Considerations for Exercise Changes A new year can mean making changes to your exercise routine. When making changes, this can be starting up exercise all together, or it can be other changes such as: Trying a new activity Increasing how many days you exercise per week Increasing the duration of each exercise session Increasing the weight you are using When making changes to your exercise, there are a few considerations to keep in mind to prevent pain from developing. About 40-60% of people will drop their new years resolution for exercise in the first month. While there are multiple reasons ..read more

Halloween Tips for the Feet Halloween can be a very exciting time for all ages, but some can feel the affects following the events. If you seem to have aches and pains in your feet or legs during events and the days following, there are ways to improve your comfort! Here are a few Halloween tips to improve the comfort in your feet and legs. Tips for Trick or Treating Trick or treating usually means a long period of time on concrete surfaces. This means more force and less cushioning through your feet and legs. You may also find that the amount of walking you are doing is more than normal. One ..read more

Orthotics for Tendonitis Tendonitis can be a painful condition that affects the day to day life. There are many different ways of dealing with tendonitis, including orthotics. How can orthotics help for tendonitis conditions? What is tendonitis? First, knowledge of what tendonitis is can help explain how orthotics can help. The structures that tendonitis affects are the tendons in the body. Tendons are the structures that connect the muscles in your body to the bones. They do not actively contract and relax like muscles do, but they are passively pulled and released in response to the muscles ..read more

What is Metatarsalgia? If you have been diagnosed with metatarsalgia, you may be wondering what it is and what to do about it. Metatarsalgia is one of the more common conditions that a Canadian Certified Pedorthist can see in the clinic. Overall, the diagnosis can be a very simple explanation, but there is a deeper explanation as well. What is Metatarsalgia? The simple explanation of metatarsalgia is pain at the ball of the foot. When you look deeper, metatarsalgia is actually a group of different conditions that all cause pain at the ball of the foot but in different ways. A few of these cond ..read more

Orthotics for Morton’s Neuroma Sharp pains into your toes may lead you to a diagnosis of Morton’s Neuroma. When the diagnosis is confirmed, you may be interested in what it is and how to get rid of the pain. Custom foot orthotics is a common way to help with Morton’s neuroma pain when you are diagnosed. What is Morton’s Neuroma? Morton’s neuroma occurs when there is a thickening around the nerves that run to your toes. These nerves are individual nerves running between each metatarsal bone in the foot, which are the bones that connect to your toes. When too much pressure or friction occurs to ..read more

Orthotics for a leg length discrepancy A leg length discrepancy can be caused by a few different factors, but orthotics can benefit in many of those cases. First, it’s important to determine what kind of leg length discrepancy it is. Then, we take a look at what can help with the discrepancy. Structural vs functional leg length discrepancy There are two types of leg length discrepancies:  structural and functional. In many cases, both a structural and functional difference can be present. Structural leg length discrepancy   A structural leg length discrepancy is when the bones on on ..read more

Five Reasons to see a Footcare Nurse How do you know when to get professional help taking care of your feet? Toenail cutting for seniors is common for a footcare nurse, but there are many other reasons why a footcare nurse may be helpful. Here are five reasons to see a footcare nurse. 1.      Can’t reach toes There typically comes a time when it is difficult to reach your own toes. When this happens, it becomes difficult to trim toe nails. This can be a risk because the chances of cutting yourself increase. When it’s difficult to reach your toes, you may not be able to ..read more

Pain on the outside of the feet Pain on the outside of the feet can be from a variety of factors, but the way the feet are moving and the footwear worn can be the main or contributing factor. Flat feet and pain on the outside of the feet Even though the foot shifts inwards with a flat foot, it is possible to develop pain on the outside of the feet. This is because when the arch rolls inwards, the outside of the foot can push against the shoe. Sometimes, the feet can compensate leading to excessive pressure on the outside of the foot. If there is pain from walking with a flat foot, the weight c ..read more

Knee pain while running Did you know that knee pain can be related to the feet? Knee pain while running can develop from many different factors, but it can be caused or exaggerated from the way the feet are moving. When the feet move, the lower leg and upper leg respond in the same way. Flat feet/pronation and knee pain Flat feet are when the arches on the inside of the feet are lower than normal. A flat foot can be completely flat on the ground, or a small arch can be present. A flat foot changes the shock absorption properties and the way the legs respond. When the arch is low, the lower le ..read more

Skiing with Orthotics A common question among skiers who wear orthotics, is if orthotics should be worn in their ski boots. There are cases when orthotics can provide a noticeable benefit while skiing. This may not be necessary in all cases. Recreational Skier For those who recreationally ski a couple times a year, an orthotic device may not be necessary in all cases. Because a ski boot is solid around the feet and ankles, the amount of movement at your legs is reduced. If the pain you experience without your orthotics is not present in your ski boots, the boots may be holding your ankles enou ..read more