Whats the difference?
Custom Molded Insoles (CMIs) are removable inserts made from soft, lite weight, shock absorbing material shaped to the bottoms of your feet,
and placed into your shoes to make your shoes more comfortable. The insoles in supermarkets and pharmacies are imitation CMIs made for
an average foot.
Orthotics are produced to alter the bone and joint positions inside your feet as you walk and run, as part of a medical treatment plan for a foot
disorder. A complete examination and diagnosis is necessary as the harder materials used can cause injury, so I require a prescription when
orthotics are requested.
When making CMIs I cut a piece of ethylene vinyl acetate ( EVA is the material in the midsole of your running shoes) and heat it in a toaster oven until it becomes moldable. Its placed on a cushion and covered with a heat insulating cloth. I then push your foot into the material and hold it there as the EVA cools. A vinyl or leather cover is applied, and the CMI is shaped on a grinding machine to fit in the shoes of your choice. EVA comes in different densities, thicknesses, and colors appropriate for fashion, leisure, work and athletic footwear.
When making orthotics I make a plaster casting of the bottom of each foot. The prescription usually calls for the major joints of inversion and eversion, the subtalar and midtarsal joints to be held in their neutral positions as the plaster sets. A positive model is created over which an orthotic shell is formed. Graphite composites are now in vogue, but traditional leather laminates still give excellent results, and do not crack. The shell is positioned in the shoe, or posted, with a bottom layer of acrylic, rubber, or cork. Return to Home Page