Orthotics and the Footmaxx System
Orthotics are customized insoles worn in any type of shoe and they correct the way a patient walks. If a patient is walking incorrectly, their entire body can be out of alignment causing all types of problems including foot, ankle, leg, hip, and lower back pain. A 5-minute gait and pressure analysis test will tell you if you are a candidate for orthotics. Orthotics are covered by most insurance plans because insurance companies know the value of orthotic therapy in the prevention and treatment of many conditions that can lend to short-term or even long-term disability claims.
Why the Footmaxx System is Better
The Footmaxx System offers the only means by which to assess a patient's gait and fabricate a custom orthotic device using computerized, dynamic, weight-bearing data instead of a static, non-weight bearing mold of the shape of the foot. This is key to making truly efficacious orthotics because it's not the shape of the foot that causes the problem, it's how the foot functions while bearing weight.
When digitized patient scan data is received at the Footmaxx manufacturing facility, a detailed Gait Analysis and Pressure Report containing diagnostic information is generated. This report becomes part of the permanent patient file as well as supporting documentation for government and insurance claims.
Benefits For Patients
The traditional method of assessing patients takes approximately one hour and requires the clinician to take a plaster or foam block mold (a static mold ) of the shape of the patient's foot while the foot is static, non-weight bearing and held in it's exact subtalar neutral position. This is an unreliable modality because if the patient moves, or if the clinician isn't skilled in the "art" of taking a mold, the assessment will be inaccurate, and the resulting orthotics will be inaccurate. In fact, by their own admission, plaster labs receive molds that "are not perfect, 94% of the time." That means that 94% of the orthotics made from those molds "are not perfect." That translates to discomfort and inconvenience for the patient as they must return the orthotics to the clinician for adjustments.
One minor advancement in the manufacture of orthotics is the advent of computerized assessment. Although these systems offer a faster assessment, they are still making the orthotics from a static, non-weight bearing foot. See for yourself how some companies are using modern technology to make molds of the foot.
As you know, foot pain doesn't occur when your feet are not bearing your body weight; it occurs when you are standing, walking, or running. Therefore it makes more sense for orthotics to be made from a dynamic, weight bearing assessment.
The Footmaxx system offers a consistent and repeatable assessment that takes only moments and is based on science. Taking an accurate assessment with the Footmaxx system is not an "art." Because this scientific modality is so accurate and because it measures foot function, the orthotics produced are thinner, lighter, specific to each patient's biomechanical abnormality, and can be worn in everyday shoes.
Footmaxx orthotics are flat in the heel area because the correction is based on midtarsal joint function. This flat heel is what allows patients to wear Footmaxx orthotics in everyday footwear.
A Brief Overview of the Footmaxx System:
| Step One: The patient walks across the Footmaxx force plate which contains 960 capacitance points and is scanned by a computer 30 times per second allowing for 0.03 second interval analysis of each footstep. |
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| Step Two: The clinician reviews preliminary test results with the patient explaining the gait line and the 2D and 3D images. |
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| For more severe conditions, the clinician provides additional patient information concerning diagnosis or specifies additional posting instructions by using various exam screens in the Footmaxx software. | |
| Step Three: The clinician then sends the patient file to Footmaxx via modem requesting a Gait and Pressure Analysis Report, and prescriptions othotics. |
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| Step Four: At the lab, the patient's file is analyzed by the Footmaxx proprietary software, Metascan, from which a Gait and Pressure Analysis Report is generated and, if necessary, a prescription for orthotics is specified. |
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Step Five: The manufacturing process begins with a specification sheet generated by Metascan which is coupled with any additional instructions indicated by the medical practitioner. A semi-rigid orthotic module is instrinically posted which means that the angle and height of the arch of the orthotic module is formed and molded based on the prescription needed to correct the patient's abnormal biomehanics. Instrinic posting is the secret that makes Footmaxx orthotics thin and easy to wear in any type of shoe. |
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Step Six: When extrinsic posting is specified by a clinician (or Metascan), Footmaxx offers the same types of materials and modifications available from any podiatry lab. Extrinisic posting includes any additional materials that must be added to the orthotic module to help correct abnormal biomechanics. |
| The orthotic is finished with a topcover, a covering piece of material that absorbs perspiration or odor. Then it is smoothed and sanded so that it fits comfortably and easily in the patient's shoes. | |
| Step Seven: Within just days of receiving an orthotic order via modem, the customization process is complete and the orthotics are sent to the Quality Control Department where they are carefully checked against the Metascan prescription and the clinician's instructions. |
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| Step Eight: Once the orthotics are approved by quality control, they are shipped to the clinician via 2-day courier. Digital patient data is permanently stored at Footmaxx making patient progress easier to track; a feature that only Footmaxx can offer. |
