Well-fitting shoes for a better quality of life – thanks to orthopaedics

‘Lots of people suffer from orthopaedic problems, but few of them know why they’re happening and what they can change,’ says orthopaedic expert Marcel. ‘More and more often, I’m noticing tension throughout the entire body: knees, backs and shoulders. We can combat this tension with proprioceptive insoles and minimise pain that doesn’t always seem to be obviously linked to the feet,’ he continues. Marcel is responsible for the Orthobox at Markthalle Bern, where he performs gait analyses and foot scans. In the process, he investigates and treats every foot on an individual basis.

It’s important to take a holistic medical history. In other words, you need to look at someone’s entire locomotor system, not just the obvious symptoms like pressure spots and misalignments. After all, the specialists are often keen to bring the pelvis and shoulders back into alignment, too.

Your first visit to the orthopaedist

Your in-store appointment Bern or Zurich can be conveniently booked online. But what’ll happen at your appointment? In the Orthobox, the experts will manually examine your feet after an initial discussion. They’ll check to see which movements are possible, what causes pain and where your limits are. They’ll also cast an eye over your entire body: is your posture bad? How do your knees, pelvis, spine and shoulders move?

Then, you’ll stand on a scanner, akin to a photocopier, for a foot scan. It records a precise, electronic image of your feet and shows how the pressure is distributed across them. It’s hugely helpful for picking up any issues.

Next, it’s time to evaluate the results. Would custom-made insole help? We use a special system, a pelotte toolkit, to simulate the impact of a proprioceptive insole on your body. Pelvis tests and bending tests can be used to check what support is right for you. To finish, experts adjust your insoles by hand. However, you won’t, ideally, need to use them for ever: the goal is for the insoles to help your body to improve its posture by strengthening specific muscles. However, it is important to exercise your feet regularly to ensure this happens.

We don’t just create bespoke insoles: we also adjust pre-made soles. This costs less than custom designs, but it’s only the right option if problems occur infrequently and only in particular shoes.

Boot fitting and special models

We’ve got special footwear for special feet: hiking boots to accommodate bunions and extra-wide or extra-narrow hiking boots and ski boots. We can also make minor adjustments to a shoe’s shaft, adding more length or width, sorting out pressure points, the heels or the seams. For most modifications, you’ll need to leave your shoes with us for around 24 hours.

Will your health insurance pick up the bill?

We’re recognised by the Association of Master Orthopaedic Shoemakers, but orthopaedic, made-to-measure insoles aren’t covered by compulsory health insurance. Instead, they fall under your supplementary insurance. In other words, you need to check whether your insurer will cover the costs. We don’t offer any treatment covered by alternative funding bodies, like accident insurers, military insurers or disability insurers.

If necessary, we work with our network of therapists to provide you with holistic, tailored care.