Many people believe that foot orthotics weaken the muscles of the ankle and foot. The opposite is true! The role of orthotics is to stabilize and support the feet; this may lead one to believe that muscle tone is weakening since the feet are still supported. However, studies have shown the opposite. What are foot orthotics used for? First and foremost, it is important to understand the purpose and operation of foot orthotics . Custom-designed, orthotics stabilize, support and realign the lower limbs of the body. The corrections adapted to your unique pathology will adequately distrib ..read more

Short answer: yes! Orthotics should be worn as often as possible in order to provide the best possible treatment and foot support. Think about orthotics like a pair of corrective glasses, rather than a pair of sunglasses. Corrective glasses are necessary to wear at all times, while sunglasses are for a specific purpose and are worn sporadically. When the orthotics are put on, the foot is placed in an ideal position depending on each biomechanical problem. When they are removed, the foot is once again out of biomechanical alignment. Therefore, they’re not meant to just be worn occasionally, whe ..read more

Does your health care provider recommend that you wear compression garments? Are compression stockings recommended for you when flying? Is compression suggested to you because of chronic venous disease, phlebitis, pulmonary embolism or a recent operation? Your family doctor, podiatrist, chiropodist, or chiropractor may recommend these in conjunction with proper orthotic wear for ideal lower-body health. How do compression garments work? A compression garment is a medical device that improves blood circulation and supports the venous system. It can be worn as leggings, socks, sweaters, sle ..read more

Think you need prescription foot orthotics, but have lots of unanswered questions? This article will run through a high-level overview of some of the most common questions about foot orthotics so that you are as informed as possible before booking an appointment with a health professional. What is an orthotic? This is a medical device that resembles an insole, that goes into a shoe in place of the off-the-shelf cushioning. The orthotic is tailor-made for each individual, each pathology and each shoe. Therefore, no two patients will have identical orthotics. Once the orthotics are in the s ..read more

Does My Child Need Orthotics? First, there are several clues that can indicate that a child may need orthotics: The best way is to look to see if the wear of your child’s shoes is evenly distributed, or if they appear to be worn more in a specific area. If the latter, this is often a sign that the load under the foot is not well distributed and that it may be necessary to stabilize and redistribute weight with foot orthotics. As many of the conditions for foot orthotics are hereditary, genetics play a role – if you have orthotics, it’s more likely your child may need them as well. Poor postur ..read more

If you’re hiking, running, hiking, or walking longer with the summer weather, do you feel that your ankles are sore? Have you ever had an ankle sprain, or find your ankle still turns easily? It may be a sign that your ankles need a bit of strengthening. Ankle injuries are very common and custom orthotics are often used to improve & stabilize lower body biomechanics. However, it is recommended to strengthen the ankle in conjunction with prescription orthotics to achieve both injury prevention and injury recovery. These 5 easy ankle exercises that can be done to strengthen the muscles in you ..read more

Runners often find that leg pain reappears with the return of good weather. One of the culprits? Tibial periostitis. This pain, which manifests as a burn in the tibia, and more specifically the anterior tibia muscle, begins slowly and often increases with training. It is relieved – but rarely fully cured – with rest, ice or anti-inflammatories. What causes tibial periostitis? Periostitis makes little distinction between the Sunday runner and the marathon runner. Athletes of all levels suffer from this sneaky illness, triggered by several factors: Running technique; training manageme ..read more

Each treatment plan for custom orthotics is unique, because each patient reacts differently and requires corrections specific to their conditions. The efficacy rate is high when the treatment is designed following a biomechanical evaluation. To optimize the effectiveness of the treatment, here are 8 tips to follow. 1. Listen to your doctor (before following these recommendations) All of these tips are important to promote the effectiveness of the wearing of your orthotics. However, your prescribing doctor will give you several recommendations and tips to follow to optimize your treatment ..read more

If you’re getting fitted for a pair of custom orthotics, your practitioner will likely conduct a biomechanical analysis, commonly called gait analysis. Because custom orthotics are (as you’d expect!) 100% customized to your own unique needs, all licensed practitioners will need to learn more about the biomechanics of your body. Your doctor – whether it is a podiatrist, chiropodist, chiropractor, pedorthist, or physiotherapist – will examine your gait and your joints starting from your feet and to detect any problem that may cause pain. What to expect from your consultation: 1. Reception P ..read more

Commonly known as “bunions”, hallux valgus is a deviation of the big toe which often comes accompanied by a – sometimes painful – bony deformity of the joint. 1. The cause is often genetic People whose parents have a hallux valgus in the foot are more at risk of developing it as well. The presence of high ligament flexibility in the family can increase a person’s risk of developing this condition. In a case of nature vs nurture, bad “shoe habits” can be passed on through generations, which can also increase the likelihood of bunions. 2. Women over 40 are more likely to develop it Women a ..read more