The present invention is an insert having a raised region that contacts an arch region of a wearer's foot, which may be selectively reinforced with a removable supplemental support. In exemplary embodiments, the insert includes a heel region adapted to receive at least a region of a heel of a wearer, and the raised region has a length situated along a width of the insert and adapted to underlie a calcaneus-midtarsal connection of a foot the wearer. The raised region is defined by a bottom semi-cylindrical surface that forms a cavity below the raised region so that an apex of the bottom semi-cylindrical surface lies above a bottom flat surface of the insert. Inside the cavity, the support is removably coupled to the cavity for selectively increasing or decreasing a rigidity of the raised region of the insert in order to apply a user-selected therapeutic pressure.

A two-part method for dye-sublimation printing a decorative design on a moldable orthotic substrate comprising a first digital printing step of printing a computer image file of a decorative design on a digital transfer paper substrate using dye-sublimation CMYK inks, and a second dye-sublimation printing step comprising the steps of heating an oven to a first temperature, placing a moldable orthotic substrate inside the oven, heating the moldable orthotic substrate to a second temperature, positioning the digital transfer paper substrate on the moldable orthotic substrate with the decorative design down and in contact with the moldable orthotic substrate, and sublimating the at least one color of dye-sublimation CMYK inks from the digital transfer paper substrate to the moldable orthotic substrate. A custom orthotic product may be manufactured by wrapping the dye-sublimation printed moldable orthotic substrate around an orthotic mold and applying a vacuum.

The present disclosure is directed to the formation of the curvature of an orthotic arch support inclined shoe, such as a sneaker or a high-heeled shoe, using a shoe last. A shoe last includes a heel height and a sole having an arch. The arch is defined by an inner arch, a middle arch, and a lateral arch. The middle arch is defined by a first formula and lateral and inner arches are defined by a second formula. In particular, the shoes and shoe lasts of the present disclosure preserve the healthy, stable positioning of individuals with normal arches, and convert the pronation, or supination positioning of individuals with flat feet or high arches to a stable position afforded by normal arches. This allows a comfortable gait in a natural anatomical position and balances the weight center of the body.