Clinical methods for predicting the effectiveness of functional foot orthoses

The author has proposed a method of evaluation for predicting the effectiveness of functional foot orthoses to significantly alter foot motion of the excessively pronating or pronated foot during gait. This is not a method to determine when symptomatic relief will occur because pain secondary to poor foot mechanics usually is relieved prior to obvious gait alterations. An accurate prognosis based on structural geometry and intrinsic stability is important when deciding between surgery and purely mechanical therapy to alter foot mechanics.