What is the difference between casted/molded orthotics and pre-fabricated orthotics?
Casted orthotics begins with a mold of the improper muscle balance that the feet and legs currently have. They are usually made in a non-weight bearing position, and the foot is usually supported with some pressure from under the 5th metatarsal head and with the other hand at the ankle joint to establish neutral for the ankle. The theory is that mold to the neutral foot, and the orthotic will hold the foot and ankle neutral when standing. For some people, a modicum of support and stability will meet their needs, and a casted shape can give relief for many foot and back problems. But since we are not restoring collapsed metatarsal arches with this technique, it can help only partially, and many problems cannot be adequately addressed. A pre-formed orthotic PROPERLY SHAPED, such as the Soft Step or Plastosan (not the only options), and PROPERLY FITTED, will place the bone structure of the foot in optimum position, allowing the skeleton to balance as it naturally does when barefoot on sof
