When you get a prescription for modified shoes and don’t know what to do next, the answer is easy: visit Stan’s Fit For Your Feet in Brookfield, Greenfield, or Glendale!
Our staff includes several Certified Pedorthists (C.Peds), who are individuals approved to evaluate your feet, fill doctor’s prescriptions for over-the-counter orthotics, and recommend solutions for foot and ankle conditions.
Keep reading to get answers to questions you may have about shoe modifications, and learn about a few of the most common services we offer.
FAQs About Shoe Modifications
Question #1: Do I Need A Prescription?
Yes, in most (if not all) cases, our pedorthists will need information from your doctor regarding exactly what alterations need to be made to your shoes. This ensures that changes to your shoes help solve your problem safely and effectively. If you don’t yet have a prescription, we would be happy to recommend a several high quality doctors that can assist you
Question #2: Do You Take Insurance?
No, we do not accept insurance for shoe modifications at this time.
Question #3: How Do I Make An Appointment?
In many cases, an appointment isn’t necessary if you already have your prescription and know what pair of shoes you want modified. You can just drop both items off at our store, and we’ll take care of the rest!
However, if you want to consult with a C.Ped about which shoes you should get modified, talk through the process, or get your questions answered in person, email CPed Ben Sajdak at [email protected]. He’ll be happy to help you get an appointment set up.
Question #4: What Shoes Can/Should I Get Modified?
A shoe modification is only as good as the shoe you alter. If a shoe is unsupportive or worn out, modifying it won’t make your feet feel better. That’s why it’s important to use shoes that are high quality and don’t have significant preexisting wear. We recommend athletic shoes from any of the brands we carry at Stan’s (such as New Balance, Brooks, and HOKA), as well as brands made specifically to address foot health concerns (such as SAS and Drew).
If you’re unsure what shoes you should modify, stop in any of our stores to try on some options! Our friendly Certified Fit Specialists are trained to help you find shoes suitable for the health concern you’re facing, and then our C.Peds will take it from there to get them modified according to your needs.
Question #5: How Long Does It Take To Get My Shoes Modified?
It depends on what work needs to be done, but our average turnaround time between sending your shoes to the lab and getting the modified footwear back is 14 – 21 business days. This is a significantly shorter time frame than many other O&P facilities. providers.
Shoe Modifications Offered by Stan’s Fit For Your Feet
The following are some of the most common shoe modification requests that we fulfill here at Stan’s. If you have a prescription for any of the following, we’d be happy to take care of it for you!
Full Sole Lifts / Heel-to-Toe Elevation
Lifts are used to even out leg length discrepancies caused by surgery, developmental, or congenital issues. Adding extra height to the shoe worn by the shorter leg helps smooth your stride and prevents hip and back pain caused by walking unevenly.
To get a full sole lift, first get a prescription from your doctor that specifies the exact height that needs to be added to your shoe. Next, bring your prescription and the shoes you want elevated into any of our stores (or buy a brand-new pair of shoes on the spot). We can incorporate both full-length and heel elevation lifts into a wide range of footwear, such as sandals, boots, athletic shoes, casual shoes, and dress shoes.
After we get your information and shoes, we’ll send everything off to our lab. If the required lift height is relatively short (1 cm or less), the option of adding an internal lift is available. If it’s greater than that, the extra height will be affixed to the shoe externally (don’t worry – we work hard to make sure it blends in!). Then, the lab will send your shoes back to us for you to try on, and adjustments can be made as needed.
In some cases, a prescribed lift may not be necessary. We also sell Adjust-A-Lift® Heel Lifts in stores, which can be an effective solution for less severe leg length discrepancies. Adjust-A-Lift® inserts are made of three ⅛” thick layers of firm foam rubber so you can add or remove layers as needed. This simple insert can be a cost-effective and immediate solution for pain, but check with your doctor to make sure you don’t need additional support.
Lift Removal
Some leg length discrepancies aren’t permanent, such as those caused by wearing a walking boot for 6-12 weeks while recovering from surgery. A few months is a long time to walk unevenly, so you should certainly be wearing a lift during this period; however, once the boot is removed and your legs are even lengths again, we can remove the lifts you added.
Relasting
Relasting is essentially expanding a shoe in order to make room for large braces or orthotics, such as Arizona braces or UCBL. Widening a shoe prevents constriction or pinching caused by trying to fit oversized orthotics in shoes not made to accommodate them.
A “last” is a mold around which a shoe is constructed. When we “relast” a shoe, we cut into the existing outsole and midsole, which were likely shaped around a standard-size last. We then expand the base of the shoe and fill in the gap with durable material before re-soling it with a hard rubber sole modeled from wider or longer lasts. This wider base leaves room for braces and custom orthotics to be inserted comfortably.
Lateral Wedges
A wedge is a firm material placed in the lateral (outside) rearfoot of the shoe to prevent people with unstable ankles from supinating, or rolling their ankles outward. This addition is good for those who wear braces and need to reinforce their shoe, or from those suffering from common conditions such as plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis.
The firm material on the lateral side of the shoe forces the foot to pronate, or roll inwards, instead of outwards. The reverse can also be done by placing a wedge on the medial (inside) of the rearfoot in order to prevent overpronation, or rolling the ankle inwards.
Velcro Strap Alteration or Installation:
If you have a pair of Velcro shoes with straps that are too short to fit around your foot or orthotic, or that are too long to secure your foot, we can lengthen or shorten the straps to custom-fit your needs. We can also add Velcro straps to a lace-tie shoe if greater flexibility is needed in the foot or if it’s difficult to tie your shoes due to any type of physical condition.
Rocker Soles
We are able to add rocker soles to any shoe. Rocker soles are outsoles that help roll the foot forward to increase momentum. This is often necessary when a fused joint, gait plate, or injury has restricted or locked mobility in your hips, knees, or ankles.
To add a rocker sole to a shoe, we’ll first cut the existing sole off. Then, we’ll add EVA foam and taper it from heel to toe so that the apex (the thickest part) of the rock is in a helpful spot for you. This creates the proper amount of propulsion, which contributes to a smoother gait cycle
Where to Get Shoe Modifications in Milwaukee
For these modifications and more, visit Stan’s Fit For Your Feet throughout the greater Milwaukee area! Cobblers are far less common than they once were, so finding a high-quality and experienced store to modify your shoes is key to making sure your problems are actually addressed. At Stan’s, we have the passion for solving foot pain and the decades of experience to back it up. Make an appointment or stop by our stores today to see what we can do for you!
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