ABSTRACT
Non-surgical treatment of foot and ankle disorders using orthotics is well recognised. Whilst the presenting pathology determines the choice of orthosis, it is the patient's footwear that dictates the orthosis design and, ultimately, its effectiveness. It is important to understand the patient's use of footwear and the reasons behind their choice. If the deformity if fixed, it may be more suitable to take a custom footwear approach. Excessive mechanical loading of midfoot structures is thought to contribute to symptoms associated with midfoot arthritis. FFOs and footwear alterations are the commonly recommended non-surgical treatment options for hallux rigidus. First choice treatment option is to recommend the use of cushioned footwear in conjunction with stretching of the calf muscles to reduce pressure on the forefoot. The functional goal is to ensure appropriate loading through the medial column thereby reducing the damaging forces that aim to accelerate deformity.
