What are the possible “side effects” of orthotics?

Adverse effects of orthoses can include skin irritation and pain caused by pressure points where the orthosis material comes into contact with the skin. In this situation, the orthosis must be refitted or better padded. These complications associated with orthoses can also arise as the disease progresses, since muscle mass may decrease, thereby altering the orthosis’s fit.

In this case, you should contact the orthotics workshop to arrange for an orthotic fitting. A comprehensive fitting requires a new doctor’s prescription, which is usually arranged by the medical supply store through the doctor. A possible “side effect” of the orthosis may be a sensation that it is a foreign object. On the one hand, the orthosis can improve walking, but at the same time, it may alter the patient’s body awareness (e.g., due to the carbon material between the sole of the foot and the sole of the shoe). For some patients, this sensation of a foreign object requires a period of adjustment and “getting used” to the altered gait pattern. During this adaptation process, the physical therapist can provide support as part of regular physical therapy, in addition to the orthotics technician.