Foot Orthotics in Brooklyn
Custom-made shoe inserts are provided for patients with various deformities
A Treatment for Foot and Leg Dysfunction and Pain – Why Do I Need Orthotics?
Your Brooklyn podiatrist, Dr. E, recommended using a foot orthotic to control, relieve, or treat your foot disorder. These devices may relieve pain or prevent the recurrence of painful foot symptoms by controlling foot function and mechanics. If you have questions about orthotics, this brochure will hopefully help answer them. Usually, the best orthotics are custom-made to meet the needs of a particular patient. They may be combined with other forms of treatment, such as injections, medications, physical therapy, or surgery. Therefore, they are an important component in treating and preventing many foot disorders.
Laboratory Fabricated Orthotics
Orthotics are custom-fabricated shoe inserts manufactured from materials such as plastic, polypropylene, and graphite. They are worn full-time to control how your foot functions while you walk. Many kinds of orthotic devices are prescribed specifically to your activity level, foot problems, and other health factors. From walking to running, aerobics to basketball, orthotics can help you continue to enjoy your favorite activities.
Functional foot orthotics are made from neutral-position plaster or fiberglass castings, foam trays, or 3-D foot-scanning images obtained with machines such as the TOM-CAT foot-scanning system. The practitioner sends these, along with the clinical information, to an orthotics laboratory, such as SOLO Laboratories Inc., where a technician reviews the cast or image and the prescription. Some labs, like SOLO, use computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) programs to scan your foot impressions from the cast or foam tray to ensure the best fit.
After the order and image are approved for production, a technical specialist is responsible for the fabrication of the individual prescription and its quality control. The custom-fabricated orthotics are sent to the prescribing doctor to dispense with instructions for the patient.
Types of Orthotics
Because we are born with different foot structures and engage in different occupations and activities, there are specific grades of orthotics for individual patients. Orthotics can be used for children, adults, athletes, elderly patients, and often patients following surgery. Orthotics can be categorized into three general groups—rigid, semi-rigid, or soft/flexible—each with a specific purpose to either alter foot function or accommodate foot deformity.
Rigid Orthotics
Rigid orthotics offer maximum functional control, especially in regulating foot motion during the gait cycle. They are often made from plastic or different grades of polypropylene and are perfectly suited for growing children, for whom stabilization of gait, support, and proper maintenance of growth alignment are important. Rigid orthotics are often used to treat foot and leg pain, leg length differences, and abnormal foot function.
Semi-Rigid Orthotics
Semi-rigid orthotics combine foot protection with control of leg and foot function. Often used as sports orthotics to control foot function during athletic performance, they can also protect athletes from stress-related injuries. A combination of different materials, providing functional control and shock absorption, is used to fabricate these orthotics for various sports such as golf, tennis, basketball, baseball, football, jogging, aerobics, and skiing.
Soft/Flexible Orthotics
Soft/Flexible orthotics maximize shock absorption for the patient who may have lost the normal fat-pad cushioning of the foot. Since this condition produces painful pressure areas, soft/flexible orthotics are used to replace the body’s fat pad. These devices are made with leather and softer plastic materials for offloading and cushioning. They are helpful for diabetics, patients with arthritis, and those with severely deformed feet, and are strongly recommended for geriatric patients.
Durability and Longevity
Orthotics usually require a gradual break-in period of two to four weeks. Depending on your problem or diagnosis and how your foot responds to orthotic control, you may become a daily orthotic wearer. Sometimes, patients need one pair for work and another for recreation. Women who wear different heel heights could require an additional pair.
Orthotics have a variable lifespan, depending on your activity level. Generally, most require periodic repair and refurbishing over time. Taking care of your orthotics by replacing torn or badly worn covers or broken posts (additions put on the orthotics) can extend the life of the devices. If the orthotics crack, lose shape, or start rocking in your shoes, it is time to revisit your podiatrist because the devices will not function correctly.
Shoes and Orthotics
When purchasing new shoes, try them on with your orthotics. The style should conform to the orthotics for a comfortable fit. Each time you purchase shoes, they will need to be checked for comfort level and fit with your orthotics. You can’t assume they will fit correctly in all shoes because shoe sizes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Your orthotics evaluation by a Brooklyn podiatrist will include a complete biomechanical exam. This exam evaluates your gait pattern and lower-extremity joint motion. Your foot type, muscle strength, age, activity level, and shoe gear will also be evaluated to properly prescribe your foot orthotics.