Different "Ways of Casting" For Foot Orthotics

An orthotic foot lab such as NewGen Advanced Orthotics Lab out of Cordova, Tennessee has to always make sure to stay up to date with the newest ways of casting a foot for a podiatrist. Casting or Foot Impressions are basically ways of making a very accurate image of the patients foot, which in effect becomes basically like a blueprint for an orthotic device. Below are the different types of castings being offered as well as a little info of each. Each podiatrist uses different methods mostly based on which laboratory makes their orthotics for them. This article mostly used for education, but also to make podiatrists as well as labs in general think of which castings methods offer the best ideal for their patients.

1. Plaster Casting - Plaster Casting is basically the set standard since the 1960's in which a patient is seated in a medical office with a Dr. who takes the impression of the patients foot using a plaster paris cast. The wet cast eventually dries leaving the cast dry and accurate for the orthotic being made. Below is the step by step way plaster casting is done.



     2) Impression Foam - Impression Foam is a newer way of casting for orthotics than the plaster casting method. Many Podiatrists these days changed over from plaster casting to Impression Foam Boxes. The Impression Foam method is completed by the doctor placing the foot into the proper position inside the Impression Foam. The impression left after the patient steps out of the foam box is what is used to make a custom orthotic. The advantages over the plaster casting method? The Impression Foam Method is MUCH cleaner and does not use any wet materials. Impression Foam way of casting is also very accurate. Here is a picture of the Impression Casting Method.

 

    3) 3D Foot Scanner - The 3D Foot Scanner Model of Casting or Making Foot Impressions is the newest and also very popular way of casting for orthotics. The 3D foot scanner is basically what is says. A patient puts their foot onto the scanner and the scanner makes a 3D Image of the foot with very good accuracy. The image is then usually put onto the podiatrists computer where the "custom" orthotic can be made from the scanner's image of the foot. The 3D scanner is gaining fast in popularity and in usage around the world. The reason podiatrist's like the 3D Scanner way of casting orthotics is that it is Super Fast, Easy To Use, Uses No Materials to Send out to Labs, and the impressions can be sent instantly through the computer to a lab not using any shipping or turn around days. Below is a picture of the 3D Scanner way of casting for orthotics.