If my daughters required orthotics and lived too far away to come and see Dad, this is what I would tell them:

1. Visit a certified professional in a clinic that MAKES orthotics, not one that simply SELLS orthotics. This unfortunately rules out 96% of providers in central Ontario. There is a considerable disconnect, when the person assessing the patient has never made an orthotic and the person or people crafting the orthotic have never assessed a patient.
2. Ask how long it takes for the orthotics to be manufactured. Sometimes it takes 6 to 8 weeks. If it takes more than 10 days they may not be made on site. If it takes less than 2 days the product may not be custom made.
3. Ask the provider if adjustments are done while you wait. Some adjustments require a few days, but most adjustments take just 5 to 10 minutes if there is a lab on site. This also allows for fine tuning during initial trial.
4. Ask the clinic what they charge for an assessment. Some feel a free assessment entices unnecessary visits. Others feel that charging a fee of $75 for an assessment and then waiving that fee if orthotics are ultimately purchased is even more coercive. This is for the patient to decide.
5. Ask the clinic about the raw materials they use to craft the orthotics (base shell, postings and top cover). Do the materials vary depending on the patient's condition? Or do they use the same approach for everyone?
6. Ask the provider if you need to buy bigger shoes to accommodate the orthotics. It is not advisable to wear an ill-fitting shoe to accommodate an orthotic. Shoes are designed to bend where your foot bends... if the shoe is too big because of an unnecessarily bulky orthotic, the shoe is not optimally bending where the foot bends. Also, a foot floating and sliding inside an ill-fitting shoe can cause incremental problems for the patient.
7. Ask the provider how the orthotics will accommodate your fashion preference AND your athletic footwear. Wearing a corrective device part-time (especially only for high impact sporting activities) can be MUCH worse than not wearing it at all. Hopefully the provider will suggest you bring your favourite footwear to the assessment and design orthotics that will suit most types of shoes (dress and sport) rather than suggesting more than one pair of orthotics is necessary.
8. Ask the provider how YOU will know if the orthotic is working or not. A good answer to this question is "your original discomfort (foot, knee or back pain) goes away to your satisfaction, there is no new discomfort, and you are pleased".
9. 9. Ask the provider how THEY will know if the orthotic is working or not. A BAD answer to this question is "our patients call if there are any concerns". This is a medically necessary device that can affect (positively or negatively) many body parts. It is impossible to predict how the body will respond and many patients do not properly comply with the instructions. A "No News is Good News" follow-up policy is not ideal patient care.
10. Ask the provider what happens if you're unhappy or regret purchasing the orthotics for any reason. A good answer that is heard rather infrequently is, "We will provide a full refund and recommend another professional".