SACH-SAWCH

The flexible, cast shoe with an array of stack-able wedges of varied compression strengths (Thanks 3M) let us play with 'functional dorsiflexion' given a starting ankle fixed plantar-flexion that we could offset with the heel wedges. Over #3 above . The bottom of shoe to tibia angle – varies with wedges. Now we had a SAWCH mechanism. Solid ankle Wedge Cushion Heel – that is – a wedge cushion in the shoe heel not the cast nor orthosis nor prosthesis. Engineering wise, this should not matter. That is too much for an actual patient to be asked. She did play when we found her the best treatment combination by torturing our exec volunteers. Her team won. She scored high (wearing two casts).

Another volunteer subject, an adult fit jogger with nothing to treat but who was involved in the fiberglass cast product development needs. Notice the sweat and the jack-knife posture. In this trial, he is wearing two casts with 5 degrees of plantar-flexion. The sweat is from trying to walk unsuccessfully in 'walker' fitted casts, then “rocker bottom” cast shoes. What you do not see, off to the right of this image, before a black screen (used for strobe lighting) is the wheelchair needed to get him to where he stands (only briefly) with much strain. The jack-knife forward lean (butt out) is

typical of stiff plantar-flexion when heels are impossibly urged to be flat down or balance deficits require it. How would our basketball girl & this fellow do with SAWCH shoes?