How often should foot orthotics be replaced?

When you invest in a pair of custom foot orthotics, you are making an investment in your health and quality of life. By wearing the right foot orthotics on a regular basis, the pain associated with a wide range of conditions can be decreased to a great extent. However, if and when your foot orthotics begin to wear out, you may start to notice that some of that pain is beginning to creep back in. For this reason, it is important to stay on top of replacing foot orthotics in a timely manner.

Fortunately, a large majority of high-quality custom foot orthotics tend to last around two or three years, when worn every day. However, there are no hard and fast rules for exactly how long your orthotics will last. The wear and tear on a pair of foot orthotics will depend on a number of factors that are specific to each person who needs these supportive devices in the first place.

You’ll want to consider the material your particular orthotics are made from — whether it is on the softer side of the spectrum or leans toward the more durable side. Those products that are fairly soft may need to be replaced every one or two years, but this may simply mean having them refurbished rather than completely replacing the pair with a brand new set.

Another factor that will come into play as far as how often you may need to replace your foot orthotics is going to be the frequency they are worn, as well as what you tend to do when you are wearing them. For example, a pair of orthotics that gets worn to work each day may wear out sooner than a pair that is only used for jogging a few times a week. However, if you’re an avid runner, logging several miles a day, then that scenario will change.

Given that there are no specific guidelines for when to replace your foot orthotics, you can begin by asking the manufacturer about the general lifespan of the product. Also, make sure to pay close attention to whether pain or other symptoms of any condition are begin to crop back up.

If you know you work your foot orthotics pretty hard as a regular basketball or tennis player, or as a person who works long hours on your feet each day, then you will know that your foot orthotics may be at risk for wearing out a little sooner. In fact, you may be able to consider this when ordering your first or next pair of foot orthotics, and seek out a set that has been made for heavy use.