Custom Orthotics & 3-D Foot Scanning in Glendale, AZ

Custom foot orthotics are shoe inserts made for your feet rather than picked off a store shelf. At Muscle Chiropractic in Glendale, AZ, Dr. Tim Ballitch uses an in-office 3-D foot scanner to order Foot Levelers custom orthotics when they fit your care. Orthotics can be one helpful part of a plan, but they aren’t right for everyone and they aren’t a cure on their own.

Interested in custom orthotics? Here’s how to start:

• 3-D foot scan (free): Book the free assessment. Your Foot Levelers 3-D foot scan is included in our free assessment ($0, about 15 to 30 minutes), listed on the booking page as “Free Balance, Cognitive & Motion Assessment (EV Testing).” It’s an assessment only: no treatment is given and no purchase is required.
• Custom orthotics: $250 (credit card price). This is a separate purchase, only if you decide to order them.
• Chiropractic care for pain is a separate visit. New patients (ages 12+): Book a New Patient Visit — about 30 minutes, $154.13 (credit card price). Existing patients, even for a new problem: Book an Existing Patient Visit — $67 (credit card price).

Questions about orthotics? Call or text 480-740-9619.

Prices shown are credit card prices. A cash discount is available when paying at the time of service.

Custom orthotics vs. generic shoe inserts

Store-bought insoles come in standard sizes and shapes. Custom foot orthotics, also called custom shoe inserts, are made individually from a scan of your feet. Foot Levelers, the company that makes the orthotics we order, describes each pair as individually designed and hand-crafted, and says its orthotics are designed to support all three arches of the foot: the inner and outer arches along the length of the foot and the arch across the front of it (Foot Levelers). Those are the manufacturer’s descriptions. For independent evidence, see what the research shows below.

How the 3-D foot scan fits in

The 3-D foot scan is quick and non-invasive. It creates a three-dimensional image of the shape of your feet. Dr. Tim reviews it with you, along with what you tell him about your symptoms, activities and footwear. The scan is one piece of information, not a diagnosis on its own. If you have pain that needs a chiropractic exam, that’s a separate New Patient or Existing Patient visit. If you decide on custom orthotics, your scan is used to order your pair from Foot Levelers, which makes them. They aren’t made in our office.

What to expect

1. Free assessment with your 3-D foot scan: both feet are scanned, and you talk with Dr. Tim about your symptoms, activities, work and footwear.
2. Recommendation: whether orthotics are likely to help you, what style fits the shoes you wear most, and whether other care, such as a chiropractic exam or exercise, may matter more. You decide whether to go ahead; no purchase is required.
3. Ordering: if you choose custom orthotics ($250, credit card price), the order is placed with Foot Levelers. Typical turnaround is less than seven days, though timing can vary.
4. Fitting check: when your orthotics arrive, we check the fit with you.
5. Wearing them: ask Dr. Tim how to start wearing your new orthotics, and let us know if anything rubs or feels uncomfortable.

When orthotics may be discussed

Dr. Tim may suggest custom orthotics when your exam shows that foot support could help, for example with some cases of:

• Heel pain and plantar fasciitis
• Pain around the kneecap. See knee pain care.
• Foot fatigue or discomfort from long hours standing or walking at work
• Activity needs, such as running, court sports, golf or work boots

Orthotics aren’t necessary for everyone, and the shape of your feet doesn’t explain most pain. Exercise, changes in activity and hands-on care often matter more. If orthotics aren’t likely to help you, Dr. Tim will say so.

When to get medical care first

• A foot wound, sore or color change, especially if you have diabetes or poor circulation. See your physician or a podiatrist promptly.
• You can’t put weight on your foot after an injury, or the foot looks deformed.
• A hot, red, swollen foot or ankle, or fever.
• New numbness, tingling or weakness in the foot or leg.

What the research shows

• Heel pain: one 2018 review found moderate-quality evidence that foot orthoses reduced pain more than sham inserts at 7 to 12 weeks, though the change may not be large enough to matter for everyone (Whittaker et al., Br J Sports Med, 2018). Another 2018 review found orthoses were not better than sham inserts or other conservative care (Rasenberg et al., Br J Sports Med, 2018). Both found custom and prefabricated orthoses performed similarly.
• Kneecap pain: a 2018 international consensus statement recommends foot orthoses for short-term pain relief, with exercise therapy as the main treatment (Collins et al., Br J Sports Med, 2018).
• Chronic low back pain: in a 2017 trial funded by Foot Levelers, people given custom shoe orthotics improved more over six weeks than people on a waiting list. There was no sham-insert group, so how much of the benefit came from the orthotics themselves is uncertain (Cambron et al., Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 2017).

Orthotics don’t permanently correct posture, and results vary from person to person.

Common questions

Do I need custom orthotics?

Many people don’t. Dr. Tim will tell you after your assessment or exam whether orthotics are likely to help and whether other care should come first.

Are custom orthotics better than store-bought inserts?

Not always. In research on heel pain, custom and prefabricated orthoses performed similarly. Custom orthotics are made from your own foot scan, which may help with fit or specific needs. Dr. Tim can tell you whether a simpler option is reasonable for you.

Will they fit my shoes?

Fit depends on the shoe and the orthotic style. Foot Levelers makes styles for different uses, such as athletic, work and dress shoes. Tell Dr. Tim which shoes you wear most so he can recommend a style.

How much do orthotics cost? Do you take insurance?

The 3-D foot scan is included in our free assessment. Custom orthotics are $250 (credit card price), only if you choose to order them. Muscle Chiropractic is cash-based and doesn’t bill health insurance; HSA and FSA cards are accepted. Questions? Call or text 480-740-9619.

Prices shown are credit card prices. A cash discount is available when paying at the time of service.

How long until my orthotics arrive?

Typically less than seven days after ordering, though timing can vary. When they arrive, we check the fit with you.

Visit us in Glendale

Our only office is at 7155 W. Campo Bello Dr., Building B, Suite B-115, Glendale, AZ 85308, less than a mile from Arrowhead Towne Center. Hours and directions · Call or text 480-740-9619.

Related care

Heel pain and plantar fasciitis · Ankle pain and sprains · Knee pain · Hip pain · Sports chiropractic · Golf injuries