Comparison of orthotics

Podiatrists have molded custom orthotics to address patients foot malformations. Over the years they have developed numerous means to create the basis for their molds; plaster casts, foam box impressions, or three-dimensional computer imaging. None is very accurate: all produce proper fit under 80% of the time.^[1][2]

Alzner's development

After suffering foot pain from frostbite as a conscript on the Russian front in World War II, Romanian born Dr. Georg Alzner self medicated his own solution, reverse engineering what he termed the ideal foot. His arch supports formed normal adult human bones into the correct positions so the four arches of the foot worked properly. In 1948, he released his own line of orthotics based on this principle.^[3] He also discovered how restoring the proper shape to the arches of the foot had a chain reaction effect of restoring proper balance to the rest of the body.

“The body functions as one unit, [and] if one member of the body does not function well, the whole body suffers. By treating the whole body, not just one part, we can alleviate the problem.”

— Georg Alzner^[4]

Alzner's design supported the arches of the foot, while (once positioned) leaving the forefoot and toes free to move and work. Alzner moved to Canada in the early 1960s,^[5] received his patent in 1970^[6] and sold his products in one on one situations like fairs, eventually selling his company to satisfied customer Donald Airey. Airey tried to expand the marketing of the product to a mass market,^[7] bringing his product to Joe Polifroni in 1991. Polifroni's company, Rosalin Johnson and Andrew Hecker produced Feet Facts which became the longest running infomercial in history. The success of the infomercial led to the formation of the Good Feet Stores chain, expanding to 265 stores worldwide and creating an entire new market sector. The success of the Good Feet Stores led to competitors and knock offs.^[8][9] Polifroni has continued research and development, patenting many new versions.^[10][11]

Styles

Manufacturers of these products choose various materials.

• Firm supports stay in one exact position.
• Flexible supports maintain the arch positions while moving with the foot through the stride.
• Soft supports might use materials like foam rubber of varying intensity, memory foam, EVA, carbon fiber, silicone gel or filled leather. Because they are soft, their contour is less relevant. Instead, these tend to flatten, serving as shock absorbers. These give the proprioception of support, causing muscles to trigger in response, without true articulated support of the firmer models. Many shoe manufacturers, including athletic shoes, include similar pads with their shoes. Some products might be rubber pads shaped for a specific problem spot. Some of those could include a wrapping apparatus to hold them in place.

The firm or flexible models might require a period of adjustment. Depending on the severity of the arch collapse and the body's previous conditioning in response to that collapse, sudden readjustment can seem painful. Many attribute the feeling to walking on a walnut. It is recommended new users build up to wearing firm arch supports, starting with only a couple of hours the first day and adding an hour each successive day until the foot is adjusted to full-time usage. Your foot will tell you when it is too much. Don't gut it out and wear it when it is painful, this could lead to an injury. To mitigate this adjustment period, many manufacturers sell covering pads or have different gradations to build up to solid support. Some manufacturers cover their products in leather, which somewhat moderates the intensity of the correction while also adding to the stylistic look.

Most shoe manufacturers do not design for the extra space occupied by the presence of an orthotic. Arch supports can be more than a centimeter in thickness. The expansion of the orthotic market has caused an expansion of the extra depth shoe market, beyond the diabetic shoes. Thinner arch supports obviously are able to fit into a wider range of common shoes. Soft supports will collapse themselves under the weight of the body above and the tightness of the shoe surrounding them.

General information

This table gives basic general information about the different over the counter arch supports:

Firm supports

Soft supports

References