Which orthotic is designed to evenly distribute plantar foot weight in pes planus?

• A. UCB wedge
• B. Shaffer plate
• C. Carbon fiber insert
• D. Metatarsal pad

Answer: (B)

In pes planus, spreading the load across the entire plantar surface helps reduce peak pressures from the collapsed arch. The Shaffer plate is designed as a plantar component that provides broad contact with the bottom of the foot, helping to support the arch and distribute weight more evenly across the midfoot and hindfoot. This makes it well suited for flatfoot conditions where uniform plantar loading is desired.

The other options serve different purposes: a medial wedge primarily realigns the hindfoot, not distribute plantar pressure across the sole; a carbon fiber insert adds stiffness for propulsion but isn’t specifically aimed at even plantar weight distribution; a metatarsal pad offloads the metatarsal heads rather than distributing load across the entire plantar surface.