Dr. Scholl's has come out with a digital flatbed foot scanner that they're putting in Wal-Mart stores in order to sell their "Custom Fit" orthotics. It's a fairly nifty scheme: step on the scanner, it spits out a simple pressure plate diagram and suggests a "custom" orthotic for you. This concept is nothing new to all of us. A lot of companies do this.
Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
But here is the problem. The term "custom" should suggest something made specifically for the customer/patient. Some companies in the past have also used (and still are for all I know) the term "functional" to sell their crappy over-the-counter orthotics. Yet we know that a "functional" foot orthotic is one that is made with a cast or 3D scan of the foot (We use Amfit to scan patients in subtalor neutral, full weight bearing).
To me, a "functional" orthotic is synonymous with a biomechanical orthotic, and a "custom" orthotic is an OTC product conformed to the patient's feet, or to correct pathology.
So, with all this blurring of terminology by the big OTC orthotics companies, why are not the various medical disciplines (podiatrists, pedorthists, orthotists, prosthetists, etc.) not doing something about it? I mean, really, how long do we have to endure the absurd misleading claims made by these companies?
As a sort of separate question (well, questions really), how many of you guys have seen OTC orthotics that are over 6 degrees? Most standard orthotics are at about 4 degrees, and "high arch" orthotics are about 6 degrees. Is there a requirement that OTC orthotics cannot be above a certain number of degrees?
<
Tricky new patient
|
Fibrosis between the FHL and the Flexor Digitorum tendons mimicking Plantar Fasciopathy
>
<
Tricky new patient
|
Fibrosis between the FHL and the Flexor Digitorum tendons mimicking Plantar Fasciopathy
>
Loading...
- Similar Threads - Functional custom OTC
-
- Replies:
- 19
- Views:
- 8,005
-
- Replies:
- 1
- Views:
- 917
-
- Replies:
- 1
- Views:
- 1,796
-
- Replies:
- 3
- Views:
- 2,058
-
- Replies:
- 0
- Views:
- 2,004
-
- Replies:
- 0
- Views:
- 1,259
-
- Replies:
- 3
- Views:
- 2,382