Phone:  206 344 3808
Fax:      206 860 0907

Telephone Hours:
Monday—Friday: 
8:00—5:00

Address:
600 Broadway, Suite 220
Seattle, WA  98122

How Orthotics Work to Treat Heel Pain in Children Video

The video below explains how orthotics work to treat heel pain in kids. The most common cause of heel pain in children is an inflammation of the growth plate called “Calcaneal Apophysitis”. It is also known as Sever’s Disease.

This video was made as part of a series of training videos to teach podiatrists how to make better orthotics, so you may find it somewhat technical. But many patients in our Seattle foot and ankle clinic have requested more detailed information on how orthotics work to treat plantar fasciitis, so we thought some people would find it valuable.

More information on children’s feet and heel pain can be found on these pages:
• Heel Pain in Children
• Children’s Shoes
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Best Orthotics for Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Pain
• Home Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Pain
• Treatment of Stubborn Heel Pain
 

OTHER VIDEOS
Orthotics for Bunion Video
Orthotics for Flatfeet Video

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Today, we are going to look at a pathology specific orthosis for hallux limitus and bunIons. What we have done is taken a look at the literature and tried to come up with the best prescription for any particular pathologic problem of the foot. This one is one we have designed for the patient with hallux limitus.

Most studies are now showing that with hallux limits our primary goal is to encourage plantarflexion of the first ray. By encouraging plantar flexion of the first ray, we are able to decompress the first metatarsophalangeal joint, enhance windlass function and see better motion within the first MPJ, less compression within the first MPJ, and less pain from hallux limitus.

We want a device that is going to decrease eversion of the calcaneus and then allow the first ray to plantarflex. So as far as the orthotic goes we are going to go with the device with a relatively deep heel cup, so that we can use this orthosis to apply force to the medial aspect of the heel in order to put a supinatory torque across the subtalar joint access. Within the heel cup, we incorporate a medial heel skive. You probably cannot see it within this device here but this is essentially a medial wedge or a varus wedge added into the heel cup of the orthosis itself. In the arch of the orthosis, we have asked the lab to do a minimum cast fill, so that it would conform very tightly to the arch of the foot. When you have your patient back in your office to dispense orthosis you want to put that patient into a neutral casting position and make sure that the orthosis conforms tightly to the arch of the foot. In addition, we will often invert the orthosis a few degrees to further raise the arch and by raising the arch here we let the first ray plantarflexed more affectively. Finally, we are going to add a reverse Morton’s extension, so piece of Korex under the met heads two, three, four, and five that reverse Morton’s lets the first ray plantarflexed. So that is our pathology specific orthosis for hallux limitus.
 

WEBSITE DISCLAIMER
For website errors ONLY email webmaster at WEBMASTER
All pages on this website © 2005-2010
Douglas Hale, DPM & Lawrence Huppin, DPM
Foot and Ankle Center of Washington, Seattle
The material provided on this web site is for informative purposes only.
If you need specific medical advice, please contact the office for an appointment.