Can a person make their own custom orthotics? The answer is yes and no. The best way to make custom orthotics is to have a Podiatrist make a cast of your foot, and send it to a certified orthotic lab. Some Podiatrists utilize a gait scan to make an orthotic. Also Dr. Scholl’s has something similar in some pharmacies. The negative effective of gait scans is they do not give you a full three dimensional image. Many Podiatrists use a biofoam to make an impression of your foot then send it to a orthotic lab. The orthotic lab then creates an orthotic based on that impression.
It is possible to perform the foam impression yourself. If you click on the ad below, this company, Arch Crafters, will send you the same foam box the Podiatrists use and then you make an impression of your foot. You send the biofoam impression back to Arch Crafters and they will create an orthotic for you. However, before creating an orthotic yourself check with your insurance as some insurance plans cover orthotics created by a Podiatrist. If that is the case have a Podiatrist do your orthotic impression.