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Orthotic foams

Discussion in 'Biomechanics, Sports and Foot orthoses' started by falconegian, Sep 26, 2011.

  1. falconegian

    falconegian Active Member


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    Very often I have to treat elderly with pain in the foot expecially in the metatarsal area with calluses who do not need biomechanical changes but mostly accomodation.
    In terms of quality in accomodate lesions wich is the best material to choose ? and which is the less thick material?
     
  2. Boots n all

    Boots n all Well-Known Member

    The biggest issue will be having a shoe deeper enough to accommodate it all

    But here for this type client l would use a Met Dome to help off load the MPJ's and a combination material we get here known as a tri-laminate from Algeos.

    If thats not available you could use a 4mm Plastazote as cover, not sure who a supplier in Italy would be, here is a link to a UK supplier that might help you in your search.

    http://www.paulamar.co.uk/foam/materials.aspx#Plastazote
     
  3. mbryce5

    mbryce5 Welcome New Poster

    Poron works well to provide cushioning. However, it tears easily so you need another material on top - could be vinyl if you are trying to keep the insole thin or plastazote if the shoe has enough depth.
     
  4. fishpod

    fishpod Well-Known Member

    you can buy pedag sensitive insoles these work quite well as an accommadative insoles for rh arth and diabetic pts no need to manufacture just pull out of box. simples not for every pt though . they are available off t internet or techstep birmingham.
     
  5. Firstly, be clear on what you're objective is. Accomodation is a bit vague. Are you seeking to redistribute pressure or cushion.

    If the later, I favour a laminate of a softer poron (poron 94 or 96) over a stiffer one (4000 or 4400).

    Plasterzote is lovely for the older folk who also benefit from its thermal insulation properties, but its effective lifespan is short. I'd estimate about a month per 10KG bodyweight for 6mm. So if you or the patient can replace it a few times a year its great. If you want to pop it in and forget about it then stick to poron.
     
  6. MJJ

    MJJ Active Member

    So if I weigh 120 kg it will last a year and if I weigh 50 kg it will last 5 months???

    :confused:
     
  7. cwiebelt

    cwiebelt Active Member

    if the issue is one of cushioning rather than functional control
    plastisote is very useful (as previously mentioned) however i agree it does have poor memory and does compress rather quickly.
    i have used Airmed and lunasoft (otto bock) which has been benifical
    Chris
     
  8. falconegian

    falconegian Active Member

    Yes the aim is cushioning for elederly patients!
    Thanksfor all the aswers
     
  9. RobinP

    RobinP Well-Known Member

    In that case, 6mm poron 92 with a 3mm PZ layer on top

    It needs a reasonable amount of space but the pz collapses to nothing and is only there to stop the poron from crumbling/tearing.
     
  10. Orthican

    Orthican Active Member

    Is offloading the goal to removal of forces creating callus or would offloading and reduction of shear be more the goal? In the elderly the pattern of walking can change to more occasional shuffling as well. I agree with the poron to a point because in that it has little in the way of durability to shear stresses and the plastazote is a constant compaction problem. I have used cushions of almost every description for this patient profile and yes the biggest problem is shoes and the depth they have. The combination I have found to work the best is poron but to give it life and reduced friction without giving it a surface tension (Trampoline effect?) that vinyls will do use 3mm neoprene as a top cover. It will reduce friction and not deter from the deformation properties of the poron. I have had people on this combo for as much as two years without failure of the materials to compaction and have seen visually great changes for the better with callus formatio...or lack of as it were.
     
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