What is an accommodative orthotic?

Foot orthoses with accommodating features cushion, pad, or relieve pressure on a sore or wounded area on the bottom of the foot. They could also be designed to try to control faulty foot function. Cork, leather, plastic foams, and rubber materials are some of the materials used in accommodative orthoses. They're usually softer and more flexible than functional foot orthoses. Accommodative orthoses are built using a three-dimensional model of the foot, which can be created by casting the foot in plaster, stepping into a box of compressible foam, or scanning the foot with a mechanical or optical scanner.

Painful calluses on the bottom of the foot, diabetic foot ulcers, sore bones on the bottom of the foot, and other types of foot pathology can all be treated using accommodating orthoses. The benefits of accommodative orthoses include the fact that they are relatively soft and forgiving, and that they are generally easy to shape once they are given to the patient to improve comfort. The downsides of accommodative orthoses include that they are bulky, have a limited level of durability, and require frequent modifications in order to function effectively.