Foot analysis and custom insoles: who may it be relevant for?

Dr.Dropin describes the foot assessment as an examination of the feet, ankles, knees, hips and back, with a standing load analysis and an assessment of walking or running [5]. The purpose is to see whether the function of the foot may be related to the symptoms, and whether insoles are a relevant measure [5][6].

Foot analysis is a clinical assessment, and the practitioner also looks at the rest of the body. Some problems in the hip and back may be related to foot function, but the connection is not always clear [5].

Dr.Dropin suggests having the feet assessed in case of recurring muscle or joint problems in the legs, pain from standing or walking a lot, pain after running, jumping or other exercise, a known leg length difference, or when shoes wear unevenly or unusually fast [5].

The Cochrane review of custom foot orthoses includes people with plantar fasciitis, painful high arches, rheumatoid arthritis and painful hallux valgus, among others [1]. Whether insoles are relevant for you is decided in an examination.

Custom insoles are inserts shaped to the individual foot. Dr.Dropin describes that the therapist may use a 3D scan of the foot together with a clinical assessment of the symptoms to decide the design [5]. The insoles can be adapted to different types of footwear, for example running shoes, work shoes and ski boots [5].

Some types are delivered the same day, while others are delivered two to three weeks after ordering, with an extra appointment for delivery and adjustment [5].

A Cochrane review from 2022 pooled 11 trials with a total of 1,332 participants and assessed custom foot orthoses for foot pain [1]. In painful high arches, pain was lower after three months than with placebo insoles, and the evidence is rated as strongest for this condition [1]. For rheumatoid arthritis and for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis the findings also suggested less pain, but the evidence is weaker [1].

In painful hallux valgus in people under 60, pain was lower after six months than with no treatment, but surgery was more effective at six and twelve months [1]. In plantar fasciitis, custom orthoses were not clearly better than placebo or ready-made inserts [1].

The authors describe the body of evidence as limited and point out that decisions should take the uncertainty into account. Adverse effects in the trials included increased foot pain, ankle instability and skin irritation [1].

Plantar fasciitis, or heel pain, is among the most studied conditions. In 2026 the Norwegian Institute of Public Health summarised three systematic reviews and concluded that orthoses possibly give little or no reduction in pain. The certainty of the results is low, and the review does not distinguish between custom and ready-made inserts [2].

NHI writes that ready-made insoles often have as good an effect as custom ones, and that the condition almost always passes on its own. Around 90 percent recover within a year without surgery [3]. NHI emphasises self-care, good footwear with shock absorption, and stretching of the calf and sole of the foot [3]. A meta-analysis described by NHI in 2018 also found no difference of significance between custom and mass-produced insoles in heel pain [4].

NHI describes that shockwave therapy can be considered if ordinary treatment has no effect, and that surgery can be considered after nine to twelve months without improvement [3]. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health assesses that shockwave therapy probably gives a small reduction in pain in plantar fasciitis [2].

Symptoms that do not improve should be reassessed by a healthcare professional.

A foot analysis can be relevant if you have recurring problems in the foot, ankle, knee or hip and wonder whether foot function plays a part. The practitioner explains what the examination shows and which measures are relevant. These may be insoles, but also exercises or other measures. You can read more about custom insoles, plantar fasciitis, shockwave therapy and diagnostic ultrasound.

What is foot analysis?

Foot analysis is an examination of the feet, ankles and movement pattern, with a standing load analysis and an assessment of walking or running [5].

Are custom insoles better than ready-made ones?

In plantar fasciitis, custom insoles have not shown a clear advantage over ready-made ones in the reviews [1][2][3][4]. For some conditions, such as painful high arches, lower pain has been found after three months than with placebo insoles [1].

Do I need a referral for foot analysis?

No. Dr.Dropin states that you book the foot assessment directly online, without a referral from a doctor [5].

How long does it take to get insoles?

It varies with the type of insole. Some are delivered the same day, others two to three weeks after ordering [5].

Can insoles have side effects?

In the trials pooled in the Cochrane review, possible adverse effects were increased foot pain, ankle instability and skin irritation [1].

You can read more about custom insoles, plantar fasciitis and running injuries. You can find more articles in the overview of articles.

This article was written by Dr.Dropin Fysikalske and is based on the sources listed below. It gives general information and does not replace an examination by a healthcare professional.

The websites were accessed and read on 22 October 2026.

1. Hawke F, Burns J, Radford JA, du Toit V. Custom-made foot orthoses for the treatment of foot pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022;(3):CD006801. Link

2. Meneses-Echavez JF, Refsdal TL. Behandling av plantar fasciitt: hurtigoversikt for samvalgsverktøy (Treatment of plantar fasciitis: a rapid review for patient decision aid). Norwegian Institute of Public Health; 2026. Link

3. Plantar fasciitt, behandling (Plantar fasciitis, treatment). NHI.no. Last updated 22 September 2025. Link

4. Kvam M. Hælsmerter: spesialtilpassede innleggssåler er ikke bedre enn masseproduserte såler (Heel pain: custom insoles are not better than mass-produced insoles). NHI.no. 11 April 2018. Link

5. Individuelt tilpassede såler (Individually adapted insoles). Dr.Dropin Fysikalske. Link

6. Kiropraktor Mari Dalaker Jaeger (Chiropractor Mari Dalaker Jaeger). Dr.Dropin Fysikalske. Link