Semirigid plastic insert is used for which foot condition?

• A. Pes planus
• B. Subtalar neutral eversion or inversion abnormalities of the calcaneus
• C. Metarsalgia
• D. Diabetic ulcers

Answer: (B)

A semirigid plastic insert is designed to provide moderate control of hindfoot motion and guide the calcaneus toward subtalar neutral in the coronal plane. When the calcaneus tends to evert (pronation) or invert (supination) abnormally, this type of insert offers enough support to reduce excessive movement without completely locking the foot, helping to align the subtalar joint and distribute plantar pressures more evenly during gait. That makes it well suited for subtalar neutral eversion or inversion abnormalities of the calcaneus. In contrast, addressing metatarsalgia typically requires forefoot offloading or metatarsal pads, diabetic ulcers require offloading and cushioning tailored for ulcers, and pes planus can be managed with orthotics as well but is not the specific scenario described by subtalar neutral alignment issues.