There are many types of Foot Orthoses and there are different ways that we can attempt to categorise them. It is somewhat difficult to categorise Foot Orthoses due to variations in Orthotic device design and materials used for manufacture.
Usually, Foot Orthoses are categorised by their method of manufacture. Foot Orthoses may be CUSTOM-MADE or NON CUSTOM-MADE.
Custom-Made Foot Orthoses are individually made, and are typically manufactured using the Patient's own Foot anatomy by creating a model of the Foot (a cast, impression, impression foam, etc). The anatomical model serves as the foundation of the form used to produce the Orthosis.
Non Custom-Made Foot Orthoses are manufactured using predetermined shapes or pre-made models, or are made by injection molding or computer milling. Non Custom-Made Foot Orthoses are not made from the Patients own Foot anatomy and are more generic or general in shape.
There are basically three types of Custom-Made Foot Orthoses provided by Foot Mechanic Orthotics. The two most common types of Custom-Made Foot Orthoses are Accommodative Orthoses and Functional Orthoses.
ACCOMMODATIVE ORTHOSES
An Accommodative Orthosis is a device that is designed to pad and protect the Foot or a part of the Foot.
An Accommodative Orthosis supplements the Foots natural padding and may be designed to reduce pressure by accommodation, with specified areas of the Foot.
FUNCTIONAL ORTHOSES
A functional Orthosis is a device that is designed to influence the position and or motion of the Foot through the application of biomechanical principles.
A functional Orthosis is the most biomechanically advanced type of Foot Orthosis and is only available by prescription.
It influences the position or motion of the Foot, altering the forces acting on the Foot.
A functional Orthosis requires a significant degree of expertise to prescribe and manufacture.
FUNCTIONAL HYBRID ORTHOSES
In some cases, the characteristics of an Accommodative Orthosis are combined with those of a Functional Orthosis to create a Functional Hybrid Orthosis.
The Foot is an engineering masterpiece.
The Foot is made up of 26 Bones, 33 Joints and more than 100 Muscles, Tendons and Ligaments.
When the mechanics of these structures are working well, forces generated by ground contact are distributed through the Foot and associated lower Limb structures maintaining lower Limb alignment and adequate shock absorption.
Foot Mechanic Orthotics can provide you with a Foot Orthoses to address your bio-mechanical issues.
We understand that the underlying problem may not always be located around the area of the Body that develops the pain or symptoms. In some cases the problem may lie in a number of areas, such as poor posture, Leg length discrepancies, tight or poorly toned Muscles.
Foot Mechanic Orthotics will provide you with the style of Foot Orthoses that best meets your needs.