Sport-Specific Orthotics · Court or tennis shoes
Custom Orthotics for Court and Tennis Shoes
Built for lateral movement and quick changes of direction.
Tennis, pickleball, squash, badminton and volleyball involve frequent lateral movement, rapid acceleration and deceleration, and sudden changes of direction. These movements place high shear forces on the foot and ankle, and repeated load on the forefoot.
A court orthotic is designed to support the foot during side-to-side movement while fitting securely within a court shoe.
Book a Sport Orthotic AssessmentBring the court shoes you play in to your appointment.
What your sport asks of your feet
Court sports load the foot in multiple directions. The orthotic must provide stability without restricting the rapid adjustments required on court.
Support
A deep heel cup and contoured arch help keep the foot centred over the shoe’s base during lateral movement.
Alignment
Moderating excessive foot motion may reduce strain on the ankle, knee and the tendons that stabilize the foot during quick changes of direction.
Cushioning and efficiency
Shock-attenuating materials help manage the repeated loading of the forefoot and heel on hard court surfaces.
Evidence
What the research indicates
Orthotic research continues to develop, and individual responses vary. We base our prescriptions on your assessment and use published evidence to guide, rather than overstate, expected outcomes.
- Systematic review evidence shows that foot orthoses can alter rearfoot motion and lower-limb loading, which is relevant to the multi-directional demands of court sports.
- Comfort is a key consideration: research in athletes indicates that orthoses perceived as comfortable are associated with favourable changes in loading and muscle activity.
Selected references
- Mills K, Blanch P, Chapman AR, McPoil TG, Vicenzino B. Foot orthoses and gait: a systematic review and meta-analysis of literature pertaining to potential mechanisms. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2010.
- Mündermann A, Nigg BM, Humble RN, Stefanyshyn DJ. Orthotic comfort is related to kinematics, kinetics, and EMG in recreational runners. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2003.
Technical specifications
How the device is built
The lab standard below is the starting point for your device. Your chiropodist adjusts materials, posting and shell rigidity according to your assessment, body weight and level of activity.
Impact Sport
Control level 4Lab standard description
- 3.0 mm Puff top cover to toes with 1.5 mm Nyplex bottom cover
- Vacuum-formed semi-rigid polypropylene shell with Poron arch fill
- 16 mm heel cup
- Functional shell grind
This is an example only. The actual design and materials of your device will be based on your chiropodist’s assessment.
Applications
Most men’s, women’s and children’s athletic footwear where maximum shock attenuation is important.
Optional shell materials
Copolymer, XT Sprint, TL2100, Performance Rx
Recommended footwear
The right court or tennis shoes matter
An orthotic performs best in footwear with appropriate structure, depth and fit. Your chiropodist can advise on suitable footwear, and we can order select models through our footwear service.
Court or tennis shoes: common questions
Related orthotic services
Bring your footwear. Start with an assessment.
Meet with our Registered Chiropodists to discuss your feet, your sport and your equipment, and whether a custom orthotic is appropriate for you.
3305 Harvester Road, Burlington, Ontario L7N 3N2