Boots and Bar Troubleshooting
Feet are slipping out of the boots
First, make sure you are putting the boots on properly. Make sure the knee is bent when putting the boots on and the bottom of the foot is touching. Infants do not have a developed heel due to the fact that they are not standing yet. Do not be concerned about the heel touching the bottom of the boot.
Try tightening the straps. You should be able to only get a fingertip underneath the strap. A full finger under the strap is too loose.
Make sure you are using the proper socks. The black Robin socks have grips on the bottom
If this does not work, check the width of the bar. The space between the white part on the heel of the boots should be wider than the shoulders. If the shoulders are wider, move up to the next bar size. You may send photos to your orthotist to confirm sizing.
If this does not work, try criss-crossing the top and bottom straps of the boot.
If this does not work, please contact your orthotist for further troubleshooting
Skin Irritation
If you notice any angry red spots that do not go away in the 15-minute stretching period where the braces are off:
First, make sure the socks have no wrinkles or bunching. Sometimes this can cause extra pressure on the skin
If that does not work, try to loosen the straps by 1 hole. Sometimes skin irritation is caused by the straps being too tight. You should only get a finger tip under the strap.
If you notice the shoulders are wider than the white of the boots when the system is held up to the chest, then it is time to move up to the next size in the bar kit. Please see the diagram above for how to remove the clips and move up to the next size in the bar.
If problems persist after trying the above solutions, please contact your orthotist for further troubleshooting.
Dynamic clips are overstretched (For babies who are 6 months or older and in the dynamic system)
If you notice that the dynamic clips and boots are pointing toward the sky, please email the orthotist with photos. This usually means that the springs in the dynamic clips are overstretched and may need to be swapped
Toes are running past the white of the boot
Make sure the heel is all the way down in the boot (check using the hole on the heel) and tighten the straps
If the toes are touching the white, this is acceptable!
If the toes are running past the white, please contact Dr. Dobbs’s office for a virtual appointment or if the next follow-up appointment is close, please let them know you will need a script for the next size up in boots.
Note – you must be seen by the prescribing provider to get a new script
Our in-house facility ensures personalized care, adjustments, and long-term support for the best possible patient outcomes.
Please Note: The Orthotics and Prosthetics services at the Paley Institute are available exclusively to patients currently under the care of a Paley Institute physician. We are unable to accommodate external referrals or walk-in appointments at this time.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with our Orthotics & Prosthetics department, please contact us directly at (561) 844-5255 Ext 240.
