Custom Foot Orthotics, Lifts & Shoe Modifications
Precisely designed and clinically fitted custom foot inserts, sole and heel lifts, and shoe modifications — prescribed following a thorough biomechanical assessment by a Certified Pedorthist (C.Ped) and Doctor of Physical Therapy in Youngsville, NC.
Understanding Your Treatment
Not All Foot Inserts Are Created Equal — Ours Start With a Full Biomechanical Evaluation
Custom foot orthotics, lifts, and shoe modifications are corrective devices designed to address structural foot problems, alignment imbalances, and biomechanical abnormalities that cause pain and dysfunction throughout the body. Unlike generic over-the-counter insoles — which are mass-produced to fit average foot shapes — custom devices are fabricated specifically for your unique foot structure, function, and clinical needs.
At Polaris Rehabilitation, all custom foot devices are prescribed and fitted by Alma Deguzman, PT, DPT, C.Ped — a Doctor of Physical Therapy who holds a Certified Pedorthist (C.Ped) credential from Northwestern University. This dual qualification means that your orthotics are prescribed not just based on your foot shape, but as part of a fully integrated biomechanical treatment plan that considers how your feet relate to your ankles, knees, hips, pelvis, and spine.
Our orthotic service covers a comprehensive range of devices and modifications. Custom foot inserts are designed for patients with flat feet, high arches, plantar fasciitis, and other structural foot conditions. Sole lifts and heel lifts are prescribed for patients with leg length discrepancies — correcting pelvic and spinal imbalances that drive chronic back and hip pain. Shoe modifications include rocker bottom soles, wedging, toe fillers, and other structural adaptations to standard footwear.
Every device prescribed at Polaris is the result of a thorough biomechanical assessment — not a quick foot scan or a generic pressure map. The result is a device that genuinely fits your foot, addresses your specific structural problem, and integrates with your broader rehabilitation goals for maximum clinical benefit.
Are Custom Orthotics Right for You?
Custom Foot Devices Benefit Patients Across a Wide Range of Conditions & Lifestyles
Custom foot orthotics and shoe modifications are appropriate for any patient whose pain, posture, or mobility has a structural foot or alignment component. The following patient types benefit most from clinically prescribed custom devices.
Patients with Flat Feet or High Arches
Flat feet and high arches cause abnormal load distribution through the foot and lower extremity — contributing to foot pain, arch collapse, shin splints, knee pain, and low back discomfort. Custom orthotics correct the structural cause of these symptoms at the source.
Patients with Leg Length Inequality
A difference in leg length — whether true or functional — creates pelvic tilt, spinal imbalance, and compensatory movement patterns that drive chronic pain throughout the lower back, hips, and legs. Precisely prescribed sole and heel lifts are one of the most effective treatments for this often-overlooked condition.
Scoliosis Patients
For scoliosis patients with an associated leg length discrepancy or foot asymmetry, custom lifts and orthotics are a critical component of holistic scoliosis management — reducing the biomechanical load on the spine and supporting the postural correction work achieved through PSSE.
Active Patients & Those on Their Feet All Day
Patients with physically demanding jobs, active lifestyles, or recreational sports participation benefit significantly from custom orthotics that reduce cumulative joint stress — improving comfort, endurance, and injury prevention throughout daily activity.
Older Adults with Foot Pain & Alignment Changes
Age-related changes in foot structure — including arch collapse, increased pronation, and fat pad atrophy — cause significant discomfort and gait instability in older adults. Custom orthotics adapted to aging foot structures provide targeted relief and improve walking confidence.
Post-Surgical & Rehabilitation Patients
Patients recovering from foot, ankle, knee, or hip surgery often require temporary or permanent orthotic support to protect surgical sites, reduce load on healing structures, and restore normal gait mechanics during the rehabilitation process.
Your Custom Orthotics Experience at Polaris
From Biomechanical Assessment to Perfectly Fitted Custom Devices
At Polaris, the process of receiving custom orthotics or shoe modifications is clinically rigorous and fully personalized. Every step is designed to ensure your devices are not just well-made — but clinically correct for your specific structure, function, and rehabilitation goals.
Biomechanical Foot & Gait Assessment
Your process begins with a comprehensive biomechanical assessment — evaluating foot posture, arch structure, and flexibility in both weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing positions. Gait analysis is performed to observe how your feet and lower extremities move under load. Leg length is measured and documented, and your current footwear — including any existing insoles — is reviewed. This assessment determines the precise type, material, and design of device that will best address your structural needs.
Prescription & Device Design
Based on your assessment findings, a prescription is developed for your custom device. For foot orthotics, this includes the device type (accommodative or functional), shell material, top cover, heel cup depth, arch fill, and any specific additions such as metatarsal pads, heel lifts, or wedging. For sole and heel lifts, the exact elevation, taper, and material are specified based on your measured leg length difference. Shoe modifications are prescribed with specific structural and functional goals in mind.
Casting, Fabrication & Fitting
Custom devices are fabricated following a casting or scanning process that captures the precise three-dimensional shape of your foot in the corrected position. Once fabricated, your devices are fitted and assessed — checking alignment, pressure distribution, and comfort before you leave the clinic. Any immediate adjustments needed are made at the fitting appointment.
Follow-Up, Adjustment & Review
A follow-up appointment is scheduled to review your response to the devices — assessing comfort, wear patterns, and clinical outcomes. Adjustments to your orthotics, lifts, or modifications are made based on your feedback and clinical reassessment. For patients with ongoing conditions, periodic review ensures your devices continue to meet your needs as your foot structure or clinical status evolves.
What Custom Foot Devices Can Do for You
6 Key Benefits of Clinically Prescribed Custom Foot Orthotics & Modifications
Custom foot devices prescribed following a thorough biomechanical assessment — and designed specifically for your structure — deliver benefits that extend far beyond your feet, positively affecting alignment, pain, and function throughout the entire body.
Reduced Foot, Ankle & Lower Extremity Pain
Custom orthotics redistribute pressure and correct structural imbalances that cause foot, ankle, shin, and knee pain — providing targeted, lasting relief that generic insoles cannot achieve.
Improved Pelvic & Spinal Alignment
Precisely prescribed heel and sole lifts correct leg length discrepancies that drive pelvic tilt and spinal imbalance — producing significant improvements in overall posture and reducing spine-related pain.
Better Gait Mechanics & Walking Comfort
Corrected foot mechanics restore a more natural, efficient gait pattern — reducing abnormal joint loading, improving walking comfort, and reducing fatigue during daily activity.
Supports Scoliosis & Spine Rehabilitation
For scoliosis patients, custom lifts and orthotics address the biomechanical foundation of spinal imbalance — directly supporting and reinforcing the postural corrections achieved through PSSE and other scoliosis therapies.
Prevents Joint Degeneration & Overuse Injury
Abnormal biomechanics accelerate wear on joints and soft tissues over time. Custom orthotics and shoe modifications reduce these abnormal forces — protecting knees, hips, and the spine from long-term cumulative damage.
Devices Tailored Precisely to Your Foot
Unlike mass-produced insoles, every custom device is fabricated specifically for your unique foot structure and clinical needs — delivering a fit, function, and clinical outcome that off-the-shelf products simply cannot replicate.
Correcting the Foundation — From the Ground Up
A precisely measured heel or sole lift does more than adjust footwear — it corrects the pelvic tilt and spinal imbalance that a leg length difference creates. By restoring a level pelvis, the entire kinetic chain above it benefits, often producing meaningful reductions in chronic back and hip pain that other treatments have not resolved.
The Right Fit Starts With the Right Assessment.
Get Custom Foot Orthotics Designed for Your Body — Not a Generic Foot Shape
Custom orthotics and shoe modifications prescribed by a Certified Pedorthist and Doctor of Physical Therapy deliver results that store-bought insoles simply cannot match. Book your biomechanical assessment at Polaris Rehabilitation and take the first step toward better alignment, less pain, and a stronger foundation for your whole body.
Serving Youngsville, Wake Forest, Franklinton & greater Franklin County, NC.