Orthosis for barefoot walking

Most lower limb orthoses cannot be used without footwear. Occasionally, barefoot walking by patients fitted with orthoses may be necessary due to economic circumstances, to satisfy the dictates of religion, or for other reasons, such as the discomfort of conventional footwear in hot and humid climates. Invariably a boot or shoe is the foundation for an orthosis, with a stirrup riveted directly to the sole of the shoe under the anterior section of the heel. If the shoe with the stirrup is detached from the orthosis, the biomechanical function of the brace ankle joint is lost and relative movement between the brace and body takes place. Hence if a patient fitted with a lower limb orthosis desires to walk barefooted, certain modifications are necessary in the ankle-foot section of the orthosis. In the system described below the sole of the foot on the orthotic side is bare under the heel and forefoot with a support only under the arch. This ensures a level pelvis in barefoot standing.