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Written by Jeanine Clancy, MEd, BSN, RN
An orthotic is a wearable device that improves biomechanical function, joint alignment, and limb protection. Many of the orthotics on the market are for lower limb and foot health because improper alignment and other foot-related issues can cause significant problems.
There is a consensus that most people could benefit from some podiatric orthotic. For example, standing for more than five hours per day might cause plantar fasciitis and can be a good indicator that you might need an orthotic device. Other reasons for needing an orthotic include arch support issues, flat feet or high arches, daily foot pain, or recovery from a lower limb injury.
Other than fasciitis, common issues addressed by orthotics include tendinitis affecting the ankle, bunions, and generalized knee pain. Again, talking to your orthopedist, occupational therapist, or podiatrist can give you a good idea of where to start depending on your symptoms.
Orthosis are designed to stabilize, protect, or realign a joint. Some examples of orthosis are:
Orthotic tools are devices designed to provide support, comfort, and relief to people with various issues. There are dozens of different brands of over-the-counter orthotics on the market, each with its unique designs and features. We have highlighted significant brands on the market.
 | Budin Toe Positioning Splints for Hammer Toes View Product |
United Ortho, formerly United Surgical, has been a significant player in home recovery orthotics since the late 1970s. With more than 40 years of experience, United has been able to adapt with the many changes to the healthcare landscape. The only thing that hasn't changed, according to United Ortho, is their dedication to their customers.
They specialize in braces for any part of the body. “Find your brace” is one of the brand's main calls to action. Products categories fall into three functions: immobilization, rehabilitation, and compression. Proper immobilization reduces pain, swelling, and muscle spasms in the case of injury and allows for a faster recovery. Some options include sturdy boots, inflexible knee braces, and slings. The rehabilitation category involves less restrictive splints and braces that can aid in healing. Finally, United Ortho offers compression sleeves to treat sprains and strains for various body parts. So for virtually any home health recovery orthotic need, United Ortho has an offering.
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Bauerfeind is a well-known provider of high-end sports orthotics that has also branched into the at-home orthotics market. This German company has over 80 years of expertise in orthopedics, sports medicine, rehabilitation, and compression therapy. If it is any indication of the quality of their products, Bauerfeind has been a regular presence at the Olympics and Paralympics for 20 years, providing braces and bandages for athletes who are competing in the games.
By taking their science-driven and revolutionary approach to designing orthotics for top-performing athletes and applying it to orthotics for everyday medical use, Bauerfeind has created top-of-the-line recovery options available to anyone. One big draw for Bauerfeind's orthotic designs is their use of a proprietary knit material. This material ensures an anatomical fit for their slings and braces-- one that is also breathable and fully supportive.
Finally, regular folks can benefit from the same advanced supports, splints, and braces used by elite-level athletes worldwide.
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Performance Health's purpose statement as a company is to "help people feel good, perform better, and live their best." They are a global manufacturer of consumer healthcare products based in Illinois, specializing in rehabilitation and sports medicine. Some of the brands they are behind are well-known and market-leading in the rehab space, names like Cramer, Sammons Preston, and Rolyan, which can be found in over 100 countries worldwide.
Among Performance Health's selection of products are not only orthotics and braces but also diagnostic tools, adaptive furniture, mobility aids, topicals and bandages, and much more. So while Performance is not specifically a dedicated orthotics brand, sub-brands like Cramer are well-known leaders in the sports medicine industry. Interestingly, Cramer itself has several sub-brands such as Active Ankle Systems, Stromgren Athletics, and Cosom, all of which are sports medicine adjacent.
In some ways, Performance Health's multi-faceted approach to general recovery benefits their orthotics lines-- being able to supply ancillary support products makes Performance a total-package solution.
 | Anklizer II Low Profile Walking Boot View Product |
Bird & Cronin is another well-known brand specializing in orthopedic soft goods. Orthopedic' soft goods' include ankle braces, knee braces, and back and neck supports. What started in the 1970s as a regional home health company and distribution network in Minnesota has become a designer and manufacturer of high-quality orthotics sold worldwide. In 2017, Bird & Cronin was purchased by Dynatronics, a large publicly traded healthcare conglomerate that also owns Hausmann Industries and Theratech Inc. This acquisition gives Bird & Cronin even greater visibility and the resources to meet the growing needs of its customer base.
Bird & Cronin's mission is to be aware, informed, and responsive to the healthcare environment. Their longevity is a good indicator that they take their mission seriously. Their fixed ankle support boots are pervasive, and they also offer a full range of general foot orthotics. See the profiled Ankilizer II walking boot profiled below for an idea of their available product line.
In the world of orthotics, lower extremity devices get a lot of attention. But, of course, similar to the foot, the human hand is a complicated biomechanical system that can be prone to a whole host of orthopedic issues. Comfy Splints, also known as Lenjoy Medical Engineering, is a company primarily focused on hand and wrist splints.
Comfy Splints was founded in 1992 and are still owned and operated by an occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience treating patients. The splints designed by Lenjoy are all unique and made to maximize patient comfort during the recovery process. In addition, they use high-quality moisture-wicking fabric to ensure an odor-free and hygienic fit for all of their splints.
Something that sets Comfy Splints apart is their extensive range of splints for just about any injury or condition. They have a specific splint or brace for almost any clinical indication and can even offer custom alterations at the manufacturer level.
"Support for a better life" is the rallying cry for orthotics manufacturer Allard USA. Allard knows a thing or two about support. They created and manufactured the world's first carbon composite AFO back in 1997, and the rest is history. The company works closely with orthopedic and prosthetic doctors throughout north and south America to provide cutting-edge orthotic resources. Allard USA is just one subsidiary of the overall Allard corporation based in Sweden. The United States market launched in 2006 and is based out of New Jersey, employing roughly 50 people.
Allard USA takes a less sports-focused approach than some other brands profiled. Instead, they take a truly patient-centered approach with their mantra of "education before sales." This approach entails offering medical professionals comprehensive product training and continuing education opportunities. As a result, Allard USA should be the first stop for any patients suffering from drop foot or generally looking into AFOs.
Orthotics, as a category, clearly covers a wide range of products. Often the word gets associated with foot orthotics, such as AFOs. Still, the truth is that there are orthotic devices available for just about any part of the body that might need extra support and stability.
These simple devices can have a significant impact. For example, some studies have shown that foot orthotics can reduce the risk of stress fractures in the lower extremities by as much as 41%. In addition, correcting alignment problems in the feet, legs, and hips can significantly impact overall spinal health. Further, orthotics allow maximum athletic Performance and maximum recovery from sports-related injuries.
Consult your care team about the correct orthotic device for your specific need. Once you have an idea of what type of product you're looking for, look at our selections of Wrist and Hand Orthotics, Knee Orthotics, Foot Orthotics and AFOs.
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Jeanine has been a nurse for twenty-seven years with an extensive background in perioperative services, school/community health, quality/education, and leadership/administrative roles. Jeanine creates high-quality health content and is a mom (to 4 fabulous kids), dog mom, and avid hiker.
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