Orthotic Break in and Care

Your orthotics have been fabricated specifically for you with top quality materials and workmanship. They are designed to correct and enhance your biomechanical functions. These changes should be allowed to come about at the rate your body is able to handle them; let your body adapt to your new orthotics by following these directions:

Break In

  1. Wear your orthotics one hour the first day; check your feet for redness and soreness.
  2. If your foot is sore or redness occurs, discontinue use and call us to make an appointment for a possible adjustment or advisement.
  3. If you are comfortable in the devices, continue to wear them until the point in time that you feel fatigue. Note the length of time you wore the orthotics, remove them, and rest your feet.
  4. Increase the wearing time of your orthotics by one hour per day thereafter.
  5. If you experience acute foot, leg or back discomfort, remove the orthotics. The following day, wear them again for one hour less than the previous day. Thereafter, increase your wearing time by thirty to sixty minutes per day, only if you are comfortable.
  6. Only when you have bene able to wear devices for several full days comfortably should you use the orthotics during sport activities or fitness exercises (no more than fifteen minutes the first day, then increase by five minutes on day two, etc.).

Break-in is usually complete within 45 days.

Care

  • Avoid leaving your orthotics in high heat situations such as being enclosed in a vehicle exposed to direct sunlight.
  • Prevent your pets from having access to your orthotics; they will enjoy chewing on them.
  • Prevent orthotics from being submersed in water, especially salt water.
  • The surfaces of your orthotics may be cleaned with a damp cloth and mild soap.
  • If orthotics become wet, remove orthotics from shoes and allow the shoes and orthotics to completely air dry (do not use a heat source like a hair dryer, heater or oven).
  • Always bring your orthotics when buying new shoes. You may need to purchase a larger width, size or depth to properly accept your orthotics.
  • Annual visits are advised to re-evaluate your orthotics, shoes and therapy.