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Never Cast Again: Five Simple Steps to Filling Orthotics
The Value of Orthotics in Sports Injury Prevention

Never Cast Again: Five Simple Steps to Fitting Orthotics

Laser scanning technology has vastly improved the process of fitting foot orthotics. Advantages of scanning far outweigh traditional casting methods. Foot scanning is more accurate than casting, leaving little room for error or interpretation. Foot scanning is faster and cleaner: a complete scan takes only moments and eliminates the frustration, discomfort and mess that can occur with casting. Furthermore, it is easy for the foot care professional to learn how to scan feet.

A perfect foot scan can be performed in five simple steps:

1. Locate and Click the Foot Scan Icon on the Computer Desktop
This launches the control panel that will guide you through the scanning process.

2. Begin Scan

After clicking on the "scan" button, a menu will pop up and prompt the operator to enter a name (8 characters), plug in scanner and "begin scanning".

3. Scan Foot

Make sure the "ready" light is glowing, then position the foot firmly against the vertical scanner. Press the foot lever and the scanner engages.

4. Write File

Position the selection box tightly around the scanned image to reduce noise and maximize detail. Then, click "write file".

5. Save and Send File

Review the scanned file for detail and clarity. Check to see that the file name is entered accurately. Send the file via e-mail to info@northstarlab.com. North Star Lab will set the parameters: fore foot width, heal width, first and fifth mpj. Corrections are made to the scanned image of the foot, and the prescription orthotics are produced within three to five days.

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The Value of Orthotics in Sports Injury Prevention

Most sports-related injuries occur when a muscle or joint is overused or misused. Common lower leg and foot sports injuries include: muscle pull, runner’s knee, shin splints (affecting people who do not exercise regularly), Achilles tendinitis (inflamed foot tendon), Os Trigonum syndrome (pain in the back of the ankle) and Plantar fasciitis (heel pain) (9, 11). Sixty-five (65%) of regular runners and 21% of walkers are injured annually (www.sportsinjury.com). The American Journal of Sports Medicine (1993) (1) ranked various sports by the number of injuries per 1000 hours – a rate of 5 injuries per 1000 hours was considered high. Treadmill walking or jogging reportedly had 6 injuries per 1000 hours, while tennis and dancing had 5 injuries per 1000 hours each.

Runner’s knee, affecting basketball and volleyball players, swimmers, cyclists, and runners, occurs when the tendon below the kneecap is irritated by overuse or there is wear or arthritis under the kneecap (6). Runner's knee can often be prevented by replacing worn-out shoes or insoles, which helps reduce impact. Custom Orthotics, which lift the arches and position the feet so that impact does not result in misalignment at the kneecaps, are effective preventive measures (7).

Plantar fasciitis is a general cause of heel pain in adults (8). Individuals with low arches or flat feet or high arches are at higher risk for developing plantar fasciitis. Elderly people can also develop plantar fasciitis. Overuse is the most common cause of plantar fasciitis in athletes. Although plantar fasciitis is usually a self-limiting condition, patients and physicians generally find the 6 to18-month resolution time annoying. Rest is often named as a good treatment for this condition, but athletes and other active individuals sometimes have difficulty complying with instructions to stop all activity (3).

Patients with low arches are likely to have a decreased ability to absorb the forces generated by the impact of foot strike (3, 9). Arch taping and orthotics are the most commonly used mechanical corrections for low arches. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc (1998) (2) reported that arch taping and orthotics were found to be significantly better than the use of NSAIDs, cortisone injection or heel cups. While a single taping treatment may be less expensive than an orthotic, taping provides only temporary support, and as little as 24 minutes of activity can significantly decrease the effectiveness of taping (4). Orthotics are more cost-effective for chronic or persistent cases of plantar fasciitis and for prevention of injuries. In athletics, arches have to be retaped at least for every new game or practice session, whereas custom orthotics generally last for many seasons. The most common prescription for patients with plantar fasciitis is semi-rigid, three-quarters to full-length orthotics with longitudinal arch support (4). In one study, orthotics were cited by 27 percent of patients as the best treatment. A survey (2) of 46 runners using orthotics for plantar fasciitis found that 74 percent reported great improvement of symptoms with the use of orthotics and 90 percent continued to use orthotics even after resolution of symptoms (3).

Health care professionals and patients are increasingly interested in exploring preventive measures rather than the traditional surgical approach to sports injuries. Orthotics are frequently cited as a good way of preventing many lower leg and foot sports-related injuries.

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References
1. American Journal of Sports Medicine vol. 21 (3), pp. 461-467, 1993) cited in www.sportsinjurybulletin.com.
2. Lynch DM, Goforth WP, Martin JE, Odom RD, Preece CK, Kotter MW. Conservative treatment of plantar fasciitis: a prospective study. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 1998;88:375-80.
3. Jackson DL, Haglund, BL. Tarsal tunnel syndrome in runners. Sports Med 1992; 13: 146-9.
4. www.aafp.org/afp/20010201/467.html
5. www.aetna.com/cpb/data/CPBA0451.html
6. www.emedicine.com/pmr/topic172.htm
7. www.findarticles.com
8. www.healthology.com
9. www.merck.com
10. www.orthophys.com/foot_ankle.htm
11. www.sportsinjurybulletin.com

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