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Sole Patrol

Q and A with Leslie Trotter, Pedorthist

What advice would you give to someone who thinks they might need an orthotic?

If people have muscular pain of a lower leg and think that they might need an orthotic, they should probably consult with a foot care professional. Find out who in the community is considered a foot care professional for your area of concern.

A person could be a diabetic. There are people who are specializing in diabetic care. A person could be an athlete. There are foot care professionals who deal specifically with athletes. They should be trying to see the professional specific to their concern.

What are the names of the professionals that they should see?

If you’re talking about someone who fabricates orthoses you’d be looking at an orthotist who specializes in the foot or a pedorthist who is specifically trained in foot care. Podiatrists and chiropodists also deal with orthotic devices and they also deal with soft tissue problems of the foot like corns, calluses that sort of thing.

These people are trained for many thousands of hours past just the general science degrees that all health care professionals have and it’s specific to the function of a foot.

What else? How do you know if you’ve got the real thing?

The insurance companies are looking for a prescription from the family doctor, so I would start with that. Some are also looking for a three-dimensional cast of the person’s foot. Check with your insurance company to find out what you’re covered for.

What if a professional recommends orthotics for every member of your family?

Get a second opinion. It never hurts to get a second opinion.

Can you count on your insurance company to pay for these devices?

Insurance companies are getting much more restrictive about who is allowed to prescribe and who is allowed to dispense orthotics, so you should call their insurance company and ask "who is allowed to sell me this product?" because some people are being excluded from the policy wording and patients will be stuck with the bill.

And also: Foot specialists often have equipment on site to adjust orthotics once produced in labs. This could ensure that your orthotic is a custom-made to your feet as possible.

Posted on February 20, 2008
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