Financial District Foot & Ankle Center has been helping patients gain better mobility and performance since 1990. Custom Functional Foot Orthotics have been an integral part of the treatment we offer our patients. Custom orthotics help to align and support the foot and have been indicated for a range of diagnoses.

Biomechanics
FDFAC has been a leader in understanding subtle variances of the lower extremities and its impact on mobility and performance. FDFAC utilizes cutting edge technology to enable a full understanding of how your body works during normal walking and running. From your physiology to choice of shoes, FDFAC has the ability to assess your unique condition and offer a treatment plan to ensure optimal outcomes.

FDFAC Orthotic Treatment
Many practitioners don’t do a complete workup prior to fabricating an orthotic. At FDFAC, we believe that the best orthotic in the world won’t be as effective as it could be without a comprehensive analysis of your lower extremity function, including joint alignment and your walking and/or running gait patterns.

Once the biomechanical analysis is complete, FDFAC utilizes this information to customize an orthotic prescription based on your specific biomechanical alignment needs.

FDFAC uses two fabrication labs that specialize in specific device types. Each lab's method of capturing a repeatable digital image is similar; the difference is in how the file is made and the construction of the end product.

Plaster Casting
Reproduces a mold of the foot that is then digitized to mill a positive mold. From this mold either a Polypropylene or Graphite device is shaped to conform to the mold.

Direct Scanning
Utilizing a digitizer to produce a scanned image of the foot which is then electronically sent to the lab for direct milling of the device from EVA or polypropylene.

It takes about three weeks from the time of your orthotic visit to having these custom devices ready to be fitted. Rush orders are available for a nominal fee and will have your orthotics ready in one week.

Orthotic Devices
FDFAC prescribes three different types of Orthotics for various needs:

• Polypropylene and Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA) - Semi-rigid devices for use in sport and casual shoes.
• Graphite - Rigid carbon graphite shell for use in dress shoes.

Semi-rigid and EVA Orthotics
Designed to control motion in two major foot joints (subtalar and midtarsal), which lie directly below the ankle joint. These devices are long lasting, do not change shape, and are usually difficult to break. Strains, aches, and pains in the legs, thighs, and lower back may be due to abnormal function of the foot, or a slight difference in the length of the legs. In such cases, orthotics may improve or eliminate these symptoms, which may seem only remotely connected to foot function. Each device that FDFAC produces will last for years and can usually be refurbished at minimal cost.

Graphite Orthotics
Designed for shoes where a lower profile is desired such as cycling shoes and women’s heels. Since elimination of painful symptoms in many cases is improved with the wearing of orthotics, the more shoes you are able to wear your orthotics in, the better. Many patients have one pair of orthotics for everyday shoes, one pair of orthotics for dress shoes and one pair of orthotics for sport specific shoes. FDFAC maintains both the raw foot image and the corrected foot image on computer disc indefinitely, so at any time you want additional pairs of orthotics, all you need to do is show us your shoes.

Orthotics & Children
FDFAC offers a prefabricated Orthotic for children that are modified in our clinic. These cost effective alternatives provide excellent support to a child's foot as they grow and can last years.

Clinic Hours
Monday through Thursday
8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Closed for lunch from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm