t h e f o o t . P e l i t e is u s e d r a t h e r t h a n l e a t h e r
for t h e foot c o n t a c t surface b e c a u s e it i s
more washable, more durable, adheres
b e t t e r t o t h e c o r k m i d - s o l e a n d i s e a s i e r to
form.
Successive thicknesses o f thermal cork
a d h e r e d w i t h M a s t e r C e m e n t are applied to
b u i l d u p t h e s o l e a n d fill i n t h e a r e a u n d e r
t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l a r c h . T h e p l a n t a r surface
a n d s i d e s o f t h e i n s o l e s are g r o u n d flat a n d
t h e e d g e s t r i m m e d a l m o s t flush w i t h t h e
P e l i t e i n s o l e . L a y e r e d s m o o t h c r e p e can b e
used to construct a rocker bottom. Crinkly
crepe provides a non-skid cushiony sole.
Heavy-weight elkhide makes strong but
f l e x i b l e s t r a p s . S t r a p d e s i g n is a c c o m m o
d a t e d to t h e f o o t d e f o r m i t y . D o u b l e t r a n s
verse straps over the metatarsals are com
f o r t a b l e a n d e a s y t o d o n (Fig. 1 ) . F a s t e n i n g s
o f o n e - i n c h V e l c r o , l a p p e d b a c k o n itself
through a keeper ring, allows easy strap
r e l e a s e for a r t h r i t i c p a t i e n t s w i t h little u s e
Fie. 1
Fig. 2
o f t h e i r h a n d s a n d a l l o w s t h e f a s t e n i n g s to
b e fully o p e n e d t o a c c o m m o d a t e s e v e r e l y
d e f o r m e d feet ( F i g . 2 ) .
T h e c o m p l e t e d s a n d a l is c o m p a r a t i v e l y
l i g h t - w e i g h t . T h e total time r e q u i r e d for
fabrication is less than six hours. T h i s san
dal h a s b e e n u s e d s u c c e s s f u l l y d u r i n g t h e
past two years on patients with rheuma
toid arthritis, severe subluxation of the