POP casting vs Impression box casting

And as well and not to put too fine a point on it but "the box" creates nothing..."the box" does nothing...the practitioners hands do. As a mentor told me a long time ago "garbage in = garbage out" Your technique and use of the tools at your disposal are what "creates". You use them well or you do not.

This is akin to saying "these golf clubs are no good".

 

Casting Techniques

The casting process is the first step in the fabrication of any custom made foot orthoses. The main concern to a patient is the end product. Is it comfortable? Is my pain going away? From a pedorthists point of view, the concern lies a little deeper. The movement of the patient’s foot needs to be properly controlled. The orthoses needs to have complete contact with the plantar surface of the foot. Comfort is only achieved when the orthoses accurately contours the patient’s foot. Root’s subtalar neutral theory has been the standard casting method in the past. Today, numerous devices and methods have been developed to duplicate the foot in this particular position. The discussion in today’s literature surrounds the question of which technique leads to the “best orthoses” for a particular pathomechanical deformity. This paper highlights some of the research comparing different casting methods. Forefoot to hindfoot angles, rearfoot to forefoot relationships and plantar pressures are all discussed.
Over forty years ago, Merton Root developed the theory of casting patients in the subtalar neutral position. Root’s knowledge in podiatric medicine led to the concept that “central to appropriate foot function was the necessity of the subtalar joint coming into neutral just after heel strike, and again at the end of midstance” (UWO Pedorthic Diploma Program). Root proposed that in order for orthoses to be effective, the subtalar joint must function around its desired neutral position and the orthoses must cause a locking of the midtarsal joints. Root conceptualized that deviation from the subtalar neutral position resulted in the pathologies pedorthists’ see in clinic everyday. Emerging theories are slowly gaining respect over Root’s past beliefs. Importantly however, is that today’s “research supports that orthotic treatment from a subtalar neutral cast does improve symptoms” (UWO Pedorthic Diploma Program). Many different casting methods have emerged based on Root’s theory of casting in subtalar neutral.

 

Re: Casting Techniques

I was about to disagree with many, many points in this post. But then I wondered why a podiatrist was providing links to slow cookers. which took me here

http://kalorthoses.ca/?page_id=189

Where this unfortunate pile of drek was first penned.

I summon the forces of darkness to smite thee with the spammer hammer. This isn't even original drek. Its reheated drek.

 

This, on the other hand, is dangerously good sense. :drinks

 

Haha Robert I was just about to reply with all podiatric medicine courses teach Root mechanics and theory.
And690 does not need to teach old theory which has been used an thaught for 40 years.
But again jumping in with nonsensensicle info, instead of ans the questions asked. Sorry and690 but we already know this drivel.
Nonsensensicle not even sure that's a real word but my iphone does not correct me so I guess.

Col

 

He's not trying to teach anything. He's a spammer. People get paid to put links on websites like this one. He finds a thread, googles it, cuts and pastes a chunk of vaguely relevant information into it as his opinion and sticks his links at the bottom.

No point arguing with that. Very annoying. Although there are plenty of people who would agree with what he writes.

I like nonsensensical. I think its a good word.

 

Yeh I just got that lol. Was wondering what he was up to.

Nonsensensicle is the word of the day, 10 points if you can squeeze it into a conversation throughout your day.

 

Love it
Cheers
D

 

True... Annoying they are..helpless to the perils of thier own doing...

For those that may not have read much else and ended thier search there, well, ...I guess they would be somewhat stuck. I'm one that was once.. I'll admit that freely, and at the same time I say so I would direct that more say, ...to the reader.
Some reading here might be there. But all one has to do really is take advantage of the information sitting at the fingertips here. Make ones comparisons and just try things in the clinic. To me having this here means that those posting want simply to improve what we all do by comparing and contrasting and making sure it is sound before making a judgement.

 

Aloha,

A few thoughts.

What are you making the impression for? i.e. what type of gait system will be used?

I had the great experience of making a lot of plaster casting molds as a resident for the Selner Brothers and Dick Bogdan and using the digital method with Ray Shiemer here on Maui.

I have always wondered why we have placed such an importance on capturing what we "think" is neutral foot-STJ position in our impressions of the patient's foot.

What if we placed the patient foot in a foam box and had them fully rotate at the shoulders which in turn will rotate the hips then legs and thus capture the full range of motion and shape of the foot during pronation and supination and from this you can modify the cast-impression to what ever "normal" you wish.

Feedback appreciated.

Mahalo,
Steve

 

Aloha,

This is done full weight bearing.

Mahalo,
Steve

 

I believe when it comes to impression taking, the practitioner needs to know what it is you are treating, the postures the segments of the feet fall into during gait/stance and how you are going to improve them with orthotics. The caster has to be excellent at cast taking knowing what the most common errors are for the method they use, and they need to be able to look at the cast afterwards and determine whether they got what they had intended. Then, their lab has to be able to interpret the assessment, look at the cast and the lab instructions then interpret that combination of info, cast and so on into the exact device the practitioner had in mind after the initial assessment. . I use POP because it gives me fewer errors and the best results. Time and mess are not issues for me. I have my own lab and my crew gives me tremendous results. Whatever you use, get very good at it and don't believe you can't improve on it.
Freeman Churchill, Certified Pedorthist (Canada)