We write an orthotic prescription for each patient which tells the laboratory how we want the casts corrected. The casts are passed through a digital scanner - at this stage we make a correction to the forefoot of the casts. This is known as balancing the cast. Balancing is very important to orthotic function. At Northernhay Clinic we balance and scan our own casts. The digital image is then sent electronically to the Lab in Canada.

At the laboratory, a highly trained technician takes the scan and makes various corrections in accordance with our requested prescription which are then blended CAD/CAM to ensure that the therapeutic changes are correct to each individual patient's anatomy and mechanics.

Jonathan Palmer has spent time at our Laboratory in Canada and has a detailed knowledge of orthotic manufacture. Northernhay Clinic is amongst only a few practices in the UK to have an on site cast scanner so that we can control our own corrections, we are so passionate about maintaining control over manufacture that has lead to a reputation second to none.

The corrected digital image is transferred into the lab workshop. A corrected model of your foot orthoses is milled by a computerized mill. This corrected model is where the computerized process ends and the skill of the orthotic technician begins.

The technician removes the corrected orthotic models from the mill and forms materials according to our prescription. The materials are heated to a high temperature and then vacuum formed. Common orthotic materials we prescribe are

XT Sprint
Carbon Fibre
TL Silver
Omni Direct Mill

 

A Post is usually added to the rearfoot of the orthotic. The rearfoot post stabilises the orthotic shell and is often ground down to allow the orthotic device to subtly rock in the shoe to allow for normal foot movement when your heel strikes the ground.

The orthotic is covered in various materials and to various anatomical locations in accordance with our instructions.

You will see that the prescription of orthotics requires great skill and expertise both by the prescribing practitioner and the laboratory. The reason that we have made lab visits and have

part of the lab production equipment at our Clinic is for one reason.......

"Quality, function and smooth transition from practice to laboratory"