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Q: A friend has recently bought a pair of off-the-shelf insoles which promise instant relief from foot pain. These were considerably cheaper than Soletec’s bespoke comfort-orthotics - so what’s the difference?
A: Standardised insoles (i.e. one size fits all) are widely available and can relieve some foot conditions through the extra comfort and conditioning they provide. However, because no two people have the same shaped feet, such devices are unable to provide the exact support that only your feet require (after all, some people’s arches are too high, whereas many other people suffer from flat feet). Soletec’s personalised footbeds are cut to the exact contours of your feet and hence are precisely tailored to your needs.
Q: How do Soletec’s orthotics differ from those made from pressure or heat moulded silicon or EVA?
A: Any material that can be easily manipulated through the application of heat or pressure will have a tendency to revert back to its original shape when a consistent force is exerted upon it. Given the intense pressures underfoot, this means that many such devices quickly lose their functionality and cease to be of any real use. For this reason, the results obtained by such techniques are considered insufficient for medical or clinical use. Soletec’s devices, however, are carved from medical grade materials. This means that the devices have no “memory” of a previous shape and hence are able to retain their functionality for 5 or more years. In addition, because the Soletec system (as used by Foot Care Services) is the only system able to truly capture a 3D scan for both custom footwear and orthotics, the resulting inlays are unrivalled in their accuracy. It is for this reason that Soletec’s technology is now being developed for leading hospitals and clinics throughout the world (including the NHS).
Q: I have seen advertisements which claim to be able to create highly accurate orthotics through using an optical laser foot bed scanner (“accurate to 1/10,000th of an inch”). What is the difference between this and Soletec’s system?
A: It is impossible to get a 3D shape of a foot from a 2D optical scanner or a pressure-mat system, even though such systems often “display” the data in a format which might look 3D. Only the Soletec 3D scanning system (as used by Foot Care Services and TPSP) can truly capture a genuine 3D reading and hence our system is the only digitised system able to provide truly accurate devices. This view is endorsed by many leading independent clinicians and hospitals around the world.
Q: What’s the difference between a Customised Footbed and an Orthotic?
A: Our Customised Footbeds can be non-medical devices designed to relieve general foot discomfort, including aches and pains associated with most common foot complaints, such as falling arches, heel pain and poor posture leading to aches in the knees, hips or lower back. Carved to mirror the exact contours of your feet, these devices provide unrivalled comfort and support. Orthotics are similar to Customised Footbeds but have been altered by the clinician to provide corrective support to treat a particular medical condition. Its is this prescriptive input which turns a Customised Footbed into a medical Orthotic.
Q: What do customised insoles & orthotics do - and how do they work?
A: Orthotics – are medically prescribed custom-made Foot beds (insoles) that offer a prescriptive solution to an acute or long term ailment or dysfunction, by correcting the position of the foot into to a functional position without the pain.
Custom-made Foot beds – are accommodative Foot beds (insoles) that do not correct or control the natural function of the foot, but offer an improved pressure distribution and increased comfort and cushioning for all styles of footwear. Both work by supporting the underside of the foot for comfort or prescription.
Q: How long will it take for my Customised Footbeds/ Orthotics to work?
A: Not too long – some times immediate other times over a period of weeks. Very much depends on the condition and the dysfunction within the foot- we recommend that the patient breaks them in over a 2 week period..
Q: How long will my Customised insoles/ Orthotics last?
A: Our products are the highest quality devices available and are designed to retain their functionality for five or more years. As well as protecting and supporting your feet, they should also help to protect your shoes from uneven wear.
Q: Will the NHS/ PMI (Private Medical Insurance) pay?
A: Most PMI will cover the consultation but not the device, this is standard now across the UK, although things may change in this area as orthotics become more mainstream. In relation to the NHS the service is free of charge and the products produced through the Trust are also. However this does effect the quality of the device prescribed as most Trusts have limited budgets.
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