01/24/2024    Richard Stess, DPM

MI Podiatrist Discusses Excessive Pronation (Jeff Root)

I must take issue with my friend Jeff Root when he
states "the end product depends on the same
technology whether the doctor uses slipper casting
or in-office scanning" When my colleague and I
first developed the STS casting system it was
with the intent of providing a method and material
to simplify and make more efficient casting for
functional foot orthotics by maintaining the
standard of casting established by Merton Root,
DPM that relied on factors designed to mimic mid
stance foot positions by attempting to achieve STJ
"neutral position" and stabilizing the mid tarsal
joint".

I do not dispute that CAD/CAM is used by many labs
to scan casts or use scans provided by
practitioners. However, it has become very obvious
that practitioners often neglect accurate
positioning of the foot using techniques that were
developed by Drs. Root, Weed, Sgarlato, and Orien.
As a consequence, successful outcomes appear to be
diminishing and podiatric physicians appear to be
abandoning the utilization of biomechanical
understanding and dispensing orthotic devices as
part of a holistic approach to managing pedal
pathology.

I often cringe at the numerous published
advertisements by companies promoting scanners and
how they neglect to accurately depict the correct
positioning of the foot. The diminished inclusion
of comprehensive Biomechanical influence and
understanding into current podiatric educational
curriculum is astonishing and misguided. CAD/CAM
scans may be accurate but correct positioning of
the foot appears to be the major factor in
achieving optimal clinical outcomes. Even after
the many years since our biomechanical founders
developed the principals of correct foot
positioning they continue to be the basis for the
successful outcomes. I agree with Dr. Steinberg
comments that “Make slipper casts if you want to
stand out from those pretending to be foot
doctors.”

Richard Stess, DPM, President and Co-Founder, STS
Company

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