Over The Counter Orthoses

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.