Concierge orthotics · UK
Orthotics — foot, knee, back and beyond, prescribed by an HCPC orthotist.
Custom insoles, AFOs, unloader knee braces, scoliosis and spinal braces, cervical collars and upper‑limb splints — prescribed and fitted by a BAPO orthotist, at a UK orthotic lab, on a proper review pathway.
Why patients choose us
- 01
An HCPC orthotist, not a shop clerk
Every custom orthosis in our network is prescribed and fitted by an HCPC‑registered orthotist — a BAPO clinician, not a retail assistant with a foot scanner.
- 02
Off‑the‑shelf first when it fits
For mild issues a £60 insole often does the job. We say so before you pay for a £300 custom device.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no supplier or clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What orthotics cost privately in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options — and tell you honestly if the NHS pathway is a better fit.
In short
A pair of custom foot orthoses in our network: £150–£350, ready in 2–4 weeks.
| Orthosis | Indicative range | Fit time | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off‑the‑shelf insoles (Superfeet, Sole, Powerstep) | £30–£100 | Same‑day fit | Immediate |
| Custom functional foot orthoses (CAD‑CAM) | £150–£350 | 1 hr assessment | 2–4 weeks |
| Ankle‑foot orthosis (AFO) — solid or hinged | £250–£600 | 1 hr casting | 3–5 weeks |
| Carbon‑fibre AFO (ToeOFF / Blue Rocker, foot drop) | £450–£800 | 1 hr fitting | 2–3 weeks |
| Charcot Restraint Orthotic Walker (CROW boot) | £1,200–£2,200 | Multi‑visit | 4–6 weeks |
| Unloader knee brace (Össur, Breg) for OA | £400–£900 | 45 min fit | 1–3 weeks |
| Post‑op knee ROM / functional ACL brace | £250–£700 | 30 min fit | Same day / 1 wk |
| Boston brace (custom TLSO, scoliosis) | £2,000–£4,000 | Casting + fit | 3–6 weeks |
| Rigid TLSO (Jewett / CASH, spinal fracture) | £350–£750 | 45 min fit | Same day / 1 wk |
| Rigid cervical collar (Aspen / Miami‑J) | £120–£280 | 20 min fit | Same day |
| Wrist / thumb splint (carpal tunnel, de Quervain’s) | £40–£150 | 20 min fit | Same day |
| Orthotic assessment only (HCPC orthotist) | £120–£220 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, orthotist, material and how much manufacture the lab does. NHS orthotic services are free on referral from your GP, podiatrist, physio or orthopaedic team — often the right route where waits are acceptable.
The problem
The right device, the right clinician, the right pathway.
Orthotics is quietly one of the most oversold and undersupported markets in UK healthcare — retail scanners, wrong device, no review. We fix all three before you commit.
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Not sure it is needed?
Off‑the‑shelf insoles or a short physio course might do the job. We say so before you agree to custom.
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Bought insoles, still hurting?
Second opinion by an HCPC orthotist — prescription check, gait analysis, adjustments or a rethink.
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Post‑op or complex case?
A named orthotist, a UK lab, and a review at four to six weeks — for AFOs, spinal braces, scoliosis, Charcot.
The journey
From enquiry to fitting — what happens, in order.
One orthotist from first message to annual review — with a proper break‑in period and adjustment window.
Phase 1 · Before your fitting
Concierge, off‑stage for you
Phase 2 · Assessment and manufacture
Two to four weeks
Phase 3 · After
Fitting, break‑in, review
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. What hurts, how long, what you have tried, and what you need the orthosis for — walking, running, work, post‑surgery.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: which orthosis type, off‑the‑shelf vs custom, which orthotist, and an indicative price. If an insole is not the answer, we say so.
- 03
Before
We arrange the assessment
Usually within one to two weeks. Gait analysis, biomechanical exam, and a cast or CAD scan for custom devices.
- 04
Assessment
Assessment and casting
A one‑hour appointment: history, gait video, joint range, foot posture. Foam impression or 3D scan taken for the lab.
- 05
Assessment
Manufacture at the lab
Two to four weeks at a UK orthotic lab — CAD‑milled or vacuum‑formed to your prescription.
- 06
Assessment
Fitting appointment
You come back to try the device, walk in it, and have any hot spots or alignment tweaks adjusted on the spot.
- 07
After
Review and replacement cycle
A break‑in review at four to six weeks, then annual review. Custom insoles last two to three years; AFOs and knee braces three to five.
Typical end‑to‑end: 3–5 weeks from enquiry to fitting. Annual review thereafter.
When it helps
When an orthosis is the right step.
The conditions we see most, from plantar fasciitis to scoliosis, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than a fitting review.
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Plantar fasciitis / PTT dysfunction
Custom insoles offload the arch and rearfoot when heel pain or a collapsing arch has not settled with rest and physio.
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Foot drop (stroke, MS, CMT)
A carbon‑fibre AFO like the ToeOFF clears the toes in swing and restores a safer, faster walk.
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Diabetic foot / Charcot
Bespoke insoles and CROW boots offload high‑pressure areas and stabilise the mid‑foot in Charcot neuroarthropathy.
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Knee OA (medial or lateral compartment)
An unloader brace shifts load off the worn compartment and can delay or defer knee replacement.
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Post‑op knee (ACL, MCL, PCL)
ROM braces protect the graft in the early phase; a functional ACL brace supports return to sport.
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Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
A Boston brace worn for 20+ hours a day (curves 25–45°, Risser 0–2) halts progression in the majority of cases — SRS/SOSORT endorsed.
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Spinal compression fracture
A rigid Jewett or CASH TLSO stabilises a stable thoracolumbar wedge fracture for six to twelve weeks while it heals.
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Red flag: worsening neurology
New weakness, numbness, bladder or bowel change while wearing a spinal orthosis is an emergency — A&E, not a fitting review.
Orthosis types
One category, many devices.
What each orthosis on the table actually does — from a £60 insole to a £3,000 scoliosis brace.
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Off‑the‑shelf insoles
Semi‑rigid pre‑made insoles (Superfeet, Sole, Powerstep). First line for mild plantar pain, mild over‑pronation and general comfort.
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Custom foot orthoses
CAD‑CAM prescribed to your foot cast or 3D scan. For plantar fasciitis, PTT dysfunction, metatarsalgia, leg‑length discrepancy and the diabetic foot.
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Ankle‑foot orthosis (AFO)
Solid, hinged or ground‑reaction. For foot drop, drop‑foot with spasticity, and crouch gait in cerebral palsy.
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CROW boot (Charcot)
A total‑contact walker for diabetic Charcot neuroarthropathy — protects the collapsing mid‑foot while it consolidates.
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Knee braces
Unloader (OA), post‑op ROM (ACL/PCL/MCL), functional ACL for sport, patellar tracking (PFPS), and hinged braces for chronic instability.
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Spinal orthoses
Boston or Providence brace for adolescent scoliosis, rigid TLSO (Jewett/CASH) for compression fractures, lumbar corsets for chronic LBP.
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Cervical collars and halo vests
Soft collars for muscular neck pain; rigid Aspen or Miami‑J after cervical spine surgery or injury; halo vest for cervical instability.
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Upper‑limb splints
Wrist splints (carpal tunnel night‑time), thumb spica (de Quervain’s, base of thumb OA), tennis‑elbow counterforce straps, functional slings.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of orthotists, we picked them.
HCPC‑registered, BAPO orthotists across London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every orthotist in our network.
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HCPC‑registered orthotists, BAPO members — not retail scanner operators
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Gait analysis and biomechanical assessment before any custom prescription
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Off‑the‑shelf options offered honestly when they will do the job
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UK orthotic labs with CAD‑CAM milling and a proper review pathway
Safety and wear
What to expect — honestly.
An orthosis is a low‑risk medical device with real caveats: a break‑in period, hot spots, wear‑time targets, and a replacement cycle. Getting these right is what makes it actually work.
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Break‑in period is normal
Custom insoles and rigid AFOs take one to three weeks to wear in. Start at an hour or two a day and build up — do not push through blistering pain.
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Hot spots need adjusting, not enduring
Any pressure area, redness or blister means the device needs a tweak. That is what the fitting review is for — book it.
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Skin checks matter (diabetic feet)
If you have neuropathy, check your feet daily for redness, blisters or breaks while breaking in a new insole or CROW boot.
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Braces do not cure — they support
An unloader knee brace offloads a worn compartment. It does not regrow cartilage. Strength, weight and activity choices still matter.
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Scoliosis bracing needs 20+ hours/day
A Boston brace works because it is worn — 20 to 23 hours a day for the whole growth spurt. Part‑time wear largely wastes the effort.
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Spinal orthoses have a deadline
A Jewett or CASH is usually worn for six to twelve weeks. Long‑term rigid bracing weakens trunk muscles — come off it on the surgeon’s schedule.
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Replace on cycle
Custom insoles two to three years, AFOs three to five, knee braces one to three depending on use. Worn‑out devices stop working.
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Insurance covers medical, not comfort
Most UK insurers cover orthoses when medically indicated (post‑op, foot drop, OA, scoliosis). Comfort insoles are self‑pay.
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Red flags
New weakness, numbness, bladder or bowel change, spreading skin breakdown, or an ulcer under a CROW boot — same‑day medical review.
Reading your orthotic notes
Your fitting note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever orthosis was prescribed, the note the orthotist sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Orthotic language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Diagnosis and prescription
The condition being treated, the orthosis type prescribed, and the goals — pain relief, offloading, deformity control or post‑op protection.
- 02 Technique
Cast / scan and manufacture notes
How the device was captured (foam impression, 3D scan), the material, and any specific corrections built into the prescription.
- 03 Findings
Fitting notes and adjustments
What was adjusted at the fitting, any hot spots, and the wear‑in schedule agreed with the orthotist.
- 04 Impression
Wear schedule, review and replacement
Read this first: how many hours a day to wear it, when to come back for review, and when the device should be replaced.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for orthoses varies by insurer and by indication — usually funded when medically indicated (post‑op, foot drop, OA, scoliosis, spinal fracture), self‑pay for comfort insoles. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about orthotics.
Quick answers on cost, custom vs off‑the‑shelf, NHS vs private, and when to go back to your specialist.
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Do I really need custom orthotics, or will off‑the‑shelf insoles do?
For mild plantar pain, mild over‑pronation and general comfort, an off‑the‑shelf insole (Superfeet, Sole, Powerstep) at £30–£100 is often enough. Custom devices at £150–£350 earn their place when you have PTT dysfunction, a diabetic foot, a leg‑length discrepancy, failed off‑the‑shelf trials, or a specific biomechanical prescription. An HCPC orthotist will tell you honestly which you need.
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What is the difference between a podiatrist and an orthotist?
A podiatrist treats the foot and ankle — nails, skin, gait, injections, minor surgery — and can also prescribe insoles. An orthotist (HCPC‑registered, BAPO member) is a specialist in external orthoses across the whole body: foot, knee, spine, upper limb. For AFOs, spinal braces and complex knee bracing, an orthotist is the right clinician.
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How much do orthotics cost privately in the UK?
Roughly: off‑the‑shelf insoles £30–£100, custom insoles £150–£350, AFOs £250–£800, unloader knee braces £400–£900, cervical collars £120–£280, and Boston scoliosis braces £2,000–£4,000. Assessment alone is £120–£220. NHS orthotic services are free via GP, podiatrist or orthopaedic referral.
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Can I get orthotics on the NHS?
Yes. NHS orthotic services are delivered through community and tertiary orthotic centres, on referral from your GP, podiatrist, physiotherapist or orthopaedic team. Waits vary by region — often several months for a first appointment — which is why many patients go private for speed.
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How long does an unloader knee brace last, and does it work?
Two to three years with regular use. Evidence for medial‑compartment knee OA is reasonable — good responders report meaningful pain relief and function gains, and it can defer knee replacement for years. It is not a cure and does not suit everyone; a two‑week trial before you commit is worth asking for.
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Will a Boston brace actually stop my child’s scoliosis progressing?
For adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with curves 25–45° at Risser stage 0–2, high‑hours bracing (20+ hours a day) is SRS/SOSORT‑endorsed and stops progression in the majority. It works because it is worn — compliance is the single biggest predictor of success.
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How long do I need to wear a Jewett or CASH spinal brace?
Usually six to twelve weeks for a stable thoracolumbar compression fracture, on the surgeon’s schedule. Longer than that risks trunk‑muscle wasting. Come off it on plan and start the rehab your team recommends.
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When should I go back to my specialist rather than the orthotist?
If pain has not improved with the orthosis after three to six months, if a deformity is visibly worsening, or if you develop new weakness, numbness or bladder/bowel change — go back to the referring specialist. An orthosis supports; it is not a substitute for surgical or medical reassessment when the picture is changing.
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