Oct
31
Written by:
Larry Huppin, DPM
10/31/2011 10:18 AM
If you are having shoe fit problems with your orthoses, make sure you are taking the following into account.
- Instruct your staff to tell patients to bring 2-3 pairs of shoes to their initial appointment
- Evaluate the patient’s shoes before prescribing orthoses
- Which type of shoe does the patient plan on using for their orthotics? The prescription must be different if the orthotics are for a dress shoe vs. an athletic shoe.
- Does the shoe fit the patient’s foot properly? If not, advise them that they will have to buy new shoes after they receive the orthotics that will fit their foot AND their orthotics.
- Does the shoe have removable insoles? If not, they may not be deep enough for a full rearfoot post or thick topcover
- Is there adequate room in the toebox for a full length topcover? Our custom orthotics are made to fit the patient’s foot based on the accurate cast that you send. Use the following as a guideline when prescribing to help minimize shoe fit issues:
1. Only prescribe full-length topcovers if the shoe has a removable insole
2. Select thinner materials such as graphite for dress shoes or low-volume shoes
3. Select thinner topcovers, such as vinyl or leather, to reduce forefoot bulk
4. Prescribe a strip post or a spot grind instead of a full post if you’re concerned with space in the shoes
5. Send shoe with the casts and we’ll ensure that the orthotics fit in the shoes when we make them (your shoe evaluation before prescribing will help you evaluate whether the patient’s foot will also fit in the shoe)
For an easy way to stay up-to-date on evidence-based orthotic therapy, subscribe to our free E-Journal. Your will receive a monthly email synopsis of the research that impacts your practice.
Tags: