The First True Foot Orthotics

The first-ever true foot orthotics is credited to Boston Orthopedist Royal Whitman and was debuted in 1905. The foot orthotics were popular footwear among the surgeons due to Whitman’s good reputation in the medical field. Later in 1910, another invention in the orthotics footwear world was achieved. Dr. William Scholl introduced lighter metal support known as Foot-Easer, which was lighter and more convenient for its users.

In the preceding years, the demand for more advanced versions kept rising, which prompted more inventors to develop new versions. The 1920s and ’30s came up with correct versions which promised to add more comfort and prevent foot issues. These shoe versions made a big impact on the shoe industry and made it a lucrative one.

The increase in demand for correct versions of footwear led to almost 1000 different brands on the market, with the advertising campaigns for these shoe types being outrageously high. Later in 1940, the Federal Trade Commission issued a warrant that would end any more inventions and orders. This warrant led to the fading away of the correct footwear business.

The prosthetic shoes aim to protect, fix, and relieve foot-related issues and aid in mobility. The first and second world wars left a lot of soldiers injured and many of them in need of neuromuscular and skeletal treatments; this encouraged the US government to sponsor and support research projects to change the practices in orthotics leading to corrective shoes being a big aspect of the shoe industry.