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The Diabetic Foot

It is typically easier to heal a diabetic foot ulcer than it is to prevent recurrence. Once you’ve healed the ulcer, the next challenge is to minimize pressure at the site of the old ulceration or the site of a boney prominence. If the patient has never had an ulcer but has a high risk for ulceration, then employing pressure off devices is essential for prevention.
Obviously, the large majority of diabetic foot ulcerations are preventable. There are several keys to prevention, which include organized treatment protocols, early detection, aggressive wound care, orthotics and appropriate shoes.

The Benefits Of Custom Orthotics

There are several goals of using custom-made orthotics for the diabetic patient. It is vital to recommend a custom device to help prevent ulceration. Orthotics will help improve ambulation by controlling pronation and minimizing stress on the muscles of the foot and leg. The more a diabetic patient can stay active with walking and exercise, there is less chance for the possibility of other diabetic complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and eye disease. This is a direct result of improved blood glucose control.
You may also use custom orthotics to treat foot ulcers. Although it is ideal to heal the ulcer first, it may not always be the best thing for the patient. Some patients must stay active and continue to walk in shoes, depending upon their job or general health conditions.
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Why do orthotics work in the diabetic population? Several studies have demonstrated that they decrease plantar pressures, reduce shear forces and shock, redistribute force and limit abnormal pronation.

Additional Information

Pedorthics - (ped-or'-thiks) is the design, manufacture, modification, and fit of footwear, including foot orthoses, to alleviate foot problems caused by disease, overuse, and/or congenital defect or injury. It's footwear, carefully fitted, to relieve or accommodate temporary or permanent foot problems. It can look so "mainstream" that others don't realize a foot problem exists. It costs less than a lot of people expect. and it can help people stay healthy.

The services of a pedorthist are often necessary to limit the effects of challenges from birth problems such as cerebral palsy, osteogenesis imperfecta, spina bifida, and malformation of the long bones. Fractures, orthopedic injuries, and spinal cord injuries are often helped by prescribed orthoses. Pedorthic treatment may also benefit those with problems caused by stroke, arthritis, diabetes, and various athletic injuries. Some common ailments treated with pedorthics include; plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, hammer toes, bunions, metatarsalgia and diabetic ulcers.