Book Review

Title: Footwear and Foot Orthoses
from The Pocket Podiatry Guide Series
Editors: Anita Williams, PhD, BSc (Hons);
Prof. Chris Nester, PhD, BSc (Hons)
Publisher: Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier Health Sciences Division;
Number of pages: 164
Reviewed by: Seamus Kennedy, BEng (Mech), CPed

The Pocket Podiatry Guide's Footwear and Foot Orthoses lives up to its title in that it is a slim and compact volume that neatly fits into a standard lab coat pocket. It is divided into nine chapters of roughly equal length that cover much essential information on foot orthoses and shoes. Chapter topics include a review of foot biomechanics and gait, foot orthoses, several chapters on general shoe design and wear assessment, and a review of systemic diseases of the foot and the related patient management. The stated goal of the book is to aid in the "understanding of the true role of footwear in the maintenance of foot health and the management of foot pathology." From the outset, the authors' intention is to cover all three aspects of foot health, treating them as equally important contributors to patient well-being: biomechanics, orthoses, and footwear.

The first chapter on biomechanics covers the standard terminology and gives a brief summary of the gait cycle. From there the book considers the impact of some of the diseases that practitioners see every day such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and neuropathy. This information is accompanied by some good photographs that illustrate end-stage examples of various conditions.

The chapter on foot orthoses runs almost 30 pages. It looks at both prefabricated and custom orthoses from initial design considerations and materials to the goals of reducing pronation, pressure, and shear. It also discusses how to protect the "at-risk" foot.

The heart of the book focuses on footwear. This begins with an interesting history on shoe evolution and design. The "Modern Footwear" chapter is a good reference for shoe nomenclature, offering a primer for many of the terms used in the shoemaking industry. Chapter 6 is devoted to "Footwear Assessment," evaluating worn shoes and wear patterns as an aid to diagnosis and treatment. It takes an in-depth look at the various distortions and wear marks that appear on shoes and insoles and how to interpret them. It is treats worn shoes like a crime scene with all of the evidence of ped-icide displayed in open-view!

The next chapter covers footwear options and the different ways that shoes can be designed, custom made, or altered in order to achieve optimal fit and function. The Guide then goes on to look at footwear options for the pathological and vulnerable foot, offering suggestions for the best shoe types and styles for selected diagnoses. Finally, there is a general discussion on the methods to manage patients' attitudes and acceptance of therapeutic shoes and orthoses.

In summary: Footwear and Foot Orthoses is a marvelous and compact book that serves as a good reference for the language and concepts of pedorthics. It is a good book for practitioners such as orthotists, prosthetists, and podiatrists who want to quickly access pedorthics. Each chapter in the book comes with its own in-depth "References" and "Further Reading" sections. These are excellent sources to begin research for more advanced study. The book is a good general guide and it provides a gateway to further explore specific aspects of interest.

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