Boots and Bar

Fitting Appointment Instructions

Your physician has prescribed a pair of boots and bars. This system is used to support muscles, immobilize joints, and correct the position of your foot and ankle. The boots will be made of soft foam, and have straps to help hold the foot in place.

This style of brace helps with correcting clubfoot position and prevents relapse of correction obtained from serial casting and/or tenotomy.

The following guidelines will help you prepare for the use of your orthosis

Wearing Your Boots and Bars

You should always wear a sock with the boots to protect the skin. Bring socks to your next appointment. Tall socks that go past the top of the calf are best to use.

Bamboo single-layer socks are available on Kiddfoot.com

Boots and bars should be worn 23 hours a day (unless otherwise specified by Dr. Dobbs)

Start off with 23 hours per day for first 3 months

18 hours for next 3 months

15 hours for the next 3 months

Night and Naps until age 4

They can be removed for stretching and bathing

How to put Boots and Bar on

Place the feet in the boots

Tips: Bend the knee to ensure the heel is making contact with the bottom of the boot

The heel should be lightly touching.

Tighten the straps

Straps should be tightened where only a fingertip can slide underneath.

Make sure the pads are centered on the middle strap and top strap Grab the bar with both clips attached

To remember left and right, the numbers with the clip degree will be facing upwards and so will the Dobbs logo

Take the clips and pinch them so they clip into the hole in the back of the boot. You should hear a click once the boot is all the way in

If needed, adjustments will be made to ensure the device fits and functions properly for your child. This can include adding additional corrections to help with the proper alignment of the foot or different padding to help reduce pressure from the straps

Boots and Bar Example

System Set Up

Your orthotist has measured the length of the feet and shoulder width. They have also reviewed your child’s foot posture with Dr. Dobbs and know the angle of clips needed to treat their clubfoot and the angle of the non-affected side (if applicable).

Take the bar closest corresponding to the child’s shoulder width and place the clips in.

See diagram below for the clip application

To check the proper bar width, hold the system up to your child’s shoulders. If the white of the boots is wider than their shoulders, then the bar needs to be moved up in size.

To swap the next size in the bar, use the bar removal tool that came with your bar kit. The 2 pegs in the removal tool will push into the two buttons on the bottom of the clip. Once the tool clicks in, twist the clip and pull (see diagram below).. Once the clip is out, grab the next size in the bar and reinstall the clips

How to use the bar clip removal tool that comes with the bar kit.

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.