The History Of Custom Orthoses

The principle of using custom orthoses to control foot function is not new, yet the way in which we identify and assess foot function has recently undergone radical changes.

Whereas previously it was only possible to design orthoses based on indirect assessment, new technology enables us to "see" how the foot functions as we walk. This revolution is heralding the use of Functional Orthotic Therapy as a reliable and successful healthcare option.

The use of orthoses to control abnormal foot function is not a new concept. Traditionally, custom devices were prescribed using the results of a plaster cast mould of the foot, sometimes in combination with the findings of a video gait analysis. Although both of these methods focus on identifying faulty postures and movements and attempting to correct them, they did so by using indirect methods of assessment.

Prior to the advent of digital gait scanning technology, it was only possible to design orthoses using indirect visual assessments, which by their very nature were subjective. Subjective views are created by an individuals own experiences and as a result, a prescription provided by one practitioner was often different, if only slightly, from that supplied by another.

This made the assessment of gait and postural abnormalities and prescription of orthoses to control them an artform, and consequently the number of successful practitioners was relatively small. The price to be paid for such an assessment reflected the experience and success of the individual practitioner, and as a result only the few were aware of and able to afford this healthcare option.

Digital Gait Scanning Technology - the Advent of Functional Orthotic Therapy

The introduction of high quality cost effective digital gait scanning equipment has revolutionised the prescription of custom orthoses. Although it still remains in part an artform, when it comes to the individual assessment and prescription of devices, subjectivity for the few has been replaced with objectivity for all.

Orthotic Therapy relied on indirect methods of assessment to prescribe orthoses which could control foot function. By using foot shape assessments, plaster casts of the feet in neutral position and video gait analysis, it is only possible to interpret what foot function problems create the abnormalities recorded.

Functional Orthotic Therapy relies on direct digital data on foot function to create custom orthoses that optimize foot function. So, although the use of orthoses hasn't changed, the methods of gathering the data to prescribe them has.

Instead of relying on indirect methods of assessment and personal experience to prescribe the orthoses, Functional Orthotic Therapy can now be founded on technology which actually measures and quanitfies foot function directly. This way, we are measuring exactly what it is we want the orthoses to correct - a much more accurate and reliable solution.

The Twist Of Fate

Paradoxically, now we are able to see and accurately measure how the foot functions when it is in contact with the ground surface, the vast extent of the problem is slowing dawning. The use of digital gait scanning equipment is exposing the true extent of minor structural misalignments and faulty foot function throughout the population.

This is far from the human health disaster that it sounds - the symptoms of faulty foot function have created some of the most vexing medical and health conundrums of recent history; back pain, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, M.E., recurrent injuries, poor posture, oesteoarthritis, denegerative disc disease and many, many more. It is not that we were unaware of the problem, we just simply could not see the cause.

Thanks to gait scanning technology being made a cost effective solution for the majority, the practice of Functional Orthotic Therapy has been born. Now that we are able to see and manage the cause of the problem, we can begin to successfully treat the many and varied health problems it creates.