New Study Compares Prescription Orthotics to Over-the-Counter shoe inserts

A new study is under way to investigate the efficacy of prescription orthotics, a device that podiatrists use in practice often. The study will compare over-the-counter shoe inserts with prescription orthotics, or orthoses as they are known as in the medical community.

The ongoing three-year study, which is being funded by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), will look at the success rate of the prescription orthotics in treating plantar fasciitis, a common cause of heel pain. Podiatrists have been able to successfully treat plantar fasciitis with foot orthotics for a long time as a form of non-surgical, conservative treatment – this study will serve to quantify and qualify that information.

The research is being conducted at the Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, through the Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR). The interim director of the research program, Dr. James Wrobel, seeks to compare the results of prescription orthotics as a treatment for heel pain with the results of over-the-counter shoe inserts. The study will also look at the overall efficacy of the prescription orthotics at treating the heel pain. In other words, did the pain go away when using the orthotics?

Prescription orthotics are generally more durable than over-the-counter shoe inserts, needing replacement only after several years. They are prescribed by a podiatrist, and are usually done fairly quickly in an appointment. The doctor will take either make a plaster casting of the foot, or a digital image using computer software.

Prescription orthotics are typically used for three different reasons. There are orthotics designed to change the function of the foot, orthotics that are designed to protect the foot from outside forces, and orthotics that are designed to be both protective and serve to alter function of the foot. Different materials are often used when manufacturing the orthotics, depending on the purpose that they will serve.

As doctors across the country focus more and more on evidence based medicine, it will be studies like this one that will back up the use of treatments such as prescription orthotics. Many remedies in the medical world are not confirmed as being any better than others, but through research like this, a fair comparison can be made.

If you have any questions about prescription orthotics, talk to your podiatrist about different options. If you are experiencing heel pain, share this with your doctor. Conservative treatments, such as orthotics, are generally used before more invasive, surgical procedures.

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com