Top cover testing

Question 1

Vinyl top cover advantages and disadvantages

Answer 1

ADVANTAGES
* is durable, long lasting
* cost efficient
* does not absorb moisture
* Is offered in a range of colours

DISADVANTAGES
* not breathable
* feet tend to stay damp if the foot perspires
* tends to split and crack with long term exposure to heat
* Avoid if your patient experiences moderate to severe hyperhydrosis. Due to its plastic surface, vinyl does not provide much slip resistance

Question 2

Leather top cover advantages and dis

Answer 2

ADVANTAGES
* High tensile strength resistant to tearing
* Breathable (will absorb perspiration and release it later)
* good insulator
* very easy to grind

DISADVANTAGES
* May split and dry-out faster than other materials such as vinyl
* May be more expensive than other materials
* Usually comes in black and brown

Question 3

PS Viles A/D

Answer 3

ADVANTAGES
* highly durable
* absorbs moisture effectively
* dries without undergoing any lasting damage

DISADVANTAGES
* may retain odour due to polyester component

Question 4

Lunasoft top cover A/D

Answer 4

Lunasoft is a low density EVA foam top cover

ADVANTAGES
* low weight
* flexible
* abrasion-resistance
* washable
* shock absorbing
* maintains its shape well
* hygienic due to it’s closed cell structure
* Comes in an array of colours so is great for children’s orthoses

DISADVANTAGES
* may not last as long as vinyl and leather top covers

Question 5

Poron - thicknesses available and A/D

Answer 5

Thickness: 1.5mm, 3mm. 5mm and 10mm

ADVANTAGES
* good shock absorbing properties (high dampening) in combination with a high elastic memory (low resilience) so that it retains its shape after being loaded
* Allows water vapor and liquid water to be absorbed to keep the foot relatively dry and cool
* Often has a shiny surface on one or both sides which allows the foot to slide in a shoe over this material with ease
* Is relatively light and does not support the growth of fungi
* Will not harden, crack or shrink with age

DISADVANTAGES
* if used to cover an orthotic it will require a covering layer (e.g., vinyl, leather, EVA, PS vlies) to provide protection against degradation. A covering layer can also be placed on the under surface of a poron cover (distal to the end of the shell) to prevent premature breakdown. There is a layer of Cambrelle under the blue Poron in the image below to prevent the Poron from degrading.

Question 6

Spenco (Neoprene) - thicknesses and A/d

Answer 6

Thickness: 1.5, 3, 6 mm

ADVANTAGES
* has good insulating, shock, anti-sheer and absorbing properties
* hard wearing

DISADVANTAGES
* is not breathable and increases the temperature inside the shoe
* Avoid neoprene for people with hyperhydrosis
* Neoprene tends to compress with time
* Expensive

Question 7

Cambrelle - A/D

Answer 7

ADVANTAGES
* is reported to have good abrasive resistance
* It does not have a shiny surface so it provides more slip resistance than vinyl
* Cambrelle is breathable and, therefore, keeps foot relatively dry and cool

DISADVANTAGES
* not aesthetically pleasing
* difficult to clean
* can be difficult to grind