Good comments Kevin.
However, my issue with 'telling' clinicians anything is that due to the
variabilty of foot mechanics, there are no hard and fast rules, as I am
sure you will agree.
The comments made re. heel elevation etc, along with under cutting the
rear foot section of the device in an attempt to reduce plantar flexion
moments of the ankle at initial heel contact, ran in to difiiculties when
I asked this question 'What is the best orthosse to use?'

The ultimate goal of my research is to give as much clinically relevant
information as possible but I beleive that I need to have the optimum
orthoses from which to use as a starting point. E.g. patient weight v's
foot contact forces require high, medium or low density material
contruction to optimise the functional effect of the device, both short
and long term.
Once this optimum is achieved, then individual presciptions can be built
in to any research knowing that the orthoses are functioning at the ideal
for the individual.
Even though this is going to be my MSc dissetation, I am hoping that if
the protocols are good enough and the prescribing of the orthoses
materials formulaic enough, then the really interesting work can be done
on real at risk patients. (The company I work for want to prove their
products via credible research, so are looking to have independant studies
done.)

Phil

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