Introduction

You have been fitted with custom foot orthoses.
These are designed to distribute pressure evenly under your feet and reduce pressure points and risk of ulceration.
It is important to follow advice from your orthotist when wearing your devices.

Wearing in Your Orthotics

Day 1: Wear your new foot orthoses for one hour only.
Subsequent Days: Increase your wear by one hour per day.

It is important to slowly wear in your foot orthotics in to allow the skin underneath your feet to get used to the contact.
Furthermore, the foot orthotics are realigning your legs, so your muscles will need time to adjust to these changes.
It can take up to 4 weeks to properly wear in your foot orthotics.

General Care

It is important to check your feet following use of your custom foot orthosis. Check your feet for:

• Isolated areas of redness (areas that appear a deeper red that does not go away within 20 minutes)
• Blisters
• Sores

If you notice anything rubbing or of concern, immediately cease wearing your foot orthoses and contact your orthotist for a review. It is also recommended to contact your orthotist if you are unable to wear your foot orthoses all day after a 4-week wear in period.

Once broken in, it is expected you wear your shoes and foot orthotics all day to protect your feet.

Cleaning Your Orthoses

Ensure you inspect and clean your foot orthotics on a regular basis.

To clean your orthotics, use a damp cloth with mild soap to remove any dirt or debris. Let your foot orthotics air dry.

Do not submerge your foot orthotics in water, or put in the washing machine/dryer. Do not put direct heat on your foot orthoses.

Life Span

Your custom foot orthoses will eventually require replacing, and the expected life span is anywhere between 6 months to 2 years.

Signs that you may require a new pair of foot orthoses

• Sudden onset of discomfort after a period of wearing your orthotics comfortably
• Re occurrence of ulcerations that were previously healed or new ulcer sites
• Excessive wear pattern on your orthoses
• New areas of redness

Contact your orthotist to discuss if you need replacement of your orthotics.