Glossary
The words, in plain English.
Orthotics come with jargon. Here is what each term means on this site, in a sentence or two, without the sales gloss.
- Arch contour
The profile of the orthotic under the inside of the foot, taken from your impression. Rather than a low/medium/high pick-list, the contour follows where your arch actually rises and how long it is, and the design sets how much of that arch the shell supports.
- Custom orthotic
A shoe insert made from a model of your own foot — here, a foam impression — rather than from a small set of standard shapes. The shell, heel cup and arch contour follow your foot; the design you choose sets what the shape is asked to do.
See also: Foam impression, Shell
- Foam impression
A footprint pressed into a box of crushable foam. Standing or seated, you press each foot straight down and lift straight up; the foam keeps the exact contour of your sole, and your orthotic is shaped to that impression. It is the capture method behind every EvenStep pair.
See also: Custom orthotic
- Heel cup
The raised rim of the shell around the heel. A deeper cup holds the heel bone and keeps its natural fat pad under it; a shallower cup fits low-volume shoes. Condition designs such as plantar fasciitis and heel pain use a deeper cup.
See also: Shell, Arch contour
- Metatarsal pad
A small dome built into the orthotic just behind the ball of the foot. It lifts and spreads the long bones of the forefoot so their heads carry less pressure — the feature designs for metatarsalgia and Morton's neuroma rely on.
See also: Shell
- Overpronation
Pronation is the normal inward roll of the foot as it lands. Overpronation means the roll continues further or longer than usual, flattening the arch and turning the ankle inward, which can load the inside of the knee and the arch. Orthotic designs for overpronation support the arch and stabilize the heel.
See also: Supination, Arch contour
- Posting
A wedge added to the underside of the shell at the heel or forefoot to tilt the foot slightly inward or outward. Posting is how a design controls the direction of motion — for example, a medial heel post for overpronation.
See also: Overpronation, Supination
- Shell
The structural layer of the orthotic, shaped to the contour of your impression. Its firmness — flexible, medium or firm — is set from your weight band and the design; the shell is what holds the heel and supports the arch, while the top cover provides the surface you feel.
- Supination
The outward roll of the foot, the opposite of pronation. Feet that supinate — often high-arched — land on the outer edge and absorb less shock through the arch. Designs for supination add cushion along the outer edge and support the arch so the foot is not stuck on its outside.
See also: Overpronation, Arch contour
- Three-quarter length
An orthotic that ends behind the ball of the foot instead of running to the toes. It supports the heel and arch but leaves the forefoot free, so it fits dress shoes, flats and loafers that have no room for a full-length insole and cannot have theirs removed.
See also: Custom orthotic
- Top cover
The fabric or foam layer laminated to the shell — the surface your foot touches. It adds cushion and grip, and it wears before the shell does.
See also: Shell