Can I drive it?

Driving with an orthosis is not prohibited in principle. However, it is only advisable if all required pedals can be operated reliably and with sufficient force. Especially those who wear an orthosis on their right foot should not dare to drive again until they can apply the brake quickly and safely.

On the other hand, if you need an orthosis for the left foot, you can usually drive automatic cars without any major problems. However, cars with manual transmission should also only be driven when the clutch can be operated reliably. In case of doubt, an individual consultation should be made with the treating physician or a responsible physiotherapist.

What do I have to pay attention to when I wear it?

When wearing an orthosis for the foot, there are several things to consider. Most important is that the orthosis is suitable in terms of its shape and size. If you wear an orthosis that is too large, your foot has too much room to move.

This means that the support provided by the orthosis is not sufficiently guaranteed. In addition, constant rubbing of the orthosis on the skin can lead to chafed spots or blisters. Orthoses that are too small can also damage the skin by causing pressure points.

Structures located under the skin such as blood vessels, nerves and muscles can also become constricted, which can lead to serious defects. When wearing the orthosis, it is also important to consider the situations in which it should be worn and how long it should be used daily. This is the only way to ensure that the foot is adequately protected by the orthosis.

Wearing the orthosis for too short a time or not using it in stressful situations for the foot can cause additional injury to already weakened structures. However, wearing the orthosis too often is also a hindrance in the long term. After all, the foot should learn to function again without the orthosis.

Sufficient training incentives must be created for this.So if you wear your orthosis too long and too often, you are depriving your foot muscles of the opportunity to train and become fit again. A special feature of orthoses for the foot is that they often have a higher sole than the shoe worn on the foot that is not affected. This causes the pelvis to be crooked, which can lead to hip and knee pain and back problems. To compensate, extra soles can be worn under the normal shoe – if necessary – to compensate for the difference in height.