Custom Foot Orthotics · Vancouver, Coquitlam, Surrey
Custom orthotics in Vancouver, designed from your gait assessment
Dr. Joseph Stern, a Vancouver podiatrist with over 30 years of practice, examines how your feet and legs move, then designs custom orthotics based on your diagnosis. Made from scratch, and documented for your extended health plan.
$735
Case fee: impressions, orthotics, dispensing and follow up
About 2 weeks
From impression to dispensing, up to 4 for added features
6 months
Of adjustments included after dispensing
No referral
Needed to book with a podiatrist in BC
Watch the video
Dr. Stern explains custom orthotics: who they help and how they are fitted
Custom Orthotics Explained | Dr. Joseph Stern on Benefits, Uses & Fitting Process
Foot pain has a cause. Finding it comes first.
Orthotics are one tool for pain caused by how your feet are built or how your joints move. Dr. Stern sees children, teenagers, adults and seniors.
If your pain shows up when you walk, run, skate, ski, cycle, or play hockey, soccer, tennis, golf or pickleball, that activity becomes part of the assessment. The aim is to treat the cause of the pain, wherever it appears.
- Heel and arch pain, including plantar fasciitis
- Ball of foot pain, including neuromas and metatarsalgia
- Flat feet, high arches and bunion related pain
- Shin, knee, hip or lower back pain linked to foot function
- Arthritis and painful pressure areas
- Overuse injuries, wear and tear, trauma, and problems made worse by footwear
Your first visit
An assessment, not a fitting
We start with your history: symptoms, activities, past injuries and footwear. Then:
- 1An examination of your feet and lower limbs: structure, joint motion and alignment.
- 2A gait assessment to see how your feet move as you walk.
- 3A diagnosis and a clear explanation of your treatment options.
Not everyone needs an orthotic.
Sometimes the right answer is a change in footwear, exercises or another treatment. When an orthotic is the right tool, you will know why, and what it is designed to do.
Functional or accommodative, chosen for your diagnosis
Most prescribed
Functional orthotics
Control the motion and alignment of your feet. They pair a soft top cover with a supportive shell of corrective grade plastic, composite or cork, with the flex chosen for what is being treated.
For protection
Accommodative orthotics
Cushion and relieve pressure. They suit painful areas, arthritis, and feet that need protection more than correction.
How they are made
Made from scratch, for one person
We never choose from a stock of prefabricated or over the counter inserts.
- Step 1PrescriptionBased on your diagnosis, Dr. Stern specifies what your orthotics need to do.
- Step 2Capturing your feetA plaster cast or a 3D scan, taken with a bracket that holds your foot in position. The method depends on what your orthotics need to achieve.
- Step 3FabricationBuilt from raw materials at a professional orthotic lab, to your prescription. Usually ready in about 2 weeks.
- Step 4Dispensing and adjustmentsYou try them in your shoes at the clinic, then return for a one month check up. Adjustments are included for 6 months.
Fees
One case fee, no surprise add ons
The assessment is billed separately at [ASSESSMENT FEE]. If you need orthotics, one case fee covers everything from impression to follow up.
The only extra charge is a change of design after the orthotics are made, for example switching from ¾ length to full length.
- Impression of your feet, by cast or 3D scan
- Lab fabricated custom orthotics
- Dispensing and fitting in your shoes
- One month check up
- Adjustments for 6 months
Insurance
The paperwork your insurer asks for
Many BC extended health plans cover custom orthotics when they are medically necessary, and most require specific documents. You pay at the clinic, then submit your claim to your insurer.
Before your visit, check your plan
Your coverage amount, how often orthotics are covered, and whether your insurer requires a physician referral. You do not need one to see Dr. Stern, but some plans ask for one to pay a claim. Many insurers do not cover orthotics used only for sports or recreation, or inserts made from a pressure pad reading.
You receive the documents your plan requires, such as:
- Your medical diagnosis
- The reason your orthotics were prescribed
- Your biomechanical examination report
- The name and address of the lab that made them
- Itemized receipts
- Any insurer forms completed, including the dispensing date when required
Dr. Joseph Stern, DPM
Over 30 years of podiatric practice in Vancouver
Dr. Stern earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine at the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine after a BSc at UBC, and completed his residency at Mission Oaks Hospital in California. He sees patients at his Burrard Street office, Able Care Medical Clinic and Panorama Physiotherapy.
- Past president, Canadian Podiatric Medical Association
- Board member, SportMedBC
- Podiatrist for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games
- Fellow, Faculty of Podiatric Medicine, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
Questions about custom orthotics
How much do custom orthotics cost?
The case fee is $735. It includes the impression of your feet, the orthotics, dispensing, a one month check up and any adjustments needed in the first 6 months. The assessment is billed separately.
How long does it take?
Most orthotics are ready about 2 weeks after your assessment and impression. Some take 2 to 4 weeks, depending on what is being treated and any additions your prescription calls for.
Do I need a doctor's referral?
No. Podiatrists in BC are licensed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia to diagnose and dispense orthotics, so you can book directly. Some insurers require a physician referral to pay a claim, so check your plan.
How do I know if I need custom orthotics?
You find out at your assessment. Dr. Stern will tell you whether an orthotic is likely to help your condition or whether another approach makes more sense.
Will my insurance cover them?
It depends on your plan. Many extended health plans cover custom orthotics prescribed by a podiatrist with the documentation listed above. MSP does not. Call your insurer before your visit to confirm your coverage.
Are adjustments included?
Yes, for the first 6 months. The only time there is a cost is if you decide to change the design after they are made, for example from ¾ length to full length.
Will they feel different at first?
Most people need a short break in period. Dr. Stern will explain how to ease into wearing them. If something feels wrong, contact the clinic; adjustments are part of the process.
How long do they last?
It depends on the materials, how active you are and, for children, how quickly their feet grow. Custom orthotics can often be adjusted or refurbished rather than replaced.
Do children need orthotics?
Not by default. Children's feet change as they grow, so Dr. Stern assesses whether they need an orthotic now or whether monitoring is the better choice.
Start with an assessment
Call the clinic of your choice to book. Bring the shoes you wear most, along with any orthotics, insoles and imaging reports.
Coquitlam
Able Care Medical Clinic
Suite 56, 2991 Lougheed Highway, Coquitlam, BC
Surrey
Panorama Physiotherapy and Sports Clinic
Unit 103B, 15157 56th Avenue, Surrey, BC
The Medical Services Plan (MSP) does not cover custom orthotics; fees are charged to the patient. Extended health coverage varies by plan. Dr. Joseph R. Stern is a podiatrist licensed and regulated by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia.