The human foot has 28 bones, 19 muscles and 107 ligaments.
It is no wonder that we are prone to pain and discomfort, some of us on a daily basis! When the pain or discomfort is too much, or if there is an underlying disease process, many turn to the use of foot orthoses, commonly called foot orthotics.
With Custom Orthotics, Dr. Burgess may have the solution for your foot pain. No more aching feet after a long hard day of work or those everyday activities. Our custom orthotics are made on-site and assessments are performed by a Canadian certified pedorthist. Orthotics assist in restoring moti
on, regaining stability, and correcting dysfunctional biomechanics, thereby providing relief of painful foot, knee or back ailment. They may also help people who stand on their feet all day at work or for everyday activities. Our Orthotics may be the solution.
Fact: 25% of All Your Bones Are In Your Feet
Lack of proper care, ill-fitting shoes and general foot neglect are responsible for the majority of foot problems.
It’s essential to understand that your feet have a direct impact on the rest of your body. A small abnormality in foot function can have a large impact on the whole kinematic chain, causing pain and discomfort especially in the knees and pelvis and lumbar spine. When you are running, the pressure on your feet can be three or four times your body weight. Even walking can produce more pressure than the sum of your body weight.
The average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. That adds up to about 115,000 miles in a lifetime or more than four times the circumference of the globe. That is a lot of painful walking if you have inadequate arch support or ill-fitting shoes! In some cases foot ailments can be an early signal of more serious medical problems such as arthritis or diabetes.
Special orthotics can be made for the p
ain and prevention of foot problems. Women have four times as many foot problems as men because they have a long history of wearing high heels and/or pointy shoes. Orthotics and proper fitting shoes are essential to good biomechanics and preventing foot pain.
If you are experiencing pain in your feet, ankles, knees or hips, the main cause may be directly related to the function of your feet. Over the years our custom made orthotics have helped many children, diabetics, athletes and arthritic patients.
Why do I want to see a Certified Pedorthist?
Foot orthoses are dispensed by many individuals, however a select group of medical practitioners are appropriately trained to dispense custom foot orthoses. A Certified Pedorthist (Canada) is one of the few medical professionals educated in the design, fit, manufacture, and modification of footwear and foot orthoses.
Communication with your doctor is essential in treating your foot, or foot related pain. Your doctor will be able to rule out global diagnoses, and determine if referral to a specialist or directly to a Certified Pedorthist (Canada) is warranted. Once you have a referral (prescription) an assessment appointment is then booked.
Following the assessment, a treatment plan is devised. This can include referral to allied health care practitioners (physiotherapist, chiropractor, massage therapist, chiropodist) improved footwear, footwear modification, off the shelf insoles or custom made foot orthotics.
There are a number of methods used to obtain a three-dimensional image of the foot to manufacture foot orthoses. At ChiroPed Orthotics, we use either a plaster slipper cast, or a semi-weight bearing foam impression. There are a number of materials used to make a huge variety of foot orthoses. Custom foot orthoses are classified into two types; Functional and Accommodative. The determination is based on diagnosis, age, weight, activity, and the results of the Pedorthic Assessment.