Posting
The addition of wedge-shaped material to the heel or forefoot section of a foot orthosis to control or correct alignment of the foot and lower limb during weight-bearing.
Full Definition
Posting is a fabrication and modification technique in foot orthotics in which wedged material — typically ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, cork, or polypropylene — is applied to the plantar surface of an orthotic shell to tilt or stabilise the heel (rearfoot post) or forefoot (forefoot post). Rearfoot posting controls subtalar joint motion, while forefoot posting addresses frontal-plane imbalances at the metatarsals. In editorial contexts, 'posting' should not be confused with 'padding,' which adds cushioning without correcting angular alignment. Clinical notes and device orders should specify the degree of posting and whether it is intrinsic (built into the shell) or extrinsic (applied to the outer surface). Editors should preserve these distinctions faithfully.
Usage
Usage note: Specify whether posting is intrinsic or extrinsic, and whether it is applied to the rearfoot or forefoot, whenever this information is present in the source document.
In Context
- "The orthotist applied a four-degree varus rearfoot posting to the shell to address the patient's excessive subtalar pronation." — Orthotic fabrication worksheet
- "Ensure that 'posting' is not edited to 'padding' in orthotic lab orders, as the two modifications serve distinct biomechanical functions." — Editorial annotation