Orthotic footwear has been worn since the dawn of time and has been used to ease foot fatigue and strain since time immemorial. While most people tend to think orthotics are a new invention, the truth is that they have existed in many forms and inventions for many centuries.

The first invented orthotic footwear can be dated over 2000 years ago. Wool layers were placed inside the sandals to relieve the feet from straining and fatigues to achieve the footwear. The layers of wool were inserted to increase comfort and provide extra cushioning to the person wearing the shoe, especially over long distances.

The more shoes became accessible, the more people asked for extra comfort. The ancient innkeepers noticed that long-distance travellers complained of foot pain and decided to make the first insoles from matted animal hair from the local barn.

With time, the local shoemakers decided to make the shoes more comfortable by adding more leather inside them for more comfort while walking. This led to the invention of the early arch supports that were achieved from laminating leather strip layers together, molding them to the shoe lasts, and finally shaping the arch supports using hand.

Even though arch supports were bulky and heavy, they provided comfort to the shoe wearers over long distances. The first recorded use of arch supports was in 1865 and was invented by a man named Everett H. Dunbar. These arch supports provided comfort and helped in rectifying feet injuries like ankle and knee pains.