FAQ's

	Step Forward has been established in USA since 1974. Step Forward Orthotics are still made only in USA, and exported to many countries around the world. This web-site is for Australia. For other countries, go to our international* page.*
			FAQs

What is this product?
Orthotics (arch supports that go in your shoes) are designed to align the body and balance weight properly helping to alleviate trouble with knees, hips, and your back. They are designed to evenly distribute your body weight in the arch of your foot reducing heel pain and bunions.

How much do they cost?
The regular price through our office is AUD$350.00 (plus $15 P&H). Chiropractors and other doctors may charge more or less than this price and may charge a consultation fee. Each pair has a life expectancy of around 15 years (10 year guarantee against breaking, cracking or splitting).

Can you wash them?
Use warm soapy water, let your orthotics air dry and they are good to go!! They are not made of foam, which breaks down with time, nor are they made of leather, which holds moisture.

Can you run in these? Will they help?
You can run with our orthotics. Certainly orthotics will help realign bones, evenly distribute body weight and allow the body to function in proper alignment. Keep in mind our orthotics are not a miracle cure - you cannot put them in and run a marathon straight away. One needs to break into them. After you are in them all day, then you can start a second easier break-in with your high impact activities.

How long does it take to get used to them?
That depends; some people are in them full time in as little as a week, others take upward of a month and sometimes even longer. We provide a written schedule to break into them. The few people who have trouble adjusting to our orthotics are nearly always those who try to wear them too much too soon.

Do these work for a diabetic?
YES! They increase circulation and aid in reducing pressure ulcers. The non-absorptive material can be washed daily if needed.

How do they work?
The Step Forward orthotic starts with the shape of a normal healthy foot. By working the muscle groups the foot adapts to the correct shape.
We size to the length and width of your foot then support the bones and work the muscles with this bio-engineered balanced form. The hard form is designed to support body weight to align your knees, hips and back. The flexing action of the orthotics is designed to exercise muscle groups, toning and stretching, increasing circulation (a diabetic benefit), thereby reducing fatigue. This is not a miracle overnight cure. There is a break-in period (a period of training the muscle groups) to the new shape. This break-in period can be as little as a week (typically 2 to 3 weeks) with some as long as a month or more.

Do they work?
They kept Step Forward Company in business for over 30 years. Many of these arches are sold through medical professionals (chiropractors, therapists, orthopaedics and sports medicine doctors). Yes, they DO work!

Do you take a cast or a mould? MOULD NO... MEASURE YES...
If we were to start with a copy of your bad foot we would start with all your misalignment. We want your foot to change. We start with the normal healthy foot shape, with this bio-engineered balanced form we will work the muscle groups of the foot to adapt to the correct shape. We size this to the length and width of your foot. We have arches in dozens of different sizes to match the bone structure.

Why don't podiatrists sell them?
Several cynical answers spring to mind but, honestly, we don't know! Our orthotics are worn and sold by a wide variety of medical professionals who have recognised the shortcomings of custom-made orthotics. Enquiries from podiatrists are welcome.

All feet are different. How can one shape be correct?
Feet do come in all shapes and sizes. The bones are essentially the same shapes, but the feet are different shapes because the muscles, ligaments & tendons have pulled the bones into those shapes, or have let them fall into those shapes. The Step Forward shape was perfected over about 15 years of research, analysis and experimentation in the 1950's and 60's. It has proven to be successful during the decades of extensive use since.

Copyright © 2005-08 Impexis Pty Ltd.
We are the exclusive importer of Step Forward for Australia, Eastern Europe, Middle East, New Zealand, Scandinavia and many other countries.
The term 'doctor' in this web-site means therapist, chiropractor, general practitioner, surgeon, or other qualified person.