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In his research, Dr. Pryce studied 60 patients with flat feet. He
placed the foot in the corrected position in mid-stance, the position
that locks the midtarsal joint, and made a plaster cast. Images to the
left show that this position moves the ankle to the normal vertical
position and brings the forefoot off the ground.
Plaster molds made from the castings revealed that every foot
belonging to both sexes, long or short, wide or narrow, all looked
exactly the same. There was a constant occurring characteristic shape
that all people with flat feet share. Dr. Pryce realized that an insole
could be developed to keep the mid-foot in supination and compensate the
anatomic deficiency in the forefoot so that a flat footed person could
move through the gait cycle normally.
The Flat Foot® Insole is the only product in the world that correctly
compensates flat feet.
Basically, gait is divided into three phases, heel strike,
mid-stance, and toe-off. The foot is a dual-purpose organ. It must serve
first as a soft, supple organ of shock absorption, and then change into
a stiff organ to serve as a rigid lever to toe-off. These two functions
are diametrically opposite. When the heel strikes the ground, all feet,
whether they are flat or not, are pronated. The bottom of the foot is
slightly turned out and the ankle is slightly leaned in (as shown to the
right). During mid-stance, the mid-tarsal joint supinates and the foot
locks changing the foot from the soft supple form to the rigid form.
People with flat feet have a constantly recurring deformity in the
forefoot that does not allow the mid-foot and the forefoot to act
independently of each other. When the mid-foot supinates, the entire
medial border of the foot comes off the ground. The only way the person
with flat feet can perform the toe-off function is to unlock the
mid-tarsal joint and pronate the foot. This changes the foot back to the
soft, supple organ. It is an ineffective lever for toe-off.
There is a huge energy penalty, rated at 30% by gait lab testing.
The Flat Foot® Insole compensates the forefoot deformity, allowing
the foot to properly lock, saving necessary energy and making the foot
more efficient. Secondarily, by properly rotating the knee and hip, it
reduces the stresses caused in the higher joints by aligning the
vertical geometry as Nature intended. Unless an insole or orthotic
performs this vital function, it will not work.
The patented technology of the Flat Foot® Insole is the only insole
anywhere that performs this vital function. Dr. Pryce, after wearing
Flat Foot® Insoles in his own shoes for over eight years, firmly
believes that it relieves the stresses in the other joints in the leg.
He also believes that people that wear the insoles may eliminate the
possibility of having total joint surgery later in life.
Prior to Dr. Pryce's development of the Flat Foot® Insole, the only
option for patients with flat feet had been commercially available arch
supports that do not properly compensate the flat foot, cushion insoles,
expensive custom orthotics or surgery. People sought out many remedies
for their foot pains, none that properly compensated the flat foot.
Old Style Orthotic |
Objects Found in Shoe |
This is a new, exciting discovery for that segment of the population
that suffers with their feet. Dr. Peter Edwards, an Orthopedic Surgeon
in Columbus, Ohio, published an article in October 97 Biomechanics
Magazine. He postulated correctly that a pronated or flat foot
pre-stresses the Anterior Cruciate Ligament, making people with flat
feet more prone to a devastating Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury. He
suggested that people that play sports should have a pronation control
device in their shoe.
The FlatFoot® Insole is the answer. It is the only device that
correctly compensates a flat foot. Podiatrists, Orthopedic Surgeons,
Pedorthists, and Physical therapists have been taught for over 40 years
that the problem with flat feet lies in the hind foot. Dr. Pryce, with
his research, has defined a radically different, and anatomically
correct description of the deformity present in every flat foot.
Other Flat Foot Links:
Research
How It Works
Benefits
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The FlatFoot® Insole
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