About Interpod

Built by podiatry-trained clinicians, proven by independent science.

Founded in 1999 by Graeme Simpson and Dan Thomas, both La Trobe University graduates with a BAppSc (Pod) and a prior BAppSc (Human Movement) from Phillip Institute of Technology. Twenty-seven years of clinical orthotic design.

27
Years of clinical
use
8
Independent
studies
4
International
Universities
#1
NHS orthotic brand
U.K.

Our Story

Born in a university clinic. Built on biomechanical science.

Interpod was founded in 1999 by Graeme Simpson and Dan Thomas. Both began in human movement, completing degrees in sports science at Phillip Institute of Technology (now part of RMIT University), then working as fitness advisers and coaches. Day after day they watched athletes and active clients break down with lower-limb injuries, repeatedly hitting the limits of what training alone could fix. That experience sent them both back to study: a Bachelor of Podiatry at La Trobe University in Melbourne. They studied together, qualified together, and entered clinical practice together.

Before Interpod existed, they ran a custom orthotic lab from a garage — making devices by hand for their own patients, one foot at a time. Twenty-seven years of that work produced an uncomfortable conclusion: most of what is “custom” about a custom orthotic isn’t actually custom. Length and width simply match the shoe size. The arch shape has no meaningful connection to the individual foot’s morphology. The only genuine variable is how much support the patient needs — and that is a measurable clinical value, not a moulded one. They reverse-engineered the process: three fixed support levels (Low, Moderate, High) calibrated to cover most patients, with the measurement of support need handled at prescription. That became the design brief for the Interpod range, and the reason a prefabricated orthotic can deliver the same clinical outcome as a bespoke one at a fraction of the cost and time.

Twenty-seven years on, Interpod is distributed through Algeos (the #1 prefabricated orthotic in the UK’s NHS), Briggate, Allied Health, and Sportstek in Australia. For ten years, Boots commissioned Interpod to design and manufacture their UK private-label orthotic range — a diligence process few prefab brands ever face, let alone pass. Interpod also designed (not manufactured) the Dr Scholl orthotic range from 2004 to 2006. La Trobe research published during that period confirmed what the clinical results had been saying: no statistical difference in comfort or fit between Interpod and custom-made orthotics (p=0.87, p=0.92). Zero Interpod devices needed post-fitting modification. 16.3% of the custom-made devices in the same study did.

  • La Trobe Podiatry + RMIT Human Movement

    Both founders hold dual degrees — Bachelor of Podiatry (La Trobe) and Bachelor of Human Movement (Phillip Institute / RMIT). Australia's only dual-discipline prefab orthotic design team.

  • Research-Led Design

    Craig Payne, former Senior Lecturer at La Trobe (20 years), led the key research validating Interpod's design features.

  • #1 NHS Orthotic Brand

    The most prescribed prefabricated orthotic in the U.K's National Health Service, distributed by Algeos.

  • Designed in Australia, Used Worldwide

    Manufactured in Australia and New Zealand with recyclable materials. Prescribed by practitioners across four continents.

Our Difference

Four design features. Not just arch support.

Generic insoles provide arch support alone — a single feature. Interpod incorporates four research-backed biomechanical design features that are typically only found in custom-made orthotics. That's the difference between a $20 insole and a medical-grade orthotic.

  • Rearfoot Wedge

    Available in 4°, 6°, and 8°. Resists pronation — the primary biomechanical driver of foot, leg, and back pain. La Trobe confirmed Interpod is the most effective prefabricated orthotic at controlling rearfoot position.

  • Cuboid Notch

    Assists supination during midstance to push-off by supporting the lateral column. This feature is typically only found in custom-made orthotics — not prefabricated devices.

  • 1st Ray Cutaway

    Allows natural first ray plantarflexion during push-off. Prevents the orthotic from blocking forefoot function — critical for conditions like bunions and metatarsalgia.

  • Plantar Fascial Groove

    Reduces the force needed to establish the windlass mechanism — statistically significant at p<0.001 at all angles (La Trobe University). Unique to Interpod. Improves gait efficiency with every step.

The Evidence

Interpod vs. generic retail orthotics

The design features that separate medical-grade orthotics from retail insoles. Only Interpod and custom-made orthotics include all of these.

Design Feature Interpod Custom Made Superfeet Formthotics Footlogics Vionic
Rearfoot Wedge × × × ×
Cuboid Notch × × × ×
Plantar Fascial Groove × × × ×
1st Ray Cutaway × × × ×
Replaceable Top Covers × × × ×
Independent University Research 8 studies Varies × × × ×

Independent Research

Not marketing. University science.

Every study listed below was conducted independently by the university — unpaid by Interpod. No other prefabricated orthotic brand in the world can make this claim at this scale.

  • La Trobe University Melbourne, Australia

    No difference in comfort and fit versus custom-made foot orthoses. 0% of Interpod devices needed modifying — compared to 16.3% of custom orthotics.

  • La Trobe University Melbourne, Australia

    Interpod is the most effective prefabricated orthotic at controlling rearfoot position — outperforming Vasyli, Spenco, Dr Scholl, Orthaheel, Alphathotic, and Footsteps.

  • La Trobe University Melbourne, Australia

    Plantar fascial groove significantly reduces the force needed to establish the windlass mechanism (p<0.001 at all angles).

  • Duquesne University Pittsburgh, USA

    Interpod significantly reduces internal tibial rotation in females during hopping — a key mechanism in ACL injury prevention.

  • University of Southampton United Kingdom

    Blind randomised crossover trial: Interpod delivered equivalent plantar-loading outcomes to custom-made orthotics during walking — the second pillar, alongside La Trobe, of the equivalence claim.

  • NHS / University of Plymouth United Kingdom

    In a published case study, University of Plymouth researchers found Interpod's diabetic insole reduced forefoot pressure-time integral by 20% compared to a custom total contact insole — supporting its use as an effective, lower-cost alternative

  • Université du Québec Canada

    Keystone device validated as a reliable measurement tool for clinical and research use. Suitable for determining prefabricated orthotic prescription levels.

  • Université du Québec Canada

    Keystone device validated as a reliable measurement tool for clinical and research use. Suitable for determining prefabricated orthotic prescription levels.

"One of the most extensively researched orthotics in the world."

8 independent studies · 4 universities · 3 countries · 27 years of clinical use

Duquesne University logo
La Trobe University logo

Certifications

Medical-grade. Globally certified.

Interpod meets the regulatory standards required by healthcare systems in Australia, the United Kingdom, and Europe.

  • JAS-ANZ and ISO 9001:2015 logos

    ISO 9001:2015

    Quality management system certified through JAS-ANZ (IAF accredited).
  • TGA Listed

    Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australia. ARTG No. 373838.
  • MHRA logo

    MHRA Certified

    UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency compliance.
  • CE Marking logo

    CE Marked

    Class I Medical Device meeting EU health, safety, and environmental standards.
  • NHS Approved

    The #1 prefabricated orthotic brand prescribed in the UK's National Health Service.

Ready to find your fit?

27 years of research. One simple system.

Model P+ determines your ideal support level at home — then your permanent orthotic ships automatically. Medical-grade orthotics backed by university science.

Try risk-free — 90-day full refund guarantee.