Offloading boots are footwear products designed for wound care of the foot. They redistribute pressure across the sole of the foot from areas that are more vulnerable to diabetic or other ulcers towards other less vulnerable areas. The areas that are more vulnerable are those that bear more body weight or that are more subject to friction or other sources of irritation due to the way you walk (your gait).
Offloading boots are sometimes alternatively referred to as healing sandals. Another common name for them is “half shoes”.
Generally, offloading boots have a thick wedge shaped sole section in the area to which pressure is being transferred. There is also a thin platform section over the area from which pressure will be transferred (i.e. the area to be “offloaded”). The boots are normally held in position by means of Velcro straps.
Generally speaking, there are two types of offloading boot.
Heel offloaders reduce heel pressure by transferring pressure from the back of the foot (heel area) to the front.
Forefoot offloaders, on the other hand, transfer this pressure from the front of the foot (the metatarsalgia area) to the back of the foot, near the heel bone.
Offloading the heel tends to be a greater priority in most cases as excess pressure behind the heel can cause serious skin injury there. There is a ridge on the heel bone that is a constant source of pressure to the skin covering the heel. This makes this area more liable to skin breakdown under sustained pressure and/or friction. The Darco HeelWedge is an excellent example of an offloading boot designed for relieving pressure on the heel.
These shoes move pressure in the opposite direction to heel offloaders. They redistribute it to the back of the foot and away from the vulnerable area just behind the toes. The Darco OrthoWedge is an outstanding example of such a shoe.
Their main advantage lies in the fact that they require little expertise to fit and put on.They are also easy to remove (for showering, bathing, sleeping, etc.) and can accommodate bulky wound dressings when the patient needs them.
The main disadvantage of offloading boots is the fact that their design creates an inherent limb length discrepancy. Patients need to undergo some training in how to properly use these shoes and they also need to make a conscious effort to maintain proper use of them.
These boots are increasingly widely used to treat diabetic patients suffering from conditions like pressure ulcers, neuropathic ulcers, Charcot foot or other pressure injuries. The main causes of foot ulceration among diabetics are protective sensory loss that typically results from neuropathy and excessive pressure to vulnerable areas while walking or standing.
Offloading boots are also useful in treating surgical foot wounds by reducing the pressure on them due to the patient walking or standing. They help these wounds to heal by redistributing pressure away from the wound and towards other areas of the sole of the foot. This allows the wounds to heal with less interference from this pressure. They help to reduce the risk of infections that may retard the healing process.
Some alternatives to offloading boots include:
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The Darco All Purpose Boot embodies nearly perfect four season postoperative protection with a closed-toe design that keeps dressings and toes warm and dry. This boot is designed to provide unparalleled versatility by accommodating both bulky dressings and most fiberglass casts.
The Darco Body Armor® Cast Shoe is designed to shield the cast from everyday wear and tear, moisture and shock. It sports a fresh, contemporary design and is effective with all types of casting materials and bulky bandages.
The Darco HeelWedge™ will help to off-load pressure from your heel area by shifting pressure to the mid/forefoot areas. This speeds wound recovery after surgery or trauma or after suffering ulcerations or heel wounds. The Darco HeelWedge™ “off load” pressure on your feet by transferring pressure from your heel to your mid and forefoot areas. This will promote healing and protect wounds you may receive after surgery or trauma. The HeelWedge is also effective if you have ulcerations and wounds in your heel area. It has been proven to be effective in clinical and other settings. The HeelWedge helps to reduce friction and pressure on your heel area without interfering with your normal ambulatory and other activities. Once friction and pressure have been mitigated, your wounds, injuries and ulcerations can continue to heal without interruption. This is especially relevant to individuals with diabetes. They face a constant threat from ulcerations and wounds, and the Darco Heelwedge™ offers a viable answer to these problems. The same is true of anyone who have suffered a heel injury or had surgery in that area.
The Darco MedSurg™ shoe is the most versatile postoperative shoe on the market today. EVA insole features twice the padding of standard insoles and can be modified as needed.
The Darco Open Toe Cast Boot boasts a heavy duty canvas upper section and a multi layer EVA sole to protect a wide range of casts and heavy compression bandages.
The Darco OrthoWedge™ reduces weight bearing pressure on your forefoot region to promote faster healing from wounds or diabetic ulcerations. It will help to reduce forefoot pressure while you are walking or standing. It will promote healing of your metatarsal area (the region just behind your toes) after you have undergone surgery or experienced foot trauma. It will also assist recovery from diabetic ulcerations or forefoot wounds. The Orthowedge is equipped with a 15º wedge sole that shifts as much as 57% of body weight away from your forefoot region.
The PQ Series Darco PegAssist™ insole is a versatile peg insole for the HeelWedge™, OrthoWedge® and APB™ wound care shoes. Its removable pegs permit localized relief of pressure and its stabilizer board supports the pegs and keeps them from collapsing. The PTQ Series Darco PegAssist™insole is a similar product that goes with the Square-Toe MedSurg™ Shoe.
The Darco Wound Care Shoe System features four multi density insoles that are modified to remove pressure from the plantar region of the foot.
