About Us
Freed Foot Orthotics is a proudly South African business with a passion to help people ease ankle, knee, hip or back pain due to postural malalignment that starts with foot type. Our aim is to provide effective and affordable custom-like orthotics designed for every foot type and size.
The business began in 2022 after a South African orthopaedic surgeon was introduced to the QUADRASTEP SYSTEM® and littleSTEPS® orthotic products when travelling in the United States. Observing the accessibility and affordability of the products for the South African market, a decision was made to import the premium products from America.
The high costs and long waiting times often involved in custom orthotics make it an out-of-reach option for most South Africans. By becoming the sole importers of the QUADRASTEP SYSTEM® and littleSTEPS® orthotic products in South Africa, we are able to offer adults and children an excellent alternative to custom orthotics.
Our products
About the QUADRASTEP SYSTEM® and littleSTEPS®
The QUADRASTEP SYSTEM® and littleSTEPS® are orthotic products manufactured in the USA by Nolaro24®, LLC. The company’s foot type classification method and custom-to-foot type orthotic system are the first of their kind. The founder, Roberta Nole, developed 24 patented foot types with 6 major foot categories – each of which represents a subgroup of 4 foot types. The 6 letter and colour-coded categories are referred to as quads, which is how the QUADRASTEP SYSTEM® came about. Practitioners are now able to identify a patient’s QUADRASTEP SYSTEM® foot type in two minutes, and patients can walk out with comfortable, high-quality, custom-to-foot type orthotics.
In 2010, Nolaro24®, LLC added their revolutionary pediatric orthotic solution to their product line – littleSTEPS®. littleSTEPS® are pre-fabricated foot orthoses specifically designed for children. They enable early intervention and treatment of common musculoskeletal conditions, such as developmental flatfoot. They are designed to improve coordination, balance, pain, posture and strength, as well as aid in the development of a more stable and functional gait.
About Roberta Nole
Roberta Nole is the inventor of the foot typing algorithm that is the basis of the QUADRASTEP SYSTEM®. Since 1989 she has owned Stride Custom Orthotics and Pedorthic Center in Connecticut, USA, specialising in biomechanical gait examination and rehabilitation of the foot and ankle.
She has developed an educational training programme called Clinical Analysis of 24 Adult Foot Types. She lectures across the States on her novel foot typing and video gait analysis methods. She has also published a book called Orthotics & Prosthetics in Rehabilitation.
Roberta and her colleagues travel the world offering practitioners products and education. They have gained distributors in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Japan, China, Australia, Malaysia, the Cayman Islands and now, South Africa.