Orthopaedic footwear

Orthopaedic footwear

Steven Hale

4/29/2000

Recently, I have been requested to provide an insurance company
information on orthopaedic footwear for a client/patient. They asked for
the characteristics of orthopaedic shoes. They were referring primarily
to off-the-shelf designs, because in their brochure they stated they
covered orthopaedic footwear and custom made orthopaedic footwear.

What are the characteristics of an orthopaedic footwear? In fact, how
does one differentiate orthopaedic footwear from walking shoes or
running shoes or dress shoes? Does anyone have information what
differentiates a walking shoe from a running shoe? With the introduction
of the shoes with neoprene or spandex or other stretchable uppers come
under the umbrella term orthopaedic footwear? For orthopaedic footwear,
are ther materials controls for the uppers, the sole material, the inner
lining?

I appreciated any information and I will try to post the responses after
I have received the information.

Thanks,
Steven Hale, M.Sc.,C.O.(C)