Biomechanical Testing of Foot Orthoses

Foot orthoses are mechanical devices that provide an external support to the skeletal structure of the foot. Although they have been widely used for more than a century, there has been little scientific research to verify their efficacy (Nigg, 1986). One of the basic components of a foot orthosis is a longitudinal arch support mechanism. Its primary function is to provide skeletal support to the foot’s arches during weight-bearing activities. Kogler et al., (1995) demonstrated that the effectiveness of the longitudinal arch support mechanism of a foot orthosis could be quantified through strain measurements in the plantar aponeurosis based on its physiological positioning for foot function. The purpose of this study were (1) to quantify plantar aponeurosis strain differences in cadaveric specimen limbs using various types of foot orthoses, and (2) to examine the design characteristics of the tested devices to determine which features contribute to skeletal support of the foot.