SACH-SAWCH

1 4 Look. A high school girl, basketball high scorer, on a team in the championships. Bad timing. She has bilateral heel pain. Miss the championships? On left (#1) is what was then called a plaster cast 'rubber walker' typically attached to the bottom of plaster casts at a balance point so it would roll and allow 'walking' (no way – it is what we now call 'stepping'). Well, after having seen what missing one forefoot can do, you can imagine what these will do? Her gait is seen on the right above (#4). It was unsteady even just walking. Hard to sustain. Her steps were extremely short. It is similar to walking on very short stilts. The missing plantar lengths of the rubber base and missing forward toe rollover (apex of gait arc below floor) is badly missed. Could these lead a basketball team to victory? Nnnnnn..no. Not a chance. But let us test this prosthetic idea (#2 ) without the cushioned heel. Forward shin tilt with wooden sole shoes varying in shape and forward rolling point (thank you Darco). Shoes with wood stiff bottom flat or rocker bottom was impossible to walk at all if the cast did not have the required forward tilt. It was not practical even when the casts were optimally tilted forward. It was hard to even walk just a few steps. So, there is nothing to show. No pictures. No chance at basketball. 2 3