Elio’s Footwear Modifications Services
If you require footwear modifications, the in-house specialists at Elio’s are here to help. For over 50 years, Elio’s has been working with various medical professionals in Niagara as the premier choice for shoe modifications.
Footwear modifications at Elio’s have been proven to be an effective solution for numerous ailments, such as leg length discrepancies, bunions, hammer toes, diabetic ulcers, lower-limb pain and/or lower back pain.
Certified specialists and technicians at Elio’s provide a full range of footwear modifications to turn your pain into comfort. Footwear Modifications may be covered under most insurance and benefits. If you have any questions about a modification and/or foot condition, contact us for a consultation.
We do it all in Elio’s Lab
Flare
A flare modification broadens the base of support on the medial (inside) or lateral (outside) portion of the shoe to control pronation (rolling in) or supination (rolling out).Material is added to the sole of the shoe and is wider where it meets the ground.
Shoe Extension
A shoe extension accommodates leg length differences by adding material to the shoe of the shorter leg. The outsole of the shoe is cut off, the prescribed height of material is added to the midsole and the outsole is then reapplied. This can help alleviate back, hip, knee, and foot pain by equalizing the length of the legs.
Wedges
A wedge is used to direct weight away from the modified side. This can help reduce medial (inside) or lateral (outside) foot pain and/or shoe wear by controlling excessive pressure caused by pronation (rolling in) or supination (rolling out).
Charcot Modification
Charcot Modification involves splitting and widening the sole of the shoe, possible excavations inside the shoe and the addition of a rocker sole.
This modification is used to accommodate severe deformity and reduce pressure on the bottom of the foot.
Examples: Charcot foot, plantar bony prominences, plantar foot ulcers. Footwear modifications are made in-house in Elio’s lab.
Elio’s is able to provide patients with a variety of orthopedic shoe modifications for shoes purchased at Elio’s, or their own existing shoes. Call us at 905-227-4215 to schedule your appointment or request an appointment online.
Buttress
A buttress modification widens the base of the shoe and extends on to the upper of the shoe creating a “wall” to help support the foot.
This type of modification is ideal for people with extreme hypermobility or a deformity that cannot be controlled by an orthotic and shoe alone.
This helps to stabilize the foot and alleviate excess strain on the joints and ligaments of the foot.
S.A.C.H. Heel
Solid Ankle Cushion Heel, a soft compressible material wedge replaces a portion of the back of the heel base. SACH Heel modification reduces shock at heel strike and compensates for diminished ankle motion. (SACH is also referred to as Plantar flexion heel). Extra material added to the mid-sole or out-sole of one shoe to make it thicker than the other.
SACH also covers accommodation for structural leg length difference and occasionally functional leg length difference, scoliosis or pelvic imbalance following injury or surgery.
Rocker Sole
A rocker sole modification addresses range-of-motion (ROM) limitations of the ankle, offloads an area on the bottom of the foot and/or improves gait patterns.
This can reduce stress on stiff painful joints in the foot and ankle, reduce painful pressure on the bottom of the foot and reduce energy consumption. Material is added to the bottom of the shoe and rounded to a point at the heel and/or toe.
Thomas Heel Modification
The Thomas Heel Modification is an extension of the standard heel on the inside to add rear foot or mid-foot support medially, this type of modification provides added support for an excessively pronated foot. See the Canadian Certified Pedorthists at Elio’s for more information on footwear modifications that might apply for your situation.
Source for descriptions of footwear modifications: Pedorthic Association of Canada.