Integrix Moorhead, MN • Serving Fargo, West Fargo & the Red River Valley
Custom Foot Orthotics in Moorhead, MN
Heel, knee, hip or back pain that keeps coming back? Your feet are the base of the whole chain. We scan how your feet carry your weight, then prescribe orthotics made for you, only when the scan says you need them.
Do these sound familiar?
Signs Your Feet May Be Part of the Problem
Foot problems do not always hurt in the foot. When the base of the chain is off, the strain often shows up higher.
Heel pain on first steps
Sharp pain in the heel or arch when you get out of bed or stand up after sitting.
Flat or high arches
Arches that drop flat when you stand, or arches so high that your feet feel stiff and sore.
Knee pain on stairs
Pain around the kneecap going up or down stairs, squatting or after sitting a long time.
Back pain from standing
A low back that aches after a shift on your feet or a long walk.
Shoes that wear unevenly
Heels that wear down on one edge, or shoes that tilt when you set them on a table.
Burning or numb soles
Foot mechanics can add pressure to the nerves in the ankle and sole. See neuropathy treatment.
The Foot Is the Base of the Kinetic Chain
Every step sends force up through your ankle, knee, hip and spine. These joints work as one linked chain. A change at the bottom changes the load at every link above it.
Here is a common pattern. The arch drops and the foot rolls in. The shin turns in with it. The knee drifts inward. The pelvis tilts, and the low back picks up the strain. You feel it in the knee or the back, but it started at the floor.
A custom orthotic supports the foot in a better position so the joints above it carry load the way they are built to. That is why we test the whole chain, not just the foot.
What the research says
- Chronic low back pain: in a trial of 225 adults, custom orthotics improved pain and function after 6 weeks compared with no care. Adding chiropractic care improved function even more.1
- Kneecap pain: foot orthoses beat flat inserts at 6 weeks, and worked about as well as physical therapy.2
- Foot pain: custom orthotics helped painful high arches, rearfoot pain from rheumatoid arthritis and painful bunions.3
- Heel pain: orthotics alone did not beat sham inserts or other care.4
Our take: orthotics work best as one part of a plan, not as the whole plan. So we use them that way.
Your first visit
How We Decide If You Need Orthotics
1. History and pain scores
Where it hurts, when it started, your work and sports, your shoes, and a short questionnaire that scores how much the pain limits you.
2. Computerized foot scan
You stand and walk on a pressure plate. It maps where each foot takes weight, how the arch moves and where pressure builds up.
3. 3D gait and movement scan
Kinetisense 3D motion scoring measures your posture, balance, knees and hips, so we can see how your feet affect the rest of the chain.
4. Hands-on foot exam
A CCEP exam of the joints in your foot and ankle. A stuck joint can look like a fallen arch on a scan, so we check by hand too.
5. Prescription, only if needed
If your scan and exam show a load problem an orthotic can fix, we prescribe one. If a good store-bought insert or exercise is enough, we tell you.
6. Fitting and re-scan
Your orthotics arrive in about 4 weeks. We fit them, teach you how to break them in, and re-scan later to show what changed.
Part of a plan
Orthotics Work Best With the Right Care Around Them
An insert supports the foot. These help the foot and the chain above it work well on their own.
CCEP foot and ankle adjusting
Gentle adjustments to the talus, cuboid, navicular and other foot joints to restore normal motion and shock absorption.
Foot and hip strength
Simple exercises for the small muscles of the foot and the hip muscles that keep the knee from drifting in.
Shockwave for stubborn heel pain
Sound-wave pulses aimed at a sore plantar fascia or Achilles tendon to boost blood flow and healing.
See the full in-clinic program
Orthotics are one tool inside our Relief and Rehabilitation care. See In-Clinic Care for how we move you from pain relief to measured, lasting function.
Custom Orthotics for Fargo, ND Patients
The clinic is just across the Red River in downtown Moorhead, a 5 to 10 minute drive from most of Fargo. Dr. Bekkum holds licenses in both North Dakota and Minnesota.
We also see patients from Dilworth, Glyndon, Hawley, Horace, Casselton and the wider Red River Valley.
When to See a Doctor Right Away
Some foot problems need medical care first. Get help the same day if you have:
- A sore, blister or cut on the foot that is not healing, especially if you have diabetes
- A foot that is suddenly red, hot and swollen
- Calf pain and swelling in one leg
- A cold, pale or blue foot or toes
- You cannot put weight on the foot after a fall or twist
- Numbness or weakness that is spreading quickly
If we find something that needs a medical doctor or specialist, we refer you and share our findings.
The Moorhead Clinic
Integrix Health, LLC
22 6th St N
Moorhead, MN 56560
Serving Moorhead, Fargo, West Fargo, Dilworth and the Red River Valley
Phone: 701-347-1968
Hours: Mon to Fri 9:00 to 12:00 and 1:30 to 5:00 (Wed to 6:00)
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get custom orthotics near Fargo, ND?
Dr. Paul M. Bekkum, DC, CCEP scans and fits custom foot orthotics at 22 6th St N in Moorhead, MN, a 5 to 10 minute drive from most of Fargo and West Fargo. He is licensed in both Minnesota and North Dakota, has 34 years of clinical experience, and is a Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner (CCEP), with training focused on the feet, ankles, knees and hips.
Are custom orthotics better than store-bought inserts?
Sometimes, not always. For plantar heel pain, research shows custom and store-bought inserts work about the same. Custom orthotics have stronger evidence for painful high arches, rearfoot pain in rheumatoid arthritis and some bunion pain, and a trial in chronic low back pain found that custom orthotics helped. If your scan shows a good store-bought insert is enough, we will tell you.
Do I need a referral to get custom orthotics?
No. You can book directly. Dr. Bekkum does the exam, the foot scan and the prescription in the Moorhead clinic.
Does insurance or my HSA or FSA pay for custom orthotics?
Prescription orthotics are usually an eligible HSA or FSA expense. Insurance coverage for orthotics varies widely from plan to plan, and many plans do not cover them. We give you an itemized receipt and go over your costs before anything is ordered.
How long does it take to get custom orthotics?
About 4 weeks. Your orthotics are made by a lab from your scan, then fitted in the clinic.
How do I break in new orthotics?
Start with 1 to 2 hours on the first day and add about an hour each day until you wear them all day. Mild arch or muscle soreness in the first week or two is common. Sharp pain, blisters or new pain in the knee, hip or back is not, so call us if that happens.
How long do custom orthotics last?
With daily wear, often 2 to 3 years. The top covers wear out sooner and can be replaced. Your prescription stays on file, so a replacement pair does not always need a new scan unless your feet, weight or activity have changed.
References
- Cambron JA, et al. Shoe Orthotics for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2017;98(9):1752-1762. PubMed
- Collins N, et al. Foot orthoses and physiotherapy in the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome: randomised clinical trial. BMJ. 2008;337:a1735. PubMed
- Hawke F, et al. Custom-made foot orthoses for the treatment of foot pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(3):CD006801. PubMed
- Rasenberg N, et al. Efficacy of foot orthoses for the treatment of plantar heel pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(16):1040-1046. PubMed
Medically reviewed by Dr. Paul M. Bekkum, DC, CCEP. Last reviewed October 26, 2026.