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Orthotic Therapy

Orthotic Therapy is a physical therapy involving the prescription, manufacture and fitting of foot orthotics to improve the foot or lower limb, back and/or musculoskeletal function to resolve or reduce foot pain.

Podiatric Biomechanics Orthotic Therapy

At Firefly Foot & Ankle Clinics we specialise in podiatric biomechanics and orthotic therapy. We produce custom made foot orthoses from our own lab in Sligo. This insures we can produce accurately designed, bespoke orthotic devices; crafted to treat the unique needs of each individual patient.

The devices produced by our skilled orthotic technicians are recognised as industry leading. As such, Firefly custom made foot orthoses are prescribed by many hundreds of Podiatrists across the UK and Ireland.

Typically foot orthotics are prescribed to treat pain that occurs from the hips down. However, orthotics can be used to improve posture. Those who suffer from supinated or pronated feet can benefit from orthotic therapy.

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Common conditions treated using orthotic therapy

Pronated Feet

A pronated foot is sometimes (and not alway accurately) described as a flat foot. A pronated foot has a fallen arch, this leads it sometimes, incorrectly, to be described as a flat foot. However, it just appears flat when the foot bears weight.  A pronated foot can be a symptom of:

  • the leg rotating inwards so the foot also rolls causing the arch to collapse.   
  • an unstable heel, this can allow the foot to roll inwards.
  • tight muscles at the fore of the foot could pull the foot to the inside causing pronation.
  • or, a neurological abnormality may cause some muscles to weaken.

All of the above can lead to a mal-alignment of the foot and ankle and/or also the knee, hip, pelvis and back. Orthotic therapy can help realign the foot and reduce pain or prevent potential future injury.

Supinated Feet

Supinated FootThe supinated foot sees forces exerted on the outside of the foot.  This can be evidenced by examining a running shoe. If the sole of the shoe is worn on the outside border of the sole [from heel to toe] it would indicate supination.  How the heel of a shoe wears can also be an indication.  Heels that wear on the outside edge would also indicate supination.


Both pronated or supinated feet suggest some form of mis-alignment within the musculoskeletal structure of the foot is present. Typically this can result some joint surfaces not working in concert to produce efficient foot function. Over time this could lead to Osteoarthritis, the degeneration of the joint surfaces. Custom made foot orthotics can support the foot, realigning affected joints.  

Flat Feet

Flat feet can appear similar to pronated feet, however, if the suspect foot is elevated and there is no evidence of a foot arch, then it is likely the person suffers from flat feet. This is contrasted with someone who suspects their feet pronate. When someone who pronates, elevates their foot by lifting it away from the ground, the arch should be visible.


High arches, those who have a high arched feet may not suffer misalignment of joints.  The challenge with high arched feet is they may not get the support provided in-shoe or by using over the counter devices, as the arch of the foot is much higher than the average arch height.