Summary: You can now easily schedule a virtual evaluation to determine your custom orthotic needs. Thanks to our advanced 3D scanning technology and a virtual evaluation, we bring custom foot support directly to your doorstep.
Custom orthotics can be so beneficial because they are individually customized to your specific concerns, foot anatomy, and unique movement patterns. Because of this, an in-person evaluation is still the gold standard when purchasing custom orthotics
Even though foam foot impression kits can be mailed anywhere in the country, our virtual evaluation along with our cutting-edge scanning technology has proven to be very successful in designing a custom solution to meet your unique needs.
If you are within driving distance of our clinic, we recommend an in-person evaluation.
However, a somewhat recent development has expanded patients’ options for getting orthotics via a virtual consultation. Our cutting-edge and high-quality 3D scanning technology is more accessible than ever now using a smartphone, tablet or computer.
Because of that, we are now confident that we can get a highly detailed 3D rendering of your feet to create an accurate orthotic from anywhere. Paired with an in-depth virtual evaluation, it’s never been more convenient to get custom orthotics without leaving your house.
How the virtual custom orthotics process works
The virtual care options available to Biocorrect patients begin with requesting an appointment, either by calling 616-356-5030 or filling out our form online. Our team will then schedule a 30-minute video call to perform the virtual evaluation.
This first (and hopefully only) appointment with a Certified Pedorthist allows you to describe your symptoms and/or diagnoses, go over your medical history, and anything you’ve tried successfully or unsuccessfully in the past.
You’ll be asked to hold certain postures and demonstrate certain movements during the evaluation, which allows our specialists to record and in some cases, measure, the type of correction needed.
Once the evaluation is completed, you’ll download and log into our 3D Scan mobile app and upload your digital foot scans to our team. Once we have those scans, our fabricators create your orthotics and will ship them directly to your door.
Requirements for virtual custom orthotics at Biocorrect
Unfortunately, not everyone has the right phone, and some people might be better served by an in-person appointment. You need a compatible iPhone and the ability to perform the tasks of the virtual evaluation over a video call. A successful video call requires a stable internet connection, HD video camera, and enough physical space to move around within view of the camera.
Finally, the scanning process through our application is much easier to do if you have someone help you. Typically, we request the patient have someone available to assist them with scanning the feet.
Follow-up appointments and adjustments
Not everyone will require an adjustment to their orthotics after breaking them in, but we always offer adjustments if the results aren’t what you expected. For our virtual patients, the process typically requires you to ship your orthotics to our facility after a follow up virtual appointment to assess your concerns and determine the neccessary adjustments. In other cases, we can meet with you on a video or phone call to answer questions you have about how to use your custom orthotics or address any other concerns.
What to watch out for
It’s important to mention that many other brands advertise shoe inserts as custom orthotics when the process doesn’t include every step that it should. Usually this indicates that the product isn’t actually custom. The product might actually just be of pre-fabricated templates in various sizes to attempt to match your foot shape, or they may be self-adjustable, rather than designed by an expert, and/or they may not be able to take all of your concerns into account because there is no evaluation—just an online shopping cart.
It’s why we weren’t the first custom orthotic facility to introduce orthotics from home: our in-person process was proven and time-tested. So, we wanted to be sure that an entirely different approach would have the same quality that our in-person evaluations provide.
Who is eligible for virtual custom orthotics?
We’re happy to provide virtual appointments for anyone too far away for an in-person evaluation. Our clinic is located in West Michigan, and we often have patients travel from neighboring states for their appointments. If you’re still unsure whether a virtual or in-person is a better option for you, don’t hesitate to call and ask! Our team is happy to help.
You can request your virtual appointment online at any time by filling out an appointment request form and selecting the checkbox for a virtual visit.