Custom Sports 3D Orthotics · Gold Coast
Orthotics that work with your training, not against it.
A sports orthotic isn’t a generic insert with the word “sports” printed on it. It’s a custom-shaped device built specifically for the loads your sport puts through your feet — running impact, court cutting, lifting stability, cycling power transfer. Done properly, they’re game-changing. Done wrong, they make things worse.
What makes a sports orthotic actually sports-specific.
Sports orthotics need to do two things that general orthotics often don’t: fit inside athletic footwear (low-volume, slim profile, designed for running shoes or cleats), and handle dynamic loading (the impact of a runner’s heel strike or the lateral cutting of a netballer is very different from a person walking around an office).
We design the shell stiffness, the cushioning, the heel cup depth and the forefoot extension specifically for the sport. A marathon orthotic is different from a CrossFit orthotic; a soccer-cleat orthotic is different again from a road-cycling shoe orthotic.
The whole thing is built from a 3D scan of your foot in its loaded position, prescribed against the specific biomechanical issues we’ve found in your assessment. Not an off-the-shelf insert with corrections layered on top.
Which sport
Six sports we prescribe specifically for.
Same foot, different sport — different orthotic. The prescription is built around your body and what you actually do.
01
Runner with recurring lower-limb pain.
Plantar fasciitis, Achilles, shin splints, knee tracking, hip issues — if your foot mechanics are part of the problem, a properly-prescribed running orthotic can be the missing piece. Pairs with the loading program.
02
Field-sport player with overuse issues.
Footy, soccer, rugby, hockey players who load specific tissues repeatedly. Studded footwear has poor inbuilt support; a custom orthotic that fits inside the cleat can dramatically change comfort and injury rate.
03
Court-sport athlete (netball, basketball, tennis).
Cutting, jumping and landing loads the foot differently from running. We design for lateral stability and forefoot loading without compromising shock absorption or shoe fit.
04
CrossFit / strength athlete.
Squatting, deadlifting and pressing place loads on a flat-footed stance. The right orthotic for this isn’t a high-arch running device — it’s a low-profile control device that fits Olympic lifting shoes or flats.
05
Cyclist with foot or knee issues.
Cycling orthotics solve a very specific problem: power transfer through the pedal. Hot-spots, forefoot pain, knee tracking issues, and foot numbness on long rides usually have a cleat-position or orthotic answer.
06
Multi-sport / triathlete.
Different sports, different orthotic specs. Sometimes one device works across activities; sometimes you need separate devices for run vs cycle. We’ll work that out and prescribe accordingly.
How we prescribe a sports orthotic
Assess. Prescribe. Fit. Review.
01
Biomechanical & sports-specific assessment.
We watch you run on the treadmill (or move through sport-specific patterns if running isn’t your sport), assess your foot in standing and loaded positions, screen your training history, and identify what we’re actually trying to fix.
02
3D scan + prescription.
Foot scanned in a corrected, controlled position. We prescribe the shell material, posting angles, cushioning density, heel cup depth and forefoot extension. The lab manufactures from our specs — you’re not getting a generic shape.
03
Fitting & review.
Devices ready in 2–3 weeks. We fit them, check shoe compatibility, brief you on the break-in period, and review at 4 weeks. Adjustments come standard if anything needs tweaking.
The honest comparison
Three ways athletes get orthotic support.
01
Ace — sport-specific custom orthotic.
3D-scanned, prescribed against a specific biomechanical pattern, designed for your specific sport and footwear. Adjustable, durable (typically 3–5 years), and reviewable as your needs change.
02
Off-the-shelf ‘sports insole’.
Reasonable starting point for mild cases or short-term use. Doesn’t address specific biomechanics, doesn’t adapt to your foot shape, and usually wears out in 6–12 months. Useful in a $40 stop-gap kind of way.
03
Chain-shop ‘custom’ orthotic.
Often a foam pad on top of a generic shell, with a $200–400 price tag for what’s structurally an off-the-shelf device. Functionally between option 1 and option 2 — doesn’t deliver what genuine custom prescription does.
Is this you?
If this sounds like you, book in.
01
You’ve been told you need orthotics for your sport.
Worth a proper second opinion. Sometimes the answer is “yes, and here’s the right spec”. Sometimes it’s “actually, strength work would solve this”. We’ll tell you honestly.
02
Your current orthotics aren’t cutting it.
Either they’re not specific enough for your sport, the prescription was wrong, or they’ve worn out. A re-prescription is often cheaper than people expect — especially with health-fund support.
03
Recurring overuse injuries in a specific sport.
If you’ve had plantar fasciitis, shin splints, or knee pain that keeps coming back to the same training load, biomechanics is often the missing piece. Orthotics + loading work together is the high-value combination.
Questions athletes ask
Common sports orthotic questions.
01 Do I really need custom — not off-the-shelf?
Depends on the case. For low-load recreational use, off-the-shelf can be enough. For repetitive impact at speed, specific biomechanical issues, or recurring overuse injuries — custom delivers what off-the-shelf can’t. We’ll tell you honestly which is right for you.
02 How long do they last?
3–5 years for the shell. The cushioning top-cover usually needs refreshing every 12–18 months for active users — that’s a cheap re-cover, not a new device. We service what we’ve made.
03 How long does the break-in period take?
Usually 2–3 weeks. We start you at 1–2 hours a day and ramp up. Wearing them for a marathon on day one is a recipe for new aches — the body needs time to adapt to the corrected loading pattern.
04 Will they fit in my football boots / cycling shoes / racing flats?
Most of the time yes — we design for the footwear you’ll actually use. Bring the relevant shoes to the appointment. Some very low-volume race flats may need a thinner top-cover or a different shell material; we’ll work that out at the assessment.
05 How much do they cost?
Custom orthotics are an investment — typical Australian range is $400–700 for a single pair, plus the initial assessment. Health fund extras usually cover a significant portion. We’ll quote on the spot at the assessment so there are no surprises.
06 Are they covered by private health?
Yes — custom orthotics are claimable under your podiatry orthotic extras with every major fund. Some funds give a fixed annual orthotic allowance; some are part of broader extras. We HICAPS on the spot.
Custom orthotics rebatable on every major fund — HICAPS on the spot.
Train harder, hurt less, last longer.
