Evolution of foot orthoses in sports

Abstract

Foot orthoses have been used for over 150 years by the medical profession for the treatment of various pathologies of the foot and lower extremity [1]. Starting from their simple origin as a leather, cork, and/or metallic in-shoe arch support, foot orthoses have gradually evolved into a complex assortment of in-shoe devices that may be fabricated from a multitude of synthetic and natural materials to accomplish the intended therapeutic goals for the injured patient. For the clinician that treats both athletic and non-athletic injuries of the foot and lower extremity, foot orthoses are an invaluable therapeutic tool in the treatment of many painful pathologies of the foot and lower extremity, in the prevention of new injuries in the foot and lower extremity, and in the optimization of the biomechanics of the individual during sports and other weightbearing activities. Because of their therapeutic effectiveness in the treatment of a wide range of painful mechanically based pathologies in the human locomotor apparatus, foot orthoses are often considered by many podiatrists, sports physicians, and foot-care specialists to be one of the most important treatment modalities for these conditions. © 2010 Springer-Verlag New York.