About Your New Orthopedic Footwear

Orthopedic Footwear is custom designed to accommodate areas that cause excessive pressure such as hammertoes, bunions, and other foot abnormalities.  It can also be used to alleviate or stabilize chronic foot conditions, such as plan cavus (high arch) and plan planus (flatfoot).   

The following instructions were designed to help you properly clean, care for, and use your new orthopedic shoes.  Please read these instructions carefully and let your health care provider know if you have any questions.  Compliance with your health care providers’ instructions is essential for the effective use of this device.  Be sure to follow any special instructions given to you by your physician, orthotist, or pedorthist, in addition to those provided here.    

Wearing Instructions

Wear clean, preferably white, non-elastic stockings with your shoes.  White stockings are preferred because they make it easier to detect any discharge coming from your feet, which might indicate the presence of a sore.  Be sure to smooth out all wrinkles to reduce skin irritation.

Wear your shoes only for 1 to 2 hours the first day.  Gradually increase the wearing time during the first several days.  Increase the wear time by 1 to 2 hours daily until you’ve reached a full day of wearing your shoes.  The average break-in period for most shoes is 7 to 10 days.  

Care of Your Feet and Shoes

Wash your feet daily.

Potential Risks & Precautions

Check your skin every day for redness, blisters, discoloration, soreness, or swelling.  Call our office and discontinue use of your orthosis immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.  You may need to use a mirror to examine all of your feet (i.e. bottom, sides, etc.).

Be sure to attend any follow-up appointments scheduled by your orthotist.  Call our office if any unexpected problems occur.

For medical emergencies, call 911 or your local hospital.