When a podiatrist speaks about the 1st ray, the 1st ray refers to the first metatarsal bone and the great toe. The 1st ray has a unique range of motion that requires plantarflexion of the first metatarsal to enable dorsiflexion...
What are the criteria for long term success of orthopedic implants and why is the Cartiva® Implant designed for failure? Compatibility between human tissue (bone, cartilage, ligament, tendon, and fascia) and orthopedic implants requires a number of criteria for success....
Levers, rockers and carbon graphite insoles Part 3 – Putting it all together In part 1 of this conversation I presented a common customer question: can I wear just one carbon fiber insole? I briefly discussed gait and how a...
What is a Morton's Extension? Thomas George Morton (1835-1903) was a clinical professor and surgeon at The Pennsylvania Hospital. He was an active surgeon during The Civil War and founding director of several hospitals in the Philadelphia area. As a...
What is Toe Spring? Toe spring is the term used to describe a shoe or foot insert that enables rolling off the forefoot. Let me create the visual – think clog, men’s wingtip shoes or MBT Shoes. Each of these...
Can hallux limitus be treated without surgery? In many cases it can, particularly if you know what stage of hallux limitus that you are currently in. It's best to check with your doctor and obtain a set of x-rays. Once you know waht stage you are, then you can pick the most appropriate orthotic for your needs.
How do you select the most appropriate dancer’s pads for your needs? This article explores the use of foam, felt and reusable gel dancer’s pads and guides you into how to use dancer’s pads.
Painful hallux limitus can be managed with the use of insoles, but an understanding of the staging of hallux limitus is important to understand which insole to use. This article discusses staging of hallux limitus and orthotic selection.
What's a Morton's extension? Learn how a Morton's extension is the key to what makes the Hallux Trainer, Molded turf Toe Plate and Flat Turf Toe Plates so effective in treating hallux limitus and hallux rigidus.
What's a mitten pad? Just another way to describe a dancer's pad. Proper use of a dancer's pad puts the callus or sore spot in the nook just above the thumb, between the thumb and fore finger.
What's the best orthotic for hallux limitus? There's a lot of choices. This article explores the different inserts and orthotics used to treat hallux limitus.
Can a spring plate be used to treat a bunion? In some cases, yes. This article explores the use of carbon fiber spring plates in the treatment of dorsal bunions.
When it comes to treating hallux limitus and hallux rigidus, I’ve been an implant guy for years. Implant arthroplasty (Mayo-Keller bunionectomy) is simply what I learned to use in my residency training 30 years ago. In cases of stage 4 hallux limitus (HL), I’ll opt for a great toe implant over a fusion any day. My logic is that it’s simple; what I would want to have? I wouldn't want a stiff toe. I’d like to maintain the natural range of motion of my great toe joint.
We recently got into a discussion at the shop about dancer's pad and placement on the foot. Which pad is the right pad and which is the left? How does the left fit on the right foot? How does a right treat a left? I see how folks can get confused.
One of the guys at work was holding a Vasyli-Dananberg Orthotic and gave me a smirk and said, What do you do with this? Opportunity was knocking at my door. We'll be talking this week at work about 1st ray mechanics and how the Vasyli-Dananberg Orthotic is used to treat hallux limitus.
Off-loading forefoot pads- The third and final category of off-loading forefoot pads are the pads that are used to target or treat a specific portion of the forefoot. By off-loading, we're referring to a pad that is placed adjacent to the area that is being treated.
The molded turf toe plate is a carbon fiber turf toe plate that has a moderate arch molded into the orthotic. This differs from the flat turf toe plate that has no arch. Both have a Morton's extension beneath the great toe to limit range of motion of the great toe joint. What's the pro's and con's of each? Let's take a peak.
Let's start the conversation with the flat carbon fiber turf toe plate. A turf toe plate is an oddly shaped insert that has an extension that protrudes beneath the great toe joint. This extension, called a Morton's extension, is designed to limit the range of motion of the great toe joint. Why would we want to limit the range of motion of the great to joint?
