05/27/2025    Burton Katzen, DPM

Unlicensed Foot Specialists (Jeffrey Trantalis, DPM)

I graduated in 1971, so I was around at the onset
of so called “Root Therapy. Do you believe in it?”
taught by Dr. Harry Hlavac, expounding the
theories of Drs. Root, Sgarlato, etc. So, in my 52
years of practice, I have treated thousands of
patients with custom orthotics and the more
recently the much improved non-custom orthotics.
Like most members of our profession, I always
assumed custom orthotics would produce a much
better result, but unfortunately, in my area, I
often had to consider my treatment choice on the
patient’s willingness to pay and/or coverage. I
also must say that it would ruin my day when a
patient would come in and tell me they paid $1,200
for a pair of orthotics from The Good Feet store
when I had 2 or 3 patients the same day refuse
custom orthotics at half the price.

So the first question is, if our custom orthotics
are so much better, why are people getting good
results and why are the owners of these companies
making millions, and we’re not. The answer is
simple. They work! We have all seen this within
and out of our practice.

Another question is, with the results we have seen
all our patients get, do we even really need
custom orthotics for the high percentage of people
being treated with foot problems other than the
fact if we are totally honest, it is a good money
maker? It would be very interesting to do a study
of patients using both for various periods of time
and evaluate the difference.

Based on my experience, I would put money that the
difference is negligible or none at all. I have
had patients who even prefer the more comfortable
less rigid non-custom orthotics, and, by the way,
no back pain. Unfortunately, like the 3 year
mandatory surgical residency, this seems to be
just one more nail in the coffin of the profession
we all love.

Burton Katzen, DPM, West Palm Beach, FL

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