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how does strapping replicate the effect a foot orthoses will have?

Discussion in 'Biomechanics, Sports and Foot orthoses' started by markjohconley, Dec 5, 2018.

  1. markjohconley

    markjohconley Well-Known Member


    Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
    My query concerns the practice of using low-dye strapping to gauge whether a foot orthoses will work.
    I was advised 30 years ago to do same and I just watched a recently produced podiatry podcast in which the guest stated that she used the technique.
    How does this occur. Have there been any studies done?
    If this has been covered before my apologies, all the best and amerry christmas to all and families, mark
     
  2. markjohconley

    markjohconley Well-Known Member

    Force wise this can't happen; only soft tissue would be effected surely, apart from possibly an increase in external forefoot plantarflexory moments (for a very short time)
     
  3. Low-Dye strapping produces an external rearfoot dorsiflexion moment and an internal forefoot plantarflexion moment on the foot by applying tension forces on the skin of the foot which likely reduces the passive tension force within the central component of the plantar aponeurosis during weightbearing activities. The biomechanical effects of low-Dye strapping is similar to, but not identical to, the biomechanical effect of what a foot orthosis is able to do by altering the locations, temporal patterns and magnitudes of GRF acting on the plantar foot. They work differently from each other mechanically and, as such, one should not be used to determine how well the other will work in relieving pain or improving the gait function of the patient over time.

    As such, the 50 year-old suggestion that a low-Dye strapping simulates what a foot orthosis can do is yet another Podiatric Myth that should be discarded.
     
  4. As an aside I wonder how many Low dye techniques there are? I know of 4 different techniques that all claim to be low dye technique
     
  5. efuller

    efuller MVP

    I have to agree, in part, with Kevin and disagree in another part. The low dye strap will tend to reduce tension in the plantar fascia. A well made orthosis is designed to reduce tension in the plantar fascia. If a low dye strap relieves pain then reduction of tension in the fascia relieved pain. On the other hand, if a low dye strap does not relieve pain, the person might have heel pain for some other reason than high tension in the fascia. (Of course you have to question whether the low dye strap was applied correctly and did it stay effective during the time that it was on. You might have a false negative.) An interesting question is whether the orthotic will relieve "other" heel pain.

    I agree that the low dye strap works with a different mechanism than an orthosis. You shouldn't necessarily assume that if the low dye strap does work an orthosis will work, or that if the low dye strap does not work, the orthosis won't work. I would be encouraged that an orthosis will work when a low dye strap does work.
     
  6. Which part do you disagree with, Eric? I agree with all that you stated above.
     
  7. markjohconley

    markjohconley Well-Known Member

    Prof Kirby would you elaborate on the mechanism especially re. the '... internal forefoot plantarflexion moment ...", thank you, mark
     
  8. Mark:

    My post should have read "Low-Dye strapping produces an external rearfoot dorsiflexion moment and an external forefoot plantarflexion moment on the foot by applying tension forces on the skin of the foot which likely reduces the passive tension force within the central component of the plantar aponeurosis during weightbearing activities."

    Sorry. Hope that clears things up.
     
  9. efuller

    efuller MVP

    My fault. I didn't read carefully what you wrote. I only saw the discarded part. There is some prognostic value in the low dye strap, and I erroneously thought your statement meant discard the prognositic part.
     
  10. Bruce Williams

    Bruce Williams Well-Known Member

    I use a low dye with felt postings all the time to mimic my orthotic prescription. The key is to not use ONLY a low dye. Eric F is correct about a low dye’s effect on the plantar fascia. But, RF wedging, and FF wedging can decrease the PF tension as well. The use of heel lifts will do the same, as will a cluffy or digital wedge under the hallux. My only wonder here is not why it works, but why everyone doesn’t use this in their practice?
     
  11. David Smith

    David Smith Well-Known Member

    While taping does not have the same modus operandi as orthoses, they are both mechanical interventions. So it might be assumed that any painful symptom relieved by taping had a mechanical aetiology and therefore since orthoses are a mechanical intervention then with the correct design they can achieve the same change in symptoms.
     
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