When we make customised footwear, great care is taken to make the fit as perfect as possible, optimising support and correction and making the overall look as normal as possible. To do this a thorough assessment is made of your feet looking at the range of movement of all joints, the alignment in standing and walking and the pressure distribution through the soles of the feet. Next we will discuss what is the best heel height for you and the toe position. Then the feet are cast usually under vacuum, positioning the feet on a frame with the agreed heel height and toe "spring". This cast is then 3D scanned and sent to the manufacturer.
The next stage is to make a wooden last based on the cast and all the findings. Over this a supportive insole is made, which may extend up the sides to the ankle bones. Transparent plastic test boots or shoes are then made over this, complete with the sole.
The plastic check shoes/boots and insoles are then tried out in clinic and they are adjusted until the fit is as perfect as can be. The last is adjusted in the same way to match. After this, to ensure the best fit and cosmesis, test footwear are made which are trialled at home. Any further modifications are then applied to the lasts. The outside cosmesis, supportive stiffening and the profile of the sole are also fine tuned at this stage.
Once the patient and orthotist are totally satisfied, the final design, colour and fastening are decided. This can be great fun - you can choose a style from our catalogues or bring in a photo of something you would like. You can have it embellished with diamante or ribbons or whatever you like! When you have fully customised footwear, you have a choice of many colours and types of leathers, many designs and different fastening options. A new, very popular fastening is "BOA" which allows footwear to be closed with one hand and gives a superior firm fastening.
Following the final supply, there are 6 weeks free of charge for any further modifications needed.
Great care will be taken to make sure that the footwear is suitable for you in terms of fitting your individual feet, providing stability and correct alignment and making them as cosmetically pleasing and as normal looking as possible. Your views will be listened to throughout the process and we will keep going until you are totally satisfied. Your individual lasts will be stored so that further pairs can be made for you.
You can also have made from these lasts sandals, waterproof bath/swimming shoes, wellington boots, slippers, fur lined boots etc.
As an independent company, Hampshire Orthotics Ltd works with many orthopaedic shoe manufacturers from the UK and all over the world. These include:
ZSM https://zsmorthopedics.com/
Ortopedijos Footwear - Ortopedijos Technika
Neskrid Neskrid - Werkschoenen, Veiligheidsschoenen en Orthopedie
Orthobaltic https://www.orthobaltic.eu
Reed Medical
Kenward Orthopaedic
De Novo and Nimco
Piedro
Bolton Brothers
FitzKidz
Example showing "blue print", last and cradle insole, boot with "BOA" fastening. The last was made from a cast of the patient's feet and a transparent check boot was used before the final boot fitting
