Molded Shoe Insoles
Molded shoe insoles, made of soft materials, can provide contoured
heel and medial arch support and occasionally feature metatarsal
pads. Molded insoles are frequently place in shoes
by the manufacturer, or they can be purchased separately and added
to the shoe.
Some models have pronation pads that
include wedges in the heels or varying densities of material,
which keep the heel in a slightly inverted position to prevent
excessive pronation. These devices generally cost under 15 dollars.
They are intended to provide arch support but are limited in
success. This is be cause corrections and padding must be minimal,
because each type of mass-manufactured, correction must fit everyone
who wears that size of shoe. Because foot construction varies
considerably among people, changes in the insoles are not always
beneficial for each wearer primarily due to the fact that one
size fits all. This may be adequate for cushioning, shock absorption,
and mild pronation control. |
Individually Made Insoles
When more motion control is needed, an individually made device
may be required. Several companies offer these devices through
the mail. The custome receives a package containing instructions
on making neutral impressions or tracings of the feet. These are
then returned to the lab for custom fabrication of the devices.
There can be some problems with these devices; their use requires
the customer to make a diagnosis of the foot problem and to decide
if this type of device constitutes appropriate treatment.
Due to the complexities of foot biomechanics, this is not a simple
task. Also, the critical factor in making an accurate orthosis
is to have a proper cast. This is not easy for someone with no
previous experience. Inexperience can prove costly: These mail-order
orthotic devices cost 60 to 90 dollars. Because of the difficulty
in obtaining proper casts and in providing accurate corrections
on the devices without examining the patient, these devices are
not as accurate as doctor-prescribed
devices. |
