Why Standing Foot Impressions Are a Poor Choice for Custom Orthotics

A MASS Posture Focused Explanation by East Valley Orthotics & Dr. David J. Doperak

When patients hear the phrase “custom orthotics,” they often imagine a precise, scientific process. Unfortunately, many clinics still rely on standing foot impressions — foam boxes, pressure mats, or ink pads — that capture the foot while the patient is fully weight‑bearing. These methods are fast and inexpensive, but they are also biomechanically inaccurate and produce orthotics that fail to correct the underlying problem.

At East Valley Orthotics, Dr. David J. Doperak uses the MASS Posture approach, which is based on capturing the foot in its optimal functional posture, not its collapsed one. 

Here’s why that distinction matters — and why standing impressions simply don’t cut it.

1. Feet don’t function while standing still

Most foot problems — overpronation, arch collapse, forefoot overload, gait asymmetry — occur during movement, not while standing. A static, weight‑bearing mold freezes the foot in a moment that tells us nothing about:

• How the arch behaves during mid‑stance

• How the heel moves during gait

• How the forefoot loads during propulsion

• How the foot compensates under speed or fatigue

Designing an orthotic from a standing impression is like designing a running shoe based on how someone looks sitting down.

2. Standing impressions exaggerate collapse

When you stand in a foam box or on a pressure mat, your arch collapses under your full body weight. The mold captures:

• A flattened arch

• A widened heel

• A splayed forefoot

This produces an orthotic that matches the collapsed shape, not the corrected one. The result is often:

• Overly bulky orthotics

• Poor support

• New pain or discomfort

• No meaningful correction

A good orthotic should support the foot’s ideal posture — not the posture created by gravity and fatigue.

3. The foot is not meant to be molded under full body weight

Soft tissues deform under load. Bones shift. Ligaments stretch.
A standing impression records the foot at its weakest mechanical moment.

High‑quality orthotics require capturing the foot in a controlled, corrected posture, which cannot be achieved when the patient is simply standing and sinking into foam.

4. Standing impressions cannot capture MASS Posture — the corrected, functional position your foot needs

The key question in orthotic design is:
What position should the foot be captured in?

Traditional Approach: Subtalar Neutral (developed in the early 1970’s)

The traditional subtalar neutral approach, as it became known in clinical biomechanics was developed not by Root alone, but by the team of Merton L. Root, John Weed, and William Orien. They are collectively responsible for formalizing the model that dominated orthotic theory and podiatric education for decades.

Historically, clinicians aimed to capture the foot in “subtalar neutral,” a palpated heel alignment believed to represent an efficient posture. But this method is inconsistent, subjective, and often fails to reflect how the foot actually functions.

MASS Posture (Dr. Ed Glaser’s model) (developed in late 1990’s to early 2000’s)

MASS Posture — Maximal Arch Supination Stabilization — takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of aiming for neutral, it captures the foot in its highest functional arch posture, just before collapse. This position:

• Stores elastic energy

• Resists deformation

• Allows natural pronation during gait

• Creates a spring-like, efficient foot

Why standing impressions fail MASS Posture completely

Standing impressions:

• Capture the foot in its collapsed state

• Record deformation, not function

• Prevent the clinician from positioning the foot into a corrected posture

• Freeze the foot at the exact moment we’re trying to fix

A MASS Posture orthotic must be created from a corrected, elevated, pre‑collapse posture — something that is impossible to achieve while the patient is standing in a foam box.

5. Standing impressions ignore the rest of the kinetic chain

Your foot doesn’t operate in isolation.
Knee alignment, hip rotation, and gait mechanics all influence how the foot loads.

Standing impressions tell us nothing about:

• Tibial rotation

• Hip compensation

• Gait timing

• Dynamic pressure distribution

MASS Posture orthotics are designed with the entire kinetic chain in mind — not just a static snapshot of a collapsing foot.

6. Standing impressions are used because they’re cheap — not because they’re effective

Foam boxes and pressure mats require:

• Minimal training

• Minimal time

• Minimal cost

But convenience does not equal accuracy.
Patients often end up with orthotics that feel no better than over‑the‑counter inserts.

At East Valley Orthotics, Dr. Doperak uses a precision MASS Posture casting process that captures the foot in its optimal functional position — the posture that actually improves biomechanics.

7. Better methods exist — and MASS Posture leads the way

Superior orthotics come from superior data.
MASS Posture uses:

• Corrected, elevated casting

• Semi–weight‑bearing or non–weight‑bearing positioning

• A spring-like, functional foot posture

• A repeatable, biomechanically sound process

This produces orthotics that:

• Support the arch without crushing it

• Improve gait efficiency

• Reduce pain long-term

• Address the root cause, not the symptoms

Conclusion: Standing impressions are outdated — MASS Posture is the future

Standing impressions give the illusion of precision, but they capture the foot in its worst mechanical position. MASS Posture captures the foot in its best. That difference is why MASS Posture orthotics consistently outperform traditional methods.

At East Valley Orthotics, Dr. David J. Doperak is committed to using the most advanced, biomechanically sound approach available — because your feet deserve more than a foam box.

Ready for Orthotics That Actually Work?

If you’ve tried “custom” orthotics made from standing impressions and felt disappointed, you’re not alone — and it’s not your fault. The method is flawed. Your feet deserve a solution built on real biomechanics, not a foam box.

At East Valley Orthotics, Dr. David J. Doperak uses the MASS Posture casting process to capture your foot in its strongest, most functional position — the posture that supports long‑term comfort, better movement, and real correction.

Stop settling for collapsed impressions. Start building a better foundation.

Whether you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis, chronic foot pain, knee or hip issues, or you simply want to move better, MASS Posture orthotics can make a profound difference.

Take the next step toward pain‑free movement.

Schedule your evaluation with East Valley Orthotics today.

Your feet will thank you for it.