’s advice is to build up slowly:
- Day one: about one to one and a half hours
- Day two: about two to two and a half hours
- Then a little longer each day
- No sports in them for the first two weeks
- Most people are used to them in two to four weeks, about two on average
The clinic contacts every patient about two weeks after pickup to ask how it is going. If anything still rubs or aches, call: an adjustment is often all it takes. The clinic’s refund policy says custom orthotics are made for you and are not refundable, and are covered by a fit and function warranty. Ask for the terms in writing before you order.
Paperwork for your claim
Keep the receipt the clinic gives you at pickup. Insurers usually want an itemised receipt with the pickup date and payment in full, along with the prescription and assessment details.
Related pages
To see which conditions people come in for, read foot orthotics Barrie. For the types and models, see orthotics Barrie. If you are comparing clinics, use the checklist on how to choose the best orthotics in Barrie, and for drive times from your part of town see orthotics near me.
Ready to be measured? Book a foot scan in Barrie.
What your plan checks
- A prescription with a diagnosis
- Assessed, scanned and dispensed by a provider your plan accepts
- An itemised receipt and the assessment details
Coverage depends on your plan. Check your benefits booklet or call your insurer before you book.
Questions people ask
What is a 3D foot scan?
A 3D scan records the shape of each foot as you stand on it. At Pro Motion Healthcare it is taken together with a walk on a pressure mat, so the orthotic is designed from both the shape of your feet and how they take load.
Is a gait analysis part of the appointment?
Yes. Walking across the pressure mat records your foot balance and walking pattern, and the pedorthist watches how you move.
Do you use plaster casts or foam boxes?
No. The shape comes from the 3D scan, not a cast.
How long until my orthotics are ready?
Ask when you book: the clinic gives you a pickup appointment once your orthotics are designed and printed.