Frequently Asked Questions

• Which types of shoes is the Scholl Orthaheel range suitable for?
• Which types of shoes is the Scholl Orthaheel range unsuitable for?
• Can I wear them with old shoes?
• Can I wear the Scholl Orthaheel range with high heels?
• The instructions say to remove the existing insole from my shoe. Why? And what if my existing insoles are not removable?
• How do I know when I have to buy a new pair of Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts?
• Do I have to buy more than one pair or can I move them between shoes?
• How should the Scholl Orthaheel ¾ length orthotic insert be positioned under the foot?
• Are Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts suitable for use in pregnancy?
• Are Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts suitable for use by diabetics?
• Are Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts suitable for use by children?
• Can I switch between the Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts and a prescription orthotic?
• Can I run or exercise whilst using the Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts?
• Can I wear just one Scholl Orthaheel orthotic insert? What if only one knee / heel hurts?
• How long does it take to get pain relief?
• How much of my pain can be relieved through the use of an orthotic?
• Will I look like I walk differently?
• If I stop using the Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts, will the pain come back?
• Will the Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts cause any problems to my feet if my problem is not biomechanical in nature?
• What does ‘Tri-planar Motion Control’ mean?
• How can one insert be suitable to treat lots of different conditions?
• How can one insert be suitable to treat lots of different feet?
• How can pharmacists recommend this product without knowing their patient’s feet?
• Why do so many people have foot problems?
• How do I know if my pain can be treated by using the Scholl Orthaheel orthotics range?
• Can I tell if I need an orthotic from looking at the wear of the sole of my shoe?
• What expertise does Scholl have in this area?
• Who is Phillip J. Vasyli and what is Orthaheel?
• Can I wash them? How?

Which types of shoes is the Scholl Orthaheel range suitable for?

The Scholl Orthaheel range is suitable for a wide range of men’s and women’s shoes. There are a number of products in the Scholl Orthaheel range and the shoe type suitability will vary between products e.g. the Scholl Orthaheel Regular ¾ Length may be a good fit for slim-fitting shoes whereas for wider fitting shoes you may find the full length products more suitable.

Which types of shoes is the Scholl Orthaheel range unsuitable for?

The Scholl Orthaheel Orthotics Inserts range is not suitable for open shoes or sandals, since the inserts need a supportive closed shoe to help hold the insert in position. However, also available in the Scholl Orthaheel range are a choice of sandals and open footwear that have the orthotic technology build into the sandal footbed.

There are a number of products in the Scholl Orthaheel range and the shoe type suitability will vary between products e.g. Scholl Orthaheel Slimfit may be a good fit for high heeled shoes.

Can I wear them with old shoes?

The Scholl Orthaheel range can be used in most shoes (see Which types of shoes is the Scholl Orthaheel range suitable / unsuitable for?) however, in an old, worn pair of shoes that do not offer any support, the Scholl Orthaheel inserts may not be held in position correctly and this could impact the effectiveness of the inserts.

The Scholl Orthaheel range can therefore be worn in older shoes so long as they are in good condition and offer good support.

A range of Scholl Orthaheel Footwear that are specially designed for use with the Orthotic Inserts are also available.

Can I wear the Scholl Orthaheel range with high heels?

The majority of Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts can be worn with only a small heeled shoe (up to 1 inch) however for a higher heel or stiletto shoes Scholl Orthaheel Slimfit should be selected as it has been specifically designed for use in ladies high heeled shoes.

The instructions say to remove the existing insole from my shoe. Why? And what if my existing insoles are not removable?

The Scholl Orthaheel range, in order to be effective, need to be substantial enough to maintain their shape and impact even when the body weight is put onto them, whilst being slim enough to be comfortable to wear in the majority of shoes. In some cases this may require the removal of the existing insole from the shoe. If your shoe insoles are not removable but are thin and flat, it may be possible to use the Scholl Orthaheel orthotic insert over the existing insole. If, however the existing insole is a bulky, shaped insole, often found in sports shoes, and cannot be removed then the product may not be suitable for that particular pair of shoes.

How do I know when I have to buy a new pair of Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts?

Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts should be replaced, on average, every 12 months. If the Scholl Orthaheel products are worn beyond the recommended time they may start to show signs of wear and tear and be less able to have the same effect on the position and motion of the foot.

Do I have to buy more than one pair or can I move them between shoes?

Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts can be moved between pairs of shoes. However, they should only be used in shoes that they are suitable for (e.g. a wider pair of shoes to accommodate a Scholl Orthaheel Full Length product) and so it may be necessary to buy more than one pair to suit all of the shoe-types one person has.

How should the Scholl Orthaheel ¾ length orthotic insert be positioned under the foot?

The Scholl Orthaheel Regular ¾ Length orthotic should be positioned under the foot by aligning the inner edge of the orthotic with the inside edge of the foot. Please be aware that the insert will be very unlikely to reach all the way under the foot to the outer edge, this is the intentional design of the product and not an indication of a poor fit.

Are Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts suitable for use in pregnancy?

If you are pregnant and experiencing heel or knee pain you should seek the advice of a healthcare professional on the cause and most appropriate treatment to meet your needs before use.

Are Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts suitable for use by diabetics?

The majority of products in the Scholl Orthaheel range are not suitable for use by people with diabetes, however the Scholl Orthaheel Sensitive Feet Orthotic may be suitable.

If you have diabetes and you have developed pain in your knee or heel that you feel may be due to a biomechanical problem it is important that you seek advice from your healthcare professional to confirm the cause and most appropriate treatment for you.

Are Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts suitable for use by children?

There are currently no products in the Scholl Orthaheel range that are suitable for use by children. If your child is suffering from knee or heel pain it is important that you seek expert medical advice about the cause of the pain and most appropriate course of action needed to remedy the problem.

Can I switch between the Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts and a prescription orthotic?

If you have been prescribed custom orthotic insoles by your healthcare professional then you should continue to use those orthotics unless directed otherwise. If you wish to use the Scholl Orthaheel range alongside your prescription custom orthotic you should seek the advice of a healthcare professional to assess the suitability of doing so.

Can I run or exercise whilst using the Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts?

Yes, Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts are suitable for wear during exercise, particularly the “Sports” and “Shock Absorber” products, however it is important to ensure that they have been sufficiently ‘worn in’ before undergoing exercise that will increase the forces through the feet.

To ‘wear in’ the Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts they should be used gradually over a period of 3-4 days building up the amount of time spent in them until they are comfortable to wear for longer periods.

The wearing-in time may vary between individuals; for a very gradual regime wear the orthotics for one hour on day one, two hours on day two and so on until able to wear them for 7 hours on day 7.

Can I wear just one Scholl Orthaheel orthotic insert? What if only one knee / heel hurts?

No, it is recommended that you wear both the left and right inserts at the same time. Wearing only one insert, and changing the position and motion of one foot may have a knock-on effect on the other limb.

Even if you do not experience any pain in the other foot / leg, it will not be harmful to use the orthotic in both the left and right shoes.

How long does it take to get pain relief?

The length of time it will take to get pain relief from using the Scholl Orthaheel orthotics range will vary from person to person.

If the Scholl Orthaheel orthotics inserts have been worn for a considerable amount of time without any relief from pain e.g. 30 days, the advice of a healthcare professional should be sought on the cause and appropriate treatment of the pain.

How much of my pain can be relieved through the use of an orthotic?

The pain relief experienced will vary between individuals. As the forces of walking and the way in which they are distributed will vary between individuals to result in varying types and severity of pain, the effect of altering these forces will have different effects in different people.

If you have used Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts and are still experiencing pain you should seek the advice of a healthcare professional on the cause and appropriate treatment of the pain.

Will I look like I walk differently?

Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts range alter the position and motion of the foot and affect the way in which the forces of walking are distributed to help reduce pain. The impact of the products on the position of the foot and the posture of each individual will vary. Some people may notice a change in the position of their foot and the rest of their body, with a noticeable effect on walking; others may not see this effect but still feel the changes in the forces that can lead to a reduction in pain.

If I stop using the Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts, will the pain come back?

The Scholl Orthaheel range is designed to alter the position and motion of the foot and redistribute the forces of walking. If, after experiencing pain relief, the Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts are removed from the shoes the feet will be exposed to the same forces and stresses as they were previously. It is very likely therefore that these forces and stresses will again start to affect the tissues of the feet and may result in a reoccurrence of pain

Will the Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts cause any problems to my feet if my problem is not biomechanical in nature?

Use of Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts is very unlikely to cause any kind of serious problem to the user, whether that person is suffering from any biomechanical problems or not, since the products have been designed to match the typical shape of the bottom of the foot.

If, after using the Scholl Orthaheel orthotic insert, there is no improvement in the pain the advice of a healthcare professional should be sought on the cause and appropriate treatment of the pain.

If, after using the Scholl Orthaheel orthotic insert, there is any kind of adverse event the product should be removed from the shoes and the advice of a healthcare professional should be sought. Any problems should be reported to us.

What does ‘Tri-planar Motion Control’ mean?

Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts offer Tri-Planar Motion Control. The term ‘tri-planar motion’ describes the movements that happen in all three anatomical planes at once (the anatomical planes are used to describe the direction of body movements in 3 different directions). When we walk our feet move in all three directions at once and so are said to be making tri-planar motions.

Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts are able to affect the movement of the foot in all three of these directions and this is what is meant by tri-planar motion control.

How can one insert be suitable to treat lots of different conditions?

When we walk our feet are our only interface with the ground and are the part of our bodies that first experience the forces of walking. It is the forces generated during walking and the distribution of these forces that can lead to different types of pain in different people.

Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts have been designed to affect the distribution of the forces of walking and so one type of orthotic insert can have an effect on the different types of pain that can result from these forces.

How can one insert be suitable to treat lots of different feet?

The Scholl Orthaheel range has been designed to match the average shape of the lower surface of the foot. The design was developed by Australian podiatrist Phillip J. Vasyli, based on his experience of creating custom orthotics for many years.

The products are available in a number of shoe sizes.

This anatomical design and availability of different sizes means that there will be a Scholl Orthaheel product suitable to fit the majority of the adult population.

How can pharmacists recommend this product without knowing their patient’s feet?

The Scholl Orthaheel range has been designed so that a consumer can safely and effectively choose an appropriate product using the information provided on the product packaging. A pharmacist, with their expert knowledge on the human body and healthcare, will be able to add any additional information needed without need an in-depth level of knowledge of an individual’s feet.

Why do so many people have foot problems?

Whilst 70% of individuals have a tendency for the foot to roll over when they walk, not all of these individuals will be experiencing pain as a result. Whether or not an individual experiences pain will depend on the forces and stresses that result from this rolling in of the foot and how they are distributed. Some additional factors that may influence these forces and how they are handled by the body include:

• The amount of time spent on the feet, perhaps associated with a profession e.g. shop assistant
• The hard, flat ground we walk on that can increase forces when compared to softer, natural surfaces
• The activity levels of the individual as exercise can increase the forces and stresses of each step
• The weight of the person, which as it increases adds extra force
• The age of the person, since our bodies can suffer from wear and tear, as well as specific problems associated with ageing
• The ability of the feet to cope with these forces, e.g. some people are more sensitive to the forces of walking such as those with diabetes, arthritis or those who have had a minor foot injury

How do I know if my pain can be treated by using the Scholl Orthaheel orthotics range?

If you suspect that your pain may be related to a biomechanical problem that could be treated with the use of a Scholl Orthaheel orthotic product, e.g. if your pain matches the descriptions of pain given on the product packaging and your feet appear to roll over when you walk, then the Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts may be a suitable treatment option for you. You could then try using the Scholl Orthaheel range and assess yourself whether they are successful at relieving your pain.

Alternatively if you are unsure whether you require an orthotic insert to treat your problem, you could seek the advice of a healthcare professional for some further information and recommendation on the most appropriate treatment for you.

Can I tell if I need an orthotic from looking at the wear of the sole of my shoe?

Not necessarily. Although shoes that are worn down in one area more than another does indicate that there is an uneven distribution of forces, resulting in higher areas of force that wear the sole of the shoe away, this will not happen with every person. It will depend not only on the way the individual walks but also on the shoe and the materials it is made of. Furthermore, a pattern of wear may indicate the normal distribution of forces e.g. most people contact the ground on the outside edge of the heel so this may be an area of higher pressure and therefore shoe-wear.

So whilst, uneven shoe wear can indicate an uneven distribution of forces, this should not be used as a definite indication of having, or not having (by its absence), a problem that requires the use of orthotic inserts.

The presence of pain, as described on the product packaging, and the appearance of the feet rolling inwards are better indicators of the presence of a problem.

What expertise does Scholl have in this area?

Scholl are experts in feet. We have a huge amount of experience in developing products for the feet based on a sound understanding of their structure and function.

In order to offer our customers the very best products in the area of Orthaheel we have teamed up with key experts in this area such as Phillip J. Vasyli, Inventor of the Scholl Orthaheel range, as well as recognised experts in this field from academic establishments.

Who is Phillip J. Vasyli and what is Orthaheel?

Phillip J. Vasyli is an Australian podiatrist. He graduated in 1978 and worked originally as a podiatrist concentrating on the specialist area of biomechanics.

Regularly making custom-made orthotics, he noticed that many people were experiencing the same type of problems and he indentified a need for a range of orthotics that would be suitable for the majority of individuals. This led to the development of the Orthaheel range of orthotics inserts.

This range was then transformed into the Scholl Orthaheel range we have today.

Can I wash them? How?

Yes. Scholl Orthaheel orthotic inserts can be cleaned by removing from the shoe, wiping with a warm soapy cloth and leaving to dry naturally before wearing.