Orthotics

Orthotics made by Long Trail Podiatry are designed to compensate for foot issues by allowing the foot to work as efficiently as possible.

What are custom molded foot orthoses?

Orthotics made by Long Trail Podiatry are designed to compensate for foot issues by allowing the foot to work as efficiently as possible. They come in three basic styles:

• Sport Orthotic: A thick device that can withstand long term, heavy use. They fit best in a sneaker or hiking shoe that have an insert that can be removed. They do not fit well into dress shoes. They sometimes fit fine into tie casual shoes.
• Men’s Dress Orthotic: A thinner, slightly more flexible version of the sport orthotic that fit well into tie casual shoes and slip on shoes that have an insert that can be removed. These can also be used in sneakers but they will not last withstand the constant use as well as a sport orthotic.
• Women’s Dress Orthotic: A thinner, more flexible version of the men’s dress orthotic that has the outside portion of the orthotic cut out for a more slim profile. Fits into women’s dress shoes well, especially those with a removable insert. They can be worn in high heeled shoes as well as flat shoes that do not have a removable insert but fit with the orthotic should be assessed before purchasing the shoes because sometimes heel slippage (the heel coming out of the shoe slightly with each step) can occur if the shoe is not deep enough for the orthotic.
• Sport-Specific Orthotic: An orthotic designed for a particular sport shoe.
  • Ski orthotic: Combines the strength of the sport orthotic with the lower profile of the men’s dress orthotic, often with an added layer of PPT for added shock absorption.
  • Golf orthotic: Styled after the men’s dress orthotic with added flexibility.
  • Cycling orthotic: Styled after the men’s dress orthotic but designed with an extremely low profile to accommodate the tight fit of the cycling shoe.

Examples of the different types of orthotics are available for your review.

The orthotics are typically ordered in a full-length version. They are ordered without an extra layer of cushioning because that layer decreases the effectiveness of the orthotic and is not necessary for most people.

Our patients sometimes purchase two pairs of orthotics - one for dress wear and one for sports.

Feel free to ask questions about these types of orthotics and which ones may fit well into your life style.

How are orthotics made?

The orthotic is made by making a negative cast of the foot with Plaster of Paris. The foot is non-weight-bearing when the cast is made so that any compensations that occur when the patient is weight-bearing are eliminated.

These casts are then sent to a laboratory in Londonderry, NH where a positive is made of the cast.

Using this positive cast, the laboratory is able to make the orthotic to the actual contour of the foot without the patient having to be at the laboratory.

The orthotic itself is designed based on the prescription written by Dr. King. When creating this custom prescription the doctor takes into account the gait of the patient, the patient’s foot-type, and the specific issues experienced by the patient as well as the intended use of the orthotic.

Orthotics made by Long Trail Podiatry are entirely custom, as described above. Care is made in the casting, the prescription, and the fabrication of the orthotic to make the process as accurate as possible since not everyone responds to orthotics the same.

Wearing the orthotics

The majority of the people who are dispensed orthotics here are able to wear them full time with a very short break-in period (1 week).

The only adjustments made by the doctors when they dispense them might be trimming the forefoot to fit properly into the toes of the shoes.

For a small percentage of people, a longer break-in period (1 month) may be required for the orthotics to feel comfortable. Adjustments and certain modifications of the shell of the orthotics may be necessary in these cases.

Dr. King may recommend orthotics to help with a specific biomechanical issue or to address postural issues. They may help after a surgical intervention to prevent the issue from recurring. The decision to have orthotics made is entirely up to the patient. Orthotics work well and eliminate and prevent symptoms in the majority of cases. They work best when worn at all times in proper, biomechanically effective shoes.

Orthotics are an investment in the health of your feet. However, Dr. King cannot guarantee that the orthotics will eliminate or diminish symptoms. When they prescribe orthotics, they are making the suggestion that wearing orthotics may help the symptoms. They make every effort to ensure that the fit and comfort of the orthotics are achieved, which should, in most cases, allow for the decrease and/or elimination of symptoms.