Orthotics Lab - Shoes, Internal & External Shoe Modifications, AFO, SMOs & IMOs Flashcards
What is a lift primarily used to accommodate for?
- Leg length discrepancy
- Promote greater ease in skin on the contralateral side
Where can lifts be added?
- Permanently: Added to sole of the shoe
- Temporarily: strapped to the shoe
How much of a lift can be accommodated within a shoe?
- Lift of about 1/2 inch
What is the function of a cushioned heel?
Serves to absorb shock during loading at heel strike
When is a cushioned heel indicated?
- When there is heel pain
- May be prescribed when the individual is using a solid AFO to assist with forward weight shift
What is the function of a rocker sole, metatarsal bar and rocker bar?
To decrease weight bearing through metatarsal heads allowing for an easier or more comfortable transition from heel strike to toe off
What is the difference between a rocker sole, metatarsal bar and rocker bar?
- Rocker sole: Extends the length of the sole of the shoe
- Metatarsal Bar: strip of leather or rubber placed just posterior to the metatarsal heads
- Rocker bar: similar to metatarsal bar but is more beveled at the ends & resembles the rocker base of a rocking chair
What do all the rocker bottoms styles do?
Reduce stress at metatarsal heads during push off phase of gait
When are rocker bottoms style indicated?
Whenever there is pain in the metatarsal heads
What is a flare?
Increases the M-L surface area of the bottom of the shoe & may be placed medially or laterally
What is a wedge?
- Thicker on one side than another and when placed on the bottom of the shoe or between the inner and outer soles, tips the shoe in a desired direction
What do heel wedges directly influence?
- Calcaneal/subtalar position, correcting a flexible deformity or supporting a rigid deformity
- Greater influence up/down the chain with flexible deformities
Where does a sole wedge span?
- Originates distal to the heel
- Bisects the midline of the sole
- Extends to the anterior midline of the footwear
What will a medial sole wedge create?
Inversion effect on the forefoot
What will a lateral sole wedge create?
Eversion effect on the forefoot
What is the function of a flare?
- Increases individual BOS when they are wearing shoes
- May bias & may prevent inversion/eversion injuries
What is the function a wedge?
Help correct flexible deformities or support rigid deformities
How would you manage a patient with flexible pronation deformity with the use flares/ or wedges?
- Medial heel (hind foot) wedge pushes calcaneous superiorly and redistributes weight to the hind foot laterally
- Lateral flare may encourage weight shift to the lateral side of the foot
How would you manage a patient with rigid pronation deformity with the use flares/ or wedges?
- Lateral hind foot wedge supports everted hind foot and redistributes weight, reducing pressure on the medial side
- Medial flare may help to improve balance by broadening BOS where foot is loaded
How would you manage a patient with flexible supination deformity with the use flares/ or wedges?
- Lateral heel (hindfoot) wedge pushes calcaneous inferiority and redistributes weight in the hindfoot medially
- Medial flare may encourage weight shift to medial side of the foot
How would you manage a patient with rigid supination deformity with the use flares/ or wedges?
- Medial (hind foot) wedge supports inverted hind foot and redistributed weight reducing pressure on the lateral side
- Lateral flare may help to improve balance by broadening BOS where foot is loaded
What is a Thomas heel and what is it most used for?
- Extension of the front/distal edge of heel anteriorly on medial side
- Used to increase stability of the sole of the shoe when there is pronation
What is a reverse Thomas heel?
Breast of the heel is extended anteriorly on the lateral side
What is the scaphoid pad and when is it indicated?
Convex pad used within the shoe to support the longitudinal arch
What is the proper positioning of the scaphoid pad within the shoe?
- Placed under the longitudinal arch
- Specifically at the apex of the pad should be positioned between the sustentaculum tali and the navicular tuberosity
What is a metatarsal pad and when is it indicated?
- Soft domed shaped pad that supports the metatarsal arch and relieves pressure from the metatarsal meds by shifting pressure to the metatarsal shafts
Where should a metatarsal pad be placed?
Positioned just posterior (proximal) to the metatarsal heads and just anterior (distal) to cuneiform
What is the function and position of a heel spur insert?
- Used to relieve pressure on the heel
- Anteriorly sloped redistributing weightbearing forces toward the ball of the foot
- Concave relief which helps to minimize pressure in tender area
Which motions are controlled by a solid ankle foot orthosis (SAFO)?
PF, DF, pronation & supination
When the SAFO is set in slight DF. how does this influence LE alignment?
Flexion moment is created at the knee and hip (ground reaction force passes anterior to the hip and posterior to the knee)