Orthotic devices. Custom-made, prefabricated, and material selection.

Abstract

Orthotic use has become a common adjunct to medical treatment for foot and ankle pathology. For pain and discomfort from overuse to pathology-specific problems, interventions involving foot orthoses are widely accepted. A wide range of accommodative, functional, and prefabricated orthoses is available. With the emergence of technology in the manufacture of raw materials and prefabricated orthoses and the training and expertise of technicians and practitioners, the quality and accuracy of foot orthoses have improved vastly, justifying their role in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with simple and complex foot problems.