While getting treated for a calf injury, my ART doctor recommended Footlevelers orthodics. They supposedly last 2 years but run just under $400.00. I was wondering if anyone had heard of them and/or what kind of rep they had in the ST community…
Thanks,
RCT
I used them years ago. The company has been around awhile. The system they used then and I’ll guess now is that they took a mold of your feet and made orthotics from them. They had these molds you stepped in and then they were sent off to have the orthotics made. I now use a system called Footmaxx which is computerized. Have no idea if the newer high tech system is better, but it’s the gollygeewhiz factor.
They have now gone high tech evidently. You now step on a scanner and the computer takes an image of the physical characteristics (width, arch etc) and also records how the weight is distributed throughout the foot.
I just was wondering if : 1) Can any soft orthodic can really last 2+ years?
2) Can that kind of scan discern any useful information or is it a marketing gimmick ?
3) Is $400 really in line with what custom orthodics go for now?
Im honestly asking as I’ve never had them before.
I just ordered my second pair, the “Extreme XL” model.
So, I like 'em. I’m a flat footed mild pronator. For all I know the current set will/would do me fine for quite some time. My legs or feet were not screaming for new ones, I just figured it’s time. I’m not huge mileage, 25-45miles week, and weigh under 150. The old ones will be keepers, as backups and in my walking around shoes.
Got my first set just under 2 yrs ago. At that time it was a foot mold process, now they scan using a weight scale looking thing with a clear top - stand on it, scans one foot then the other. My new ones will be ready in a week.
It’s the only type used by the ortho/chiro/ART office I go to, for at least a couple years now.
Hope that helps some. Maybe do a forum search to get a better sense of overall ST opinion. I believe rroof is the foot guru here.
I guess you answered the question that they do indeed last two years.
I tried a search earlier and only got one hit on Footlevelers so I thought I’d ask.
Thanks for the reply.
Mine are about three years old. Still seem good. Depends on your weight and how much abuse they get. Footmaxx claims theirs last two years minimum. Probably the same with Footlevelers.
They are just an orthotic production lab - nothing more, nothing less. Much like when you go to your eye doctor for your glasses or dentist for dentures. He/she does not make them, their lab does. There are good labs and bad. I’ve been through 5 labs in my practice career so far for various reasons and currently use 2 (depending upon a more “sports” oriented patient or just a “regular” patient). Footlevers tend to cater more to chiropractors for whatever reason. Others to PTs, others to podiatrists, etc.
There are some labs that are clearly head and shoulders above the rest (like northwest or Langer labs since 1964 - www.nwpodiatric.com) and no I don’t use them. They literally perform studies, write papers for peer reviewed journals, etc. Other labs just make borderline semi-custom devices. The cost to the patient or “consumer” depending upon how one arrives is usually about the same (say from $250-500), but the lab fee to the physican or office varies greatly. NW labs is quite expensive, so few docs use them. Footlevelers or Footmax is very inexpensive to produce, and everything in between.
The real art to an orthotic is NOT where they come from, but why they are made or needed in the first place. Otherwise, there have been numerous studies showing the efficacy of OTC devices (like Powersteps, Superfeet, etc.) to be just as effective as “custom” for many patients with “typical” foot complaints and a normal foot/pathology.
Hope this helps some!
2) Can that kind of scan discern any useful information or is it a marketing gimmick ?
- Is $400 really in line with what custom orthodics go for now?
I’ve had several pairs of orthotics made over the years and almost every time the dr has used a different casting method.
~The first time I did the “step in a foam box” casting process.
~The second time I sat in a chair with my feet elevated and this fancy laser scanner scanned my feet.
~The third time I laid on my stomach while the podiatrist applied wet plaster strips while holding my foot in “the perfect anatomic position”.
~The fourth time I walked on a mat with fancy sensors in it.
I asked the fourth doc about the differences and his opinion was that the last three all do about the same job, and it’s mostly a matter of the doctor’s preference. I’ve heard hit and miss things about the foam “step in” molds. Most doctors I’ve spoken with contend that it is possible to get a good cast using that method, but it is more reliant on the person doing the casting than the laser or the mat. Wet plaster is pretty rare, from my understanding.
$400 is about what I’ve paid, although occasionally it’s cheaper. No idea what the difference between a $250 pair and a $400 pair is though. Insurance is usally good to $500, so I’ve never really cared. Maybe rroof will see this thread and give his expert opinion.
Snuck in while I was posting, I see. That’s what I get for trying to watch hockey while on ST!
Thanks for the info.
I know that alot of this depends on like you said, why they are needed in the first place.
I’ve used Superfeet for years and have really liked them. I have a high arch and wide foot so they help. Recently I had a pretty bad calf strain that wouldn’t seem to go away and minor heel pain after short runs. My ART chiro suggested the footlevelers to correct the condition that cause the strain.
I don’t know much about orthodics and 400.00 is alot of money so I figured I’d get the lowdown from you all.
I’m thinking that once my calf is healed I’ll try to go back to normal training w/Superfeet and if I’m not pain free, then I’ll probably drop the money for the Footlevelers.
Thanks Again,
RCT
We use footlevelers in our practice (chiro). I have been fitted for the foam fitted ones (in a PT office) but didn’t think they are designed very well for running. Footlevelers makes an athletic version that I have found very comfortable to run in.
Footlevelers also offers a money back guarantee so if you are not happy with them, they will make adjustments until you are happy or they will refund your money. Your Doctor may not offer that same policy but we pass that guarantee that along to our patients so its worth asking about.