Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine, for a number of techniques used to obtain foot shape
based around plaster casting, foam box impressions, and 3-dimensional scanning,
(1) the effect the technique has on the overall reproducibility of custom foot
orthoses (FOs) in terms of inter- and intracaster reliability and (2) the
reproducibility of FO design by using computer-aided design (CAD) software in
terms of inter- and intra-CAD operator reliability for all these techniques.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University laboratory. PARTICIPANTS:
Convenience sample of individuals (N=22) with noncavus foot types. INTERVENTIONS:
Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Parameters of the FO design (length, width
at forefoot, width at rearfoot, and peak medial arch height), the forefoot to
rearfoot angle of the foot shape, and overall volume match between device
designs. RESULTS: For intra- and intercaster reliability of the different methods
of obtaining the foot shape, all methods fell below the reproducibility quality
threshold for the medial arch height of the device, and volume matching was <80%
for all methods. The more experienced CAD operator was able to achieve excellent
reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients >0.75) for all variables with
the exception of forefoot to rearfoot angle, with overall volume matches of >87%
of the devices. CONCLUSIONS: None of the techniques for obtaining foot shape met
all the criteria for excellent reproducibility, with the peak arch height being
particularly variable. Additional variability is added at the CAD stage of the FO
design process, although with adequate operator experience good to excellent
reproducibility may be achieved at this stage. Taking only basic linear or
angular measurement parameters from the device may fail to fully capture the
variability in FO design.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS