CUSTOM INSOLES

3D PRINTED ORTHOTICS AND PHITS

Custom 3D Scanning, Printing and Phits orthotics

3D scanning technology is the latest way in which we can design your orthotics (prescription insoles) to be accurate and effective. We usually cast or scan the foot in a non-weight bearing position to ensure we capture the foot in a corrected position and to maximise control from the insoles that we prescribe and manufacture.

We believe strongly that we should invest the time at the beginning of the process to formulate your prescription.

Be wary of clinics or clinicians not prepared to invest the time at the beginning of the treatment and manufacture process. As other methods used to capture the shape of the foot whilst quick and easy, do not allow the same level of control.

If you are considering this type of treatment, check with the clinic how they assess, and manufacture your orthotics before booking. We have clinics across Scotland and are the largest network of biomechanics clinics in Scotland.

Our 3D printing manufacture process

Using our dedicated 3d scanner we can take a digital image of the foot which then gives us a 3D image of the foot to allow us to then start the design process for your insoles. However, depending on the issue you have it may be that we will still take a non-weightbearing cast if it is more appropriate for your presenting problem.
The 3D image then is modified depending on the specific correction requirements for your prescription.
The finished design is then fed into our 3D printer to be manufactured. These digitally manufactured insoles are extremely accurate and ensure 100% repeatability and accuracy. They can even have designs with different levels of stiffness integrated into the prescription ensuring maximum accuracy, durability and comfort.
We have invested heavily in having complete control of the entire printing process. We don't send them elsewhere, we don't ask a technician to do this either. We have taken the time to understand the newest technology and merging this with long established best practice techniques to merge and compliment the newer orthotic manufacturing technology. It hasn't been an easy process but we feel it has been well worth the effort.
We can print in a variety of materials. These options will be described and explained to you as part of your initial assessment

Phits and our own 3D printed design

Phits are a manufacturer that many private podiatry clinics use. They work by taking foot pressure data via walking over a pressure map to then interperate the pressure of walking and comparing your foot pressures to normal pressures.

The data is then used to make 3d printed insoles made by an external supplier not the assessing podiatrist or Orthotist.

They are made of plastic and used for controlling milder biomechanical issues

Our 3D printed orthotics use exactly the same pressure technology to identify gait or biomechanics issues. However, the clinician that assesses you is in complete control of the whole prescription, design and manufacture process. Our clinicians design and manufacture to your prescription in our own 3D printing lab.

So what is the difference?

Phits orthotics have their place and are very good for milder biomechanical issues. Phits are more modular in their design approach. These orthotics are predominanty used by Podiatrist Orthotists who do not have the ability to manufacture their own custom orthotics.

We have access to Phits manufacturing in our clinics. It was by using Phits insoles and recognising that they weren't able to offer as much control as our own traditional custom made orthotics that prompted our own 3D printing journey.

3D printing is more environmentally friendly than traditional custom manuafcturing. They are made from 100% recycled material and are more sustainable with a fraction of the waste. As such, we decided to move to 3D printing techniques for environmental reasons.

In August 2024 we purchased our own 3D printer. The aim was to merge the quality of our traditional custom orthotic manufacture with modern technology.

This has not been an easy process and one that has involved an enormous amount of time and money in the process.

The result is modern custom orthotics that offer the same level of control and support. But are environmentally friendly and superior to any other orthotics out there.