|
 A
prescription foot orthotic is an in-shoe brace which is designed
to correct abnormal foot and lower extremity function. In correcting
abnormal foot and lower extremity function, the prescription foot
orthotic reduces the strain on injured structures in the foot and
lower extremity, allowing them to heal and become non-painful. In
addition, a prescription foot orthotic helps prevent future problems
by reducing abnormal or pathological forces acting on the foot and
lower extremity.
Podiatrists prescribe two main types of prescription Orthèses Plantaires
for their patients, accommodative orthotics and functional orthotics.
Both types of prescription Orthèses Plantaires are used to correct foot
function of the patient, so that the pain in their foot or lower
extremity will improve. However, accommodative and functional orthotics
are generally made using different materials and may not look or
feel the same. Both types of prescription Orthèses Plantaires are nearly
always prescribed as a pair to allow more normal function of both
feet.
Accommodative Orthèses Plantaires are used to cushion, pad or relieve
pressure from a painful or injured area on the bottom of the foot.
They may also be designed to try to control abnormal function of
the foot. Accommodative orthotics may be made of a wide range of
materials such as cork, leather, plastic foams, and rubber materials.
They are generally more flexible and softer than functional Orthèses Plantaires.
Accommodative orthotics are useful in the treatment of painful
calluses on the bottom of the foot, diabetic foot ulcerations, sore
bones on the bottom of the foot, and other types of foot pathology.
The advantages of accommodative orthotics are that they are relatively
soft and forgiving, and are generally easy to adjust in shape after
they are dispensed to the patient to improve comfort. The disadvantages
of accommodative orthotics are that they are relatively bulky, have
relatively poor durability, and may need frequent adjustments to
allow them to continue working properly.
Functional Orthèses Plantaires are used to correct abnormal foot and
lower extremity function. Some types of functional Orthèses Plantaires
may also be designed to accommodate painful areas on the bottoms
of the foot. Functional Orthèses Plantaires may be made of flexible,
semi-rigid, or rigid plastic or graphite materials. They are relatively
thin and easily fit into most types of shoes.
Functional Orthèses Plantaires are useful in the treatment of a very
wide range of painful conditions of the foot and lower extremities.
Big toe joint and lesser toe joint pain,
arch pain, heel pain, and ankle pain are commonly treated with functional
Orthèses Plantaires. Since abnormal foot function causes abnormal ankle,
knee and hip function, functional Orthèses Plantaires are also commonly
used to treat painful tendinitis and bursitis conditions in the
ankle, knee and hip. The advantages of functional Orthèses Plantaires
are that they are relatively durable, infrequently require adjustments
and more likely to fit into standard shoes. The disadvantage is
that they are more difficult to adjust.
In order to design and fabricate prescription Orthèses Plantaires, the
podiatrist must perform a biomechanical examination of the feet
and lower extremities. Angular measurements are taken of the toes,
feet, ankles, knees and hips to determine the level and amount of
any structural or functional deformities. This examination is done
while the patient is on an examining table and also while standing.
The podiatrist will also do a gait analysis of the patient to determine
how their feet and lower extremities function during walking. Abnormalities
from the biomechanical examination and gait examination are used
in the design and fabrication of the prescription Orthèses Plantaires.
The podiatrist then makes three-dimensional models of the patient's
feet in order to make the prescription Orthèses Plantaires. This is done
by applying plaster to the patient's feet. The resultant three-dimensional
models of the feet are then used, along with the detailed orthotics
prescription from the podiatrist, to have the prescription Orthèses Plantaires made for the patient. Most podiatrists have a specialty
podiatric orthotics laboratory make their orthotics.
|
haut