In everyday life, there are many heel injuries that are difficult to treat. The new off-loading shoe Relief Dual® Plus is 64 % higher than the Relief Dual®. This provides orthograde and maximum support for the rear foot. The heel cap can be completely opened and flexibly adjusted by the ankle-closing system. The generous opening capability of the Relief Dual® Plus means that voluminous dressings can easily be accommodated.
Are you interested to learn more about the new Relief Dual® Plus off-loading shoe?
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Forefoot relief shoes play a major role in postoperative and diabetic care. Still most of them are wedge shoes with forefoot balcony. But a new generation of relief shoe has begun combining forefoot relief with a more natural and stable gait pattern.
Foot & Shoe issue 01/2021 reports from a practice perspective the new trend in forefoot off-loading shoes.
Please find the PDF of this article for download here:
The handling and fitting of the new Relief Dual® Plus is demonstrated in a practical step-by-step visual guide. See our comprehensive video below.
If you are searching for our Product Developers, they are either carrying out a live test of a new product, talking to users or engrossed in their "creative world" between foam, sole profiles and 3D printing. We talked with Regina Felix, our Product Developer at DARCO (Europe):
When the intended added value and benefits have been achieved, and the product has passed the test phase. Material composition, biomechanical processes, indications and usability all have a significant influence. The bar is set very high! We also ask ourselves what product the market needs to provide the best possible care for patients.
We focused on a combination of the tried and tested and the innovative in the development of the Relief Dual® Plus off-loading shoe. We start with the prototype so that we quickly have something tangible to offer and can get doctors and users on board. We rely on close cooperation. This means the development work is not carried out in isolation.
For the development alternative Relief Dual® Plus, the task was to deliver expanded care options, especially in the rearfoot area, and, at the same time, to once again strengthen the evidence we have already introduced to the market with the well-established Relief Dual® technology of the outsole, thus reinforcing the message "Say goodbye to the forefoot plateau!". In addition, we would like to further establish the combination options with other DARCO products, such as the insole systems, so that personalised patient care is possible.
The initial impetus was in November 2019 and the launch was in October 2020. Such a rapid development phase is only feasible if all departments work together.
We regularly receive valuable patient feedback through the close contact with specialist retailers and doctors. What could we do better? "What are the pain points?"
With the new Relief Dual® Plus, a flexibly adjustable heel cap allows the shoe to be adapted to the patient's respective heel anatomy. Not only does this provide more space and pressure relief for voluminous heel dressings, but narrow heels can also be gripped better. As a result, we provide patients with greater support, stability and comfort.
In everyday life, there are many heel injuries that are difficult to treat. Here we wanted to introduce a "plus" in care - i.e. a real advantage - to the market. Patients with such injuries should be able to move far more safely in everyday life, without pressure on their painful heels. In addition, the full opening in all directions makes it easier to put the shoe on and take it off, and the high shaft ensures a secure and stable fit. We are very keen to know how patients get on with our products in everyday life. We draw on this very much for our product development and the design process. Patients' acceptance is tremendously important.
What is the saying? "Product development means not simply accepting problems and shortcomings, but wanting to do something better." New product ideas usually come about through conversations with users, doctors and patients. DARCO is well networked and is in close contact with its customers. Through continuous exchange with DARCO colleagues in the USA, UK, India and China, our innovations are passed on to as many patients as possible worldwide.
Of course, there are already some development projects to expand DARCO's product range and to adapt existing products. You can look forward to this! And what I should also like to see: Feel free to send questions and suggestions to the DARCO development team and, of course, good health for all!
Thank you for the conversation.
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The situation around the COVID-19 pandemic has not changed significantly. DARCO continues to work goal-oriented with this difficult situation.
Not only DARCO are now noticing the challenges surrounding global delivery traffic, which certainly has an impact. Nevertheless, we have not recorded any corona-related delivery delays so far. However, the transport costs from our producers to us have increased massively. An impact of the pandemic that affects not only DARCO, but most of our industry partners.
We compensate for these increases to our customers 100 %. So we deliberately do not increase prices this year in order not to burden our customers additionally. We see this as our contribution that we can make.
All efforts to protect our employees and customers will continue to be implemented. Our task force has been juggling the new rules, regulations and requirements of the federal government and the RKI almost every day for almost a year. We are there for you with all team members, whether in the home office or on site.
We wish you continued motivation and good health.
Katja Eger & Katharina Feistl
DARCO Management