Shoe Customization

Shoe customization is the modification and adjustment of shoes so that they best match your feet.

In some cases we will adjust your shoes to provide a better fit. Shoe customization is the modification and adjustment of shoes so that they best match your feet. The process might involve stretching over a bunion, or placing a pad so that your heel is more secure. In some cases it might even mean putting a different type of sole on your shoe at the request of your foot doctor. Shoe Customization takes the fitting of shoes to a higher level in order to provide your feet with the best fit they have ever had. The following is a list of shoe modifications offered by SHOES-n-FEET^®.

Heel Wedge*

a cork insert that can be moved from shoe to shoe

¼” or ¼” wedge: used to compensate for minor limb length discrepancies, relief for plantar fasciitis and achilles tendonitis

¼” lateral wedge (eversion of heel): used to increase valgus control, medical knee degenerative joint disorder (DJD)

¼” medial wedge (inversion of heel): used to increase varus control, chronic plantar fasciitis, posterior tibial (PT) tendonitis/dysfunction, lateral knee DJD

Shoe Lift*

material matched to the shoe and added to the sole

full length or heel lift: used to compensate for congenital, development, or surgical limb length discrepancies

Rocker Sole

material matched to the shoe and added to sole

forefoot rocker sole: used to relieve metatarsal pain, limit metatarsophalangeal (MTP) motion, load weight-bearing area of foot proximal to met heads in cases of metatarsalgia, capsulitis, hallux limitus, and intractable plantar keratosis (IPK)

full length/heel-to-toe rocker sole: used to dissipate floor reaction at heel strike, replace lost motion at ankle, limit midfoot motion, reduce pressure on metatarsals, and increase propulsion at toe off ; can be used in cases of severe hallux rigidus, severe IPK with metatarsalgia and/or capsulitis, ankle fusion, forefoot ulcerations, or charcot

Flange*

a build-up of material on the upper, extending down the sole of the shoe

medial flange: used to keep the foot on top of the shoe in cases of PT dysfunction and charcot

lateral flange: used to keep the foot on top of the shoe in cases of extreme supination resulting in excessive lateral wear

Flare*

an extension of the sole of the shoe outward

medial flare: used to improve medial stability in cases of extreme over pronation, PT tendonitis, or charcot

lateral flare: used to improve lateral stability in cases of lateral ankle instability or extreme lateral wear on shoe

Graphite Plate

full-length graphite plate insert

full-length graphite plate: used to stiffen the shoe and limit the range of motion of the ankle and dorsiflexion of the forefoot; used in severe cases such as fused ankles; generally most comfortable with an arch support and rocker sole

Stretching

width or depth of shoe upper may be stretched to relieve pressure in localized areas; length cannot be stretched

wide or high volume forefoot: toe box stretch to increase room across the ball of the foot

hammertoes: localized depth stretch

bunion: stretch at the first metatarsalphalangeal joint (MPJ)

haglund’s deformity: localized stretch to create a small pocket for bump on heel

tailors bunion: stretch at the fifth MPJ

5th digit: stretch at the location of the small toe

Insole Repair

top cover repair on custom orthotics or over-the-counter arch supports with no additional support components on forefoot

full or ¾ length top cover: Spenco/Vinyl/Neoprene

Please Note: SHOES-n-FEET carries a variety of OTC arch supports. We do not make custom orthotics.

Resoling

replacement of the sole of the shoe

heel or full-length replacement: rubber and crape soled shoes (not all shoes can be resoled with exact sole and/or traction pattern); some of the vendors at SHOES-n-FEET have their own resoling programs

* a prescription specifying measurement is necessary