Frequently Asked Questions about Silicone Dynamic Orthotics
1- What's the difference between the SDO and traditional
orthotics?
2- How does the SDO work, and how can it provide
arch support if it's so soft?
3- I have heel pain. My doctor calls it "plantar
fasciitis". What is it and why do I have it.?
4- What's the difference between the SDO and
the gel-filled orthotics you can buy in the store?
5- How can you prescribe orthotics for me without
seeing me or my feet?
6- What happens if the prescription isn't right?
7- What if I'm not satisfied?
8- Is the SDO only for foot pain?
9- It sounds like you'd recommend the SDO for
everybody.
10- I have bunions and hammertoes, can your
SDOs make them go away?
11- I am a female attorney and wear dress
shoes to court, will the SDOs fit?
12- Can I use SDOs for basketball, rollerblading,
or tennis?
13- Do I need to wear my SDOs all the time?
14- How fast will my pain go away.
15- Does that mean I have to get a new pair
of SDOs every so often?
16- I run marathons and presently have no
pain (although I've had some problems in the past). Should I consider wearing
an orthotic anyway?
17- I'm a triathlete, can I wear SDOs in my
cycling shoes?
18- Are you an athlete, Dr. Kiper?
19- Do you wear SDOs, Dr. Kiper?
20- Do you have an office, Dr. Kiper?
1- What's the difference between the SDO and traditional
orthotics?
The SDO uses fluid silicone to guide the foot into its best position
on the ground naturally. A traditional orthotic confines the foot to a
pre-set position and tries to control the foot through the
footstep. The SDO is the only orthotic in the world that
moves with the motion of the arch and cushions the end of the motion where
the foot gets ready to move off. A traditional support stops the motion
abruptly, which makes it impossible for most people to tolerate beyond
the first 2-4 months.
2- How does the SDO work, and how can it provide
arch support if it's so soft?
The SDO works on a 2500 year old principle of physics, "fluid moves
to the area of least resistance and greatest need"--Archimedes. The foot
has high and low pressure areas as it stands and walks on the ground (or
in a shoe). The areas of high pressure simply push the fluid to areas of
low pressure and equalize the distribution naturally ( you can see this
here).
3- I have heel pain. My doctor calls it "plantar
fasciitis". What is it and why do I have it.?
Heel pain is the #1 most common foot problem in the world. It comes
from repetitive "overstretching" of the plantar fascia (a band of tough
tissue like tendon) which is due to the arch collapsing too far to the
ground (called overpronation) with each foot step. It has been accumulating
over your lifetime, just like the wear and tear of a machine that is finally
starting to break down. For more information, look here.
4- What's the difference between the SDO and the
gel-filled orthotics you can buy in the store?
The SDO is a prescription. This means it is more precise than one that
fits anyone wearing the same size shoe. It is this precision fit
that makes this orthotic work for the poor alignment characteristics of
your feet which create everything from foot pain to knee, hip and low back
pain. The SDO is fitted from an impression mold which gives not only the
size of of your foot but most importantly the position of your foot. It
is easy to do at home and then send back.
5- How can you prescribe orthotics for me without
seeing me or my feet?
Technology and experience. Capturing the optimal position of your feet
to the ground is all I need to correct your poor alignment which is what
is affecting your feet, knees, hips and low back.
6- What happens if the prescription isn't right?
By asking you to take a walk and answer some questions I can determine whether we need to adjust the fluid
level up or down and we'll make you a new prescription (adjustment)
at no charge, we allow up to 3 adjustments within 90 days to get it right.
7- What if I'm not satisfied?
You have up to 6 months to return the orthotics for a full refund less the
$20.00 S&H.
8- Is the SDO only for foot pain?
Definitely not. It corrects the naturally poor alignment of all
feet which, over time, affects, ankles, knees, hips and low back.
9- It sounds like you'd recommend the SDO for everybody.
Actually, that's true. Most people are in pain when they contact me.
My issue is prevention. If I could make everyone wear the SDO from about
the age of 10 years and up I could prevent a lot of common foot and lower extremity problems like knee, hip, and low back pain,
that take a long time to show up over a lifetime. SDOs are preventative,
like brushing and flossing your teeth. I would rather prevent the
problem rather than neglect myself until I have pain and then go fix it.
10- I have bunions and hammertoes, can your SDOs
make them go away?
No, what's there is there, but by wearing something to correct the alignment
of your feet we can "slow down" the further growth. Most bunions
are not painful, but if yours are, then correcting the alignment first
still makes sense as that may take away the pain by taking away the torque
in the joints putting strain and pressure there. If you eventually decide
to have surgery to realign the joint, you can even wear the SDO in your
post operative shoe to prevent the deforming forces which created it in
the first place.
11- I am a female attorney and wear dress shoes
to court, will the SDOs fit?
The SDOs will fit in dress shoes up to 1.5" heel. Beyond that they will
fit in flats, open back sandals (with some double-sided carpet tape), slippers,
sport shoes and even in your socks. Back in your office you can transfer
to a more comfortable shoe to get around there.
The SDOs will not fit in the following:
High heels greater than 1.5"
Western style (cowboy) boots
Birkenstock sandals
Espadrilles
12- Can I use SDOs for basketball, rollerblading,
or tennis?
No, the SDOs are for standing, walking and running. For activities
with side to side motion you need something a little more stable. I can
send you a soft plastic orthotic which can be heat molded right in your
shoe and you can transfer them for other lateral motion sports.
13- Do I need to wear my SDOs all the time?
Actually you should. You want to be aligned all the time. It's like having a
switch in your car to turn the alignment of your wheels "off', when would it be
appropriate to do so (hopefully you said "never"). You should
even wear them around the house.
14- How fast will my pain go away.
This is the most difficult question to answer. There are so many factors
like your age, duration of existing pain, your personal physical condition
etc. Most people will experience a positive improvement in symptoms
in as little as two weeks to four weeks. Most tell me they feel 30-60%
improvement in that time. It is necessary to understand that foot orthotics
do not work like eye orthotics (glasses), it's not an instantaneous fix.
It took a lifetime to get there, it could take 1-2 years to generate the
maximum benefit of the first prescription.
15- Does that mean I have to get a new pair of SDOs
every so often?
About 75-85% of the people will go through changes in foot flexibility
over the first two years. This means that the optimal position of your
feet to the ground changes (for the better). It is recommended that you
change that prescription to better hold your new position and further slow
down a certain amount of wear and tear that you are still going through.
You can then put your old prescription in your slippers or something you
wear around the house so that you don't have to switch them. You can continue
to gain flexibility over the next 3-8 years. By then you won't change any
more. This is one of the advantages of the SDO over traditional supports,
the fluid action allows the most changes in flexibility to occur, while
a traditional support can only improve so much due to the fixed position
of the orthotic.
16- I run marathons and presently have no pain (although
I've had some problems in the past). Should I consider wearing an orthotic
anyway?
Prevention is the issue, not pain. By correcting your alignment you
make your entire musculo-skeletal system more efficient. You can train
harder and longer with less risk of injuring yourself possibly getting
faster and not worrying about planning peaking for an upcomming event.
Many athletes peak and by that time often wind up injuring themselves before
or shortly thereafter.
17- I'm a triathlete, can I wear SDOs in my cycling
shoes?
While I don't recommend them for cycling, about 50% of my triathletes
do. I prefer something a little more stable.
18- Are you an athlete, Dr. Kiper?
I've been athletic my whole life and competed in everything from 5K
runs to swimming competition in school. At the age of 59, I still swim,
cycle and practice karate. Because of my athletic background I'm familiar
with the mechanics of sports and its individual motions.
19- Do you wear SDOs, Dr. Kiper?
Yes, everyday since 1989, when I started to work with them.
I am my own best patient and practice what I preach.
20- Do you have an office, Dr. Kiper?
Not anymore, I have patients worldwide, all done through the mail.
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