Foot Orthoses: Are We Prescribing with a Clear Clinical Objective?Discover The Keep Moving Guide to Clinical Decision-Making in Foot Orthosis Prescription: From Assessment to Prescription

Foot orthoses are widely used in the management of foot and lower-limb musculoskeletal conditions. However, an important question remains:

Are we prescribing foot orthoses based on sound clinical reasoning, or are we simply following traditional approaches associated with particular diagnoses?

Two patients may present with the same diagnosis but have very different symptoms, functional limitations, biomechanical characteristics, and treatment requirements.

This is why effective foot orthosis prescription requires more than identifying a foot type or selecting an arch support.

It requires a structured approach to assessment, clinical reasoning, treatment objectives, and prescription decisions.

These principles form the foundation of my book:

The Keep Moving Guide to Clinical Decision-Making in Foot Orthosis Prescription: From Assessment to Prescription

Now available on Amazon.

Why I Wrote This Book

Throughout my clinical experience as a podiatrist specialising in musculoskeletal conditions, biomechanics, and foot orthoses, I have recognised an important challenge in clinical practice.

Many practitioners are familiar with biomechanical assessments and orthotic devices, but translating assessment findings into an appropriate prescription is not always straightforward.

For example:

• When should we prescribe prefabricated rather than custom-made foot orthoses?

• How do we determine whether a patient requires additional rearfoot or forefoot control?

• What is the clinical justification for incorporating a medial heel skive, heel raise, or forefoot modification?

• How should footwear influence our orthotic prescription?

• How do we determine whether an orthotic intervention is achieving its intended clinical objective?

These questions deserve more than a standard prescription based on diagnosis alone.

The purpose of this book is to help clinicians connect assessment findings with meaningful, patient-specific treatment decisions.

Moving Beyond Diagnosis-Based Prescription

A diagnosis is an important starting point, but it does not automatically tell us which orthotic device to prescribe.

Consider two patients presenting with plantar heel pain.

Although both may receive the same diagnosis, their symptoms, activity levels, footwear, ankle mobility, and loading characteristics may differ considerably.

Should they automatically receive identical foot orthoses?

Not necessarily.

The more important questions are:

What mechanical or functional problem are we attempting to address, and how will our chosen intervention help achieve that objective?

This is the central message of The Keep Moving Guide.

The book encourages clinicians to think critically about the relationship between clinical findings, symptoms, functional limitations, and orthotic design.

What Will You Learn from This Book?

The book explores the clinical decision-making process involved in foot orthosis prescription, with an emphasis on translating assessment findings into practical treatment strategies.

Key areas include:

1. Clinical and Biomechanical Assessment

Understanding how relevant examination findings can inform treatment decisions, rather than relying on isolated measurements.

2. Establishing Clear Treatment Objectives

Identifying what the orthotic intervention is intended to achieve, whether that involves modifying loading, improving comfort, supporting function, or addressing a specific mechanical demand.

3. Foot Orthosis Prescription Variables

Exploring how different orthotic design features may be selected and modified according to the patient's presentation and clinical objectives.

4. Clinical Application to Foot and Ankle Pathologies

Applying structured clinical reasoning to common musculoskeletal presentations, including plantar heel pain, hallux-related disorders, and chronic ankle instability.

5. Evaluating Treatment Outcomes

Recognising that prescribing an orthosis is not the final stage of treatment. Patient response, comfort, function, and clinical outcomes should guide reassessment and any necessary adjustments.

Who Should Read This Book?

The Keep Moving Guide has been written for healthcare professionals who assess and manage foot and lower-limb musculoskeletal conditions, particularly:

• Podiatrists seeking to strengthen their clinical reasoning and orthotic prescription skills.

• Physiotherapists interested in understanding the role of foot orthoses within wider MSK management.

• Podiatry students and newly qualified practitioners looking to develop a structured approach to assessment and prescription.

• Experienced MSK clinicians who want to revisit established approaches and critically evaluate their treatment decisions.

Whether you are beginning your clinical career or have years of experience, the book encourages a fundamental principle:

Every orthotic prescription should have a clear clinical justification.

A Practical Guide, Not Just Another Biomechanics Textbook

Foot biomechanics can be complex, and the relationship between foot posture, movement, loading, and pain is not always straightforward.

My aim was not simply to produce another textbook describing foot anatomy or biomechanical theories.

Instead, I wanted to develop a practical clinical resource that helps practitioners answer three essential questions:

What have I identified during my assessment?

What am I trying to achieve with treatment?

Which orthotic prescription features are most appropriate, and why?

The book encourages evidence-informed practice, clinical judgement, and individualised treatment rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Importantly, foot orthoses should not be viewed as a universal solution. They are one treatment option within a broader management strategy that may include education, footwear advice, exercise therapy, and activity modification.

Strengthen Your Clinical Reasoning and Prescribe with Greater Confidence

Good clinical practice is not simply about knowing which orthotic modifications are available.

It is about understanding when to use them, why they may be appropriate, and how to evaluate their effectiveness.

If you regularly assess patients with foot and ankle pain, prescribe foot orthoses, or want to develop a more structured approach to biomechanical clinical decision-making, this book was written with you in mind.

Get Your Copy Today

The Keep Moving Guide to Clinical Decision-Making in Foot Orthosis Prescription: From Assessment to Prescription is now available on Amazon.

Whether you are a podiatrist, physiotherapist, student, or experienced MSK practitioner, I hope this book will become a valuable reference in your clinical practice.

Invest in your clinical knowledge. Strengthen your decision-making. Make every orthotic prescription count.

Find the book on Amazon:

The Keep Moving Guide to Clinical Decision-Making in Foot Orthosis Prescription: From Assessment to Prescription: Amazon.co.uk: Saleh, Abdulrhman: 9781066956609: Books