what are Orthotics?

Did you know that 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 important to understand your feet have direct impact on the rest of your body and support you with each step. A small abnormality in foot function can have a large impact on joints higher up in the body, causing pain and discomfort.

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 American Podiatric Medical Association says that 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 walking with ill-fitting shoes or painful feet!!

In some cases foot ailments can be an early signal of more serious medical problems like arthritis or diabetes.

Women have four times as many foot problems as men because they have a long history of wearing high heels and/or pointy toe shoes.

Orthotics and proper shoe fit are very important aspects of foot health.
Remember if you are experiencing pain or discomfort in your ankles, knees or hip joints, the direct cause may be the function of your feet or ill-fitting shoes

What are Custom Made Orthotics?
Custom orthotic foot braces are corrective devices made to assist a foot that fails biomechanically, to function normally. The orthotics are made to control abnormal foot function, re-establish proper weight distribution and improve overall biomechanics.

How are Custom Made Foot Orthotics made?
Following an evaluation, a neutral position foot mold is taken and sent to our Professional Podiatry Lab where a positive cast is produced. Specially selected thermoplastics are vacuum heat molded to the patient's positive plaster cast. Modifications will be incorporated to meet the patient's needs.

Who can benefit from orthotics?
Everyone! Even if you don't suffer from any obvious foot pain you may have some biomechanical imbalances that could lead to problems later if left untreated.

Are custom orthotics only for people with foot problems?
Many clinical conditions may be present without any obvious foot problems. Subtle imbalances in the foot are amplified as they go up the leg, knee, hip and back resulting in problems that may not have been properly assessed due to lack of a full biomechanical evaluation.

Are your orthotics custom?
Yes. The orthotics are truly custom. We first perform a clinical biomechanical evaluation to determine the amount of correction necessary. Then a neutral position plaster foot mould of your foot is taken to yield a positive plaster cast. Your orthotic is derived from this platform with the corrections necessary to address your specific situation.

Does OHIP or Private Insurance cover them?
Custom Orthotics are not covered by OHIP. You may be covered under your existing insurance policy from work or Extended Health plan. General Welfare or Family Benefits will cover orthotics in most cases, but please check with your plan provider.

How long do they last?
With everyday use under normal conditions you should get between 3-5 years of correction from your Custom Orthotics. Orthotic type, age, weight and activity of the patient will play an important role in this issue.

Will they get rid of my pain and discomfort?
The proper use of these corrective devices should significantly reduce a patient's symptoms or foot related pain and discomfort. Some conditions may be severe and have already undergone osseous change. In this case the orthotics will prevent further damage and promote soft tissue restoration.

Will I need to continue my therapy?
Custom orthotics addresses the biomechanical cause of the condition. Think of your orthotics like prescription eyeglasses. They correct alignment when they are worn. Orthotics are not like dental braces which correct alignment over time.

What are Orthotic Shoes?
Ask us about proper fitting shoes to accommodate your orthotics.