Sports Chiropractor · Custom Orthotics · Downtown San Francisco

Your feet are where
the kinetic chain
meets the ground.

Custom orthotics are one of the most effective tools in ProActive Systems-Based Bodywork™: precision-built foundation support that makes the rest of the work hold.

Book a 3D Foot Scan See how it works →
3D foot scanner for custom orthotics at ProActive Chiropractic, sports chiropractor in downtown San Francisco
Why the Foundation Matters

Everything we correct
above the foot
loads through it.

Kinetic chain assessment showing how foot pronation causes knee pain, hip pain, and back pain — custom orthotics correct the foundation at ProActive Chiropractic San Francisco

Your foot has three arches, not one. Together they form the plantar vault: the structural foundation your entire body loads through every time you stand, walk, or run. When that vault collapses or shifts, the consequences don't stay at the foot. The knee rotates. The hip tilts. The pelvis destabilizes. The spine compensates.

For ProActive patients, this is the ground floor of the systems-based approach. Chiropractic adjustment restores joint mechanics. Soft tissue work releases what's held. Corrective movement retrains the pattern. Custom orthotics stabilize the foundation so all of that holds. Without the floor, the building keeps settling.

That's why Dr. Cohen recommends orthotics when the assessment identifies foot mechanics contributing to load patterns higher in the chain. They're not a standalone product; they're the structural base that makes the rest of the work durable.

Who This Is For

Orthotics aren't just
for foot pain.
They're rarely just about the foot.

Dr. Cohen recommends orthotics when the Body Intelligence Assessment™ identifies foot mechanics contributing to any of these presentations:

Plantar fasciitis Chronic knee pain Recurring ankle sprains Low back pain that won't resolve SI joint dysfunction IT band syndrome Hip pain with no clean diagnosis Patellar tracking issues Achilles tendinopathy Shin splints Heel pain Flat feet / overpronation Post-surgical recovery (knee, hip, ankle) Runners who keep getting injured Desk workers with low back and hip fatigue

You don't have to be in pain to benefit. Athletes, runners, and people who spend long hours on their feet often get orthotics to protect against the patterns that lead to injury, not just to treat one that's already happened.

What Makes These Different

Custom, flexible,
and prescribed from
the whole picture.

Three arches, not one

Every foot has a medial longitudinal, lateral longitudinal, and anterior transverse arch. Generic insoles support one. Our custom orthotics are individually designed to support all three: the full plantar vault. That's the only way to stabilize the foundation without creating a new compensation pattern somewhere else.

Flexible, not rigid

Your foot is designed to move. Rigid orthotics immobilize it; flexible orthotics support it while letting it do what it needs to do. Every pair we prescribe is movement-oriented: built to correct the mechanics creating the problem while keeping the foot free to function through its full gait cycle.

Designed for the whole picture

This is the real difference. An orthotic designed only from a foot scan treats the foot. Our orthotics are built from a 3D scan backed by nearly 70 years of clinical research into the relationship between foot mechanics and what's happening at the hip, knee, pelvis, and spine. The scan captures what generic insoles ignore: the full plantar vault and how it's loading the rest of your body. That's why these work when others haven't.

Handmade in the US

Every pair is fabricated from your 3D scan by a manufacturer with nearly 70 years of clinical research behind their process. No two pairs are alike. They're not modified off-the-rack inserts; they're built from scratch for your specific anatomy.

The 3D Foot Scan

You can also just come in
for the scan.

You don't need to be a ProActive patient to use our scanner. The scan takes about two minutes: you stand on a precision 3D scanner that maps the full topography of both feet under weight-bearing load. Every contour, every pressure point, all three arches. Our clinical team runs it and walks you through the results.

If custom orthotics are a fit, we place the order on the spot; they're handmade from your scan data and ready in about two weeks. If you have questions about what the scan is showing, we're happy to explain what we're seeing.

$100

Walk-ins and appointments available
Covers the scan, consultation, and any follow-up support

Custom orthotics 3D foot scan station at ProActive Chiropractic, downtown San Francisco Financial District, with clinic interior visible The connection most people miss

Your scan might show collapsed arches, significant pronation, or asymmetrical loading. Those findings don't just affect your feet; they affect your knees, hips, pelvis, and spine.

If you want to understand the full pattern: book a Body Intelligence Assessment™ within 30 days of your scan and we'll take $100 off your appointment. The scan shows you the floor. The assessment shows you the building.

For patients who come in for a full Body Intelligence Assessment™, the foot scan is included as part of the diagnostic.

Book a 3D Foot Scan
Inside the System

Orthotics hold the floor.
The bodywork holds the building.

For ProActive patients, orthotics are never the whole intervention. They're the structural base that makes chiropractic adjustment, soft tissue release, and corrective movement hold under real-world load. If the hip is restricted, the pelvis is rotated, and the thoracic spine is compensating for all of it, correcting the feet alone won't resolve the pattern. But correcting everything above the feet without stabilizing the foundation means the pattern keeps reloading from the ground up.

That's the systems-based approach: orthotics and bodywork working together, each making the other more effective. The orthotics correct the ground-level mechanics. The ProActive Protocol™ corrects what's been compensating above them. The whole pattern resolves because the whole pattern is addressed.

Not a ProActive patient yet? You're welcome to come in for a 3D Foot Scan on its own. If the scan reveals something worth investigating further, book a Body Intelligence Assessment™ within 30 days and the $100 scan fee comes off your appointment.

Multiple Pairs

Different shoes,
different demands,
different orthotics.

You wouldn't wear your running shoes to work or your dress shoes on a trail. Your orthotics shouldn't be one-size-fits-all-situations either. We offer orthotics designed for athletic shoes, dress shoes, casual shoes, and sandals. Most patients start with one pair for their primary shoe and add a second for a different use case: work shoes and running shoes, or everyday wear and flip-flops.

Two pairs are more cost-effective than one (and significantly more effective than switching a single pair between shoes, which most people stop doing after a week).

What to Expect

From scan to in your shoes.

Step 1

Book your scan

Book a 3D Foot Scan ($100). Walk-ins welcome; appointments available same-week.

Step 2

Get scanned

Our clinical team runs the scan, walks you through the results, and places the order if custom orthotics are a fit.

Step 3

Handmade for you

Your custom orthotics are fabricated from your scan. Turnaround is typically two weeks.

Step 4

Pick up + break in

We confirm the fit and get you started. Read our break-in guide →

Common Questions

Custom orthotics FAQ

How are these different from the insoles I can buy at the drugstore?

In almost every way that matters. Over-the-counter insoles are mass-produced from generic molds. They support one arch (the medial) and ignore the other two. They cushion; they don't correct. Custom orthotics are individually designed from a 3D scan of your specific feet, built to support all three arches of the plantar vault, and prescribed based on what a doctor is finding in your biomechanics. They correct the mechanics creating the problem. That's a different category of intervention.

Do I need to be in pain to get orthotics?

No. Many of our patients get orthotics as a preventive measure: runners protecting against overuse injury, people who stand all day reducing fatigue and load, athletes stabilizing their foundation before a pattern develops. If you're not in pain but something feels off in your gait, your balance, or your endurance on your feet, a foot scan will tell you whether your arches are contributing.

How long do custom orthotics last?

With normal use, typically 2 to 5 years depending on activity level and wear patterns. Athletes in heavy training may need replacement sooner. We'll check them at your regular visits and let you know when they're wearing down.

Can I use them in any shoe?

We offer full-length and dress-length options. Full-length fits athletic shoes, work boots, and most casual shoes. Dress-length fits into flats, dress shoes, and lower-profile footwear. We also offer custom orthotic sandals and flip-flops for patients who want support outside of closed shoes.

Will insurance cover custom orthotics?

ProActive is out-of-network by design. Many patients use FSA/HSA accounts for orthotics, and we provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement if your plan supports it.

I've had orthotics before and they didn't help. Why would these be different?

Probably because the orthotics were prescribed without understanding the bigger picture. If the problem driving your pain is at the hip or pelvis, even a perfectly fitted orthotic won't resolve it alone. That's why we offer $100 off a Body Intelligence Assessment™ within 30 days of your scan: the scan shows what the feet are doing, the assessment maps everything above them. Together, they address the whole pattern.

Do I need to be an existing patient?

No. The 3D Foot Scan is available to anyone; walk-ins are welcome. If the scan suggests a pattern that extends beyond the feet, we offer $100 off a Body Intelligence Assessment™ within 30 days, but there's no obligation.

Get Started

The full picture starts with the
Body Intelligence Assessment™

Orthotics are one piece. The Body Intelligence Assessment™ maps the whole system: what's driving the pattern, what the feet are contributing, and what it takes to resolve it. The 3D foot scan is included.

Book a Body Intelligence Assessment™ Just want a 3D Foot Scan? Book here
Same-week appointments usually available
(415) 762-8141 · Call or text
Fax: (415) 683-7868
22 Battery St., Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94111
Downtown San Francisco · Near BART & Ferry Building

Monday–Friday · 9am–6pm

ProActive Chiropractic · Cohen Corp.