Definition: Custom shoes come in two basic varieties:
- An off-the-shelf shoe that is customized with a chosen color, leather or other feature where the shoe last and sizing are standard.
- Shoes made from a laser scan or plaster mold of the wearer’s foot. A last (the form around which the shoe is built) is made from the mold and features added from there.
Pedorthists use both custom shoe types but the vast majority of custom shoes are those made from a mold and a last of the wearer’s foot. In some cases, the wearer’s feet are so different they must have custom shoes, or both feet are of a shape that cannot fit into off-the-shelf shoes. Examples of medical conditions where this occurs is Charcot-Marie Tooth disease, lymphedema, post-polio syndrome, Charcot foot, among many others.
Mold of foot made into shoe
Pair of shoes for feet that are very different
Benefits: There are instances when only custom made shoes will fit and allow a person to realize a normal gait or as close to normal as their condition allows. Since these shoes and the lasts are hand made, the costs run high, usually starting around $350 and up from there depending upon the type of leather and other features.
Text: Copyright 2010 Carole Romig Image: vme.net, otabo.com