Erin Kesler
3 Wilson Street East L9G 2B3 Ancaster, ON, Canada

Supply and demand is hurting a bit when it comes to footwear. Another for COVID But, luckily I have some hidden tricks in my back pocket to help!... My little patient decided he was too grown up for Velcro, but unfortunately I couldn’t get him an option with laces. Not to worry Bring out the tools!! Exacto-knives, some pliers and a hole punch, and this kid left with his first pair of lace up shoes! Pedorthists have all the skills to be able to modify your footwear. Whether it’s to add a lift, widen a shoe, soften a bunion area, change your lacing...we’ve got all the training to keep you comfy and happy, and make you feel a little more grown up

This is sweet baby Lexi She had the biggest eyes, and the sweetest smiles that could melt your heart. Her mom is @whitney.carson, and she has become a big part of this little orthotic business over the last year, and much of my growth has been possible by having her help.... She’s an empathetic friend, an amazing mother, and a kick-ass fitness instructor. In Lexi’s shortened life she battled a rare neuromuscular disease called SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) type 1, and spent a lot of her time in hospital. This time each year, Whitney, her husband Luke and Lexi’s little sister Teagan, give back to the McMaster Children’s Hospital in Lexi’s honour. This year, they’ve made some changes in what they are asking for to help make the children fighting their battles in hospital over the holiday season a little easier. Some of the items they are looking to collect are listed below new PJs sized NB to adult XXL gifts cards $10+ think Amazon, Chapters, Dollarama, Walmart, Shopper’s Drug Mart and prepaid Visa/MasterCards. If you are in the position to donate, or share a gift to help these little warriors, please consider spreading Lexi’s love. Donations can be made at the link below, or to me directly. https://m.facebook.com/Lexislovetoydrive/ #lexislovetoydrive #mcmasterchildrenshospital

Two of my favourite things are fashion and footwear so getting the opportunity to share my expertise with Yahoo Canada was a dream come true. Read the full story: https://yhoo.it/3kza7cJ

I have a lab in my house Whenever I share this fun fact out of context, I see the wheels turning. A lab? Like a Breaking Bad lab?? A mad scientist, with Bunsen burners, beakers lab? Nope!... A Pedorthic Lab! I have a huge grinder, an oven, a vacuum press, a band-saw, plaster, buckets, knives, a plethora of materials and other goodies to help me hand-craft a custom Orthotic, specifically for you. It may not look glamorous in there, but I am hard at work ensuring that the quality of my work shines through to you through the relief and comfort my Orthotics provide. Heel pain Ankle pain Forefoot pain Knee pain Back pain I can help! I’ve been a Pedorthist for over 13 years, and have loved every minute of it. Learning new tricks to make you feel better. Finding new materials to make orthotics lighter, new braces to make you want to wear them, and new colours in compression stockings to make you want to show them off. All of these things get me excited!! So maybe I am a bit of a mad scientist after all . See more

Let’s talk about the new trend I’ve been seeing at my appointments lately Heel pain, but in the back of our heels! At first I thought it was a fluke that the majority of my patients came with complaints about pain in their Achielles. But, now it’s been weeks, and it’s still my number one complaint!... Why the sudden change!? My first question to my patients after pinpointing the area is, did this start when the pandemic started? Not surprisingly, the answer has been, Yes. So let’s break it down. So many of us have gone from working outside of the home, wearing different types of footwear, to working in the house, wearing no shoes at all. Also, when we’re indoors, our stride length is shortened, and doesn’t provide the elongation of the tendons in the back of our legs. Cue the nice weather, and increasing activity levels, and subsequently, cue the pain. As we return to normal activity, our muscles and ligaments aren’t ready for it. I can help by taking a look to see if there are any mechanical issues at play, and we can work on a plan to help get you back in action. Please share this post and spread the word! Send me a message, and let’s get back to summer fun! See more

It’s Canada d’eh!!! Pretty proud of this beautiful country of ours Party pandemically safe everyone!

Sometimes you get behind, when you’re getting ahead. Sometimes you try to write an educational post all day, and end up scrolling social media instead. And sometimes you want to take a nap when you’ve scheduled yourself a break between grinding and paperwork, and you leave your lab goggles on... ... See more

I don’t know what to blame for my odd set up today... A global pandemic, or being an entrepreneur? This trailer is in my driveway.. I’m not even camping

Let’s talk about the new trend I’ve been seeing at my appointments lately Heel pain, but in the back of our heels! At first I thought it was a fluke that the majority of my patients came with complaints about pain in their Achielles. But, now it’s been weeks, and it’s still my number one complaint!... Why the sudden change!? My first question to my patients after pinpointing the area is, did this start when the pandemic started? Not surprisingly, the answer has been, Yes. So let’s break it down. So many of us have gone from working outside of the home, wearing different types of footwear, to working in the house, wearing no shoes at all. Also, when we’re indoors, our stride length is shortened, and doesn’t provide the elongation of the tendons in the back of our legs. Cue the nice weather, and increasing activity levels, and subsequently, cue the pain. As we return to normal activity, our muscles and ligaments aren’t ready for it. I can help by taking a look to see if there are any mechanical issues at play, and we can work on a plan to help get you back in action. Please share this post and spread the word! Send me a message, and let’s get back to summer fun! See more

Community is important in times like these Some of you know that I offer home visits to my community in Binbrook, On. This town has opened their doors for me to come in to their homes and help their families by working around all of our busy schedules.... Life is hard, and days get too full to take care of ourselves. This is a way to give back, by giving time to those who can make those usual 9-5 appointments. During these particularly hard times, the families have come together to bring joy to one another. Right now, we have a fairy group where the women in this community find ways bring joy to these rough days. Tonight I got to be a fairy to someone, and came home to have a fairy visit me. Bringing happiness to others really does fill the ol’ bucket up. Love from a stranger can mean so much. I challenge you to be a fairy to someone you know. Or better yet, someone you don’t know. My goodness it feels good See more

It’s Canada d’eh!!! Pretty proud of this beautiful country of ours Party pandemically safe everyone!

I don’t know what to blame for my odd set up today... A global pandemic, or being an entrepreneur? This trailer is in my driveway.. I’m not even camping

......Oh Hey! I have some good news! I am able to return to seeing patients in pain and who have been patiently waiting for items that have been sitting on my shelf for the last couple of months.... This is by no means a return to full service, but I am available to those in need. Some services like orthopaedic footwear replacement and compression stock re-orders can be done through email. No need to come see me! It's just like online shopping addiction most of us have developed, but with medical benefits But if you do have to come in, rest assured that I will be following strict cleaning and PPE protocol for the safety of us both. I've been told I have very expressive eyes. Which will be good, because it will be a while before you can see my full face! Stay healthy everyone! See more

Community is important in times like these Some of you know that I offer home visits to my community in Binbrook, On. This town has opened their doors for me to come in to their homes and help their families by working around all of our busy schedules.... Life is hard, and days get too full to take care of ourselves. This is a way to give back, by giving time to those who can make those usual 9-5 appointments. During these particularly hard times, the families have come together to bring joy to one another. Right now, we have a fairy group where the women in this community find ways bring joy to these rough days. Tonight I got to be a fairy to someone, and came home to have a fairy visit me. Bringing happiness to others really does fill the ol’ bucket up. Love from a stranger can mean so much. I challenge you to be a fairy to someone you know. Or better yet, someone you don’t know. My goodness it feels good See more

......Oh Hey! I have some good news! I am able to return to seeing patients in pain and who have been patiently waiting for items that have been sitting on my shelf for the last couple of months.... This is by no means a return to full service, but I am available to those in need. Some services like orthopaedic footwear replacement and compression stock re-orders can be done through email. No need to come see me! It's just like online shopping addiction most of us have developed, but with medical benefits But if you do have to come in, rest assured that I will be following strict cleaning and PPE protocol for the safety of us both. I've been told I have very expressive eyes. Which will be good, because it will be a while before you can see my full face! Stay healthy everyone! See more

Idle hands make for fretful minds In a profession where I depend on touch to diagnose and assess, cast and fabricate, I’ve found this social pause particularly difficult. I’m not able to help. I’m not able to create. ... Sure. I have two little bodies to wipe and bathe, pick up and put down, make snacks and meals for... but is any of that a creative outlet?? Not for me it isn’t. When I was on maternity leave I found myself with the same feelings. I eventually decided that making bibs for my boys and for my friends children was a great outlet for my stifled need to create. During my shutdown, I’ve had so many patients on our frontlines reach out to me because they are in pain. They are due for new orthotics, but know that it’s not safe for a visit. But I still want to help. I’ve scrounged up all the leftover fabrics I had from making bibs, cut up a few pillowcases and sheets, and have been making scrub caps for my friends and patients fighting to heal us. I may not be an expert seamstress, but I’m a Maker. If you are in need, please let me know. I’d love to help. And this mind is being calmed, as long as my idle hands are creating See more

Health is always first As much as this is scary to say, the time has come to create social distancing to give our healthcare system and at-risk population a fighting chance. As Canadians, I feel like we are all taking this very seriously. I believe that we will make it through this pandemic without collapses to our healthcare, and have greater preservation of life.... Since my profession requires hands-on assessment, it doesn’t really leave much room for social distancing. Clinical appointments in Ancaster are tentatively suspended until April 5th, and my home visits will also be taking a break until the advice of social distancing is lifted. As a small business owner, this is scary. No assessments mean no paycheques, and in a business where I can't shift my services to online, I will have to sit and wait. So I will choose to focus on the jobs I have been putting off; the bathrooms that need a good scrubbing, the lab that needs cleaning, and the children that need some silly play time with Mommy and Daddy. Let's all take a breath, focus on the good, and we will get through this together. One more thing. Lay off the toilet paper hoarding ok?? See more

Idle hands make for fretful minds In a profession where I depend on touch to diagnose and assess, cast and fabricate, I’ve found this social pause particularly difficult. I’m not able to help. I’m not able to create. ... Sure. I have two little bodies to wipe and bathe, pick up and put down, make snacks and meals for... but is any of that a creative outlet?? Not for me it isn’t. When I was on maternity leave I found myself with the same feelings. I eventually decided that making bibs for my boys and for my friends children was a great outlet for my stifled need to create. During my shutdown, I’ve had so many patients on our frontlines reach out to me because they are in pain. They are due for new orthotics, but know that it’s not safe for a visit. But I still want to help. I’ve scrounged up all the leftover fabrics I had from making bibs, cut up a few pillowcases and sheets, and have been making scrub caps for my friends and patients fighting to heal us. I may not be an expert seamstress, but I’m a Maker. If you are in need, please let me know. I’d love to help. And this mind is being calmed, as long as my idle hands are creating See more

Plantar Fasciitis! Let’s talk heel pain. Plantar fasciitis presents as sharp heel pain first thing in the morning but subsides after some time spent on our feet. It can feel like you are stepping shards of glass, and the pain can radiate up the medial (inside) of your heel, or even in through your arch toward the ball of your foot. ... Many of us forget to take care of our feet inside our homes during the winter months. Hardwood floors and ceramics do nothing good for our feet! When hard flooring is paired with poor foot mechanics, it is a perfect recipe for tears in our plantar fascia, which causes the heel pain! Indoor footwear such as sandals with supportive arch supports are a great option to wear as a house shoe. Calf tightness is directly linked with the onset of plantar fasciitis. Try lightly stretching your calf muscles and foot before you step onto the floor in the morning. There are many attachment points in our feet from muscles that originate behind our big gastroc muscles! When these are tight, they can create more pull and tension in our arches. Custom made orthotics are one of the easiest and most comfortable ways two treat plantar fasciitis. They put your foot into a position where tension on the plantar fascia is eliminated, allowing the healing process to occur while you go about your day! Share this post with your family and friends who are suffering! There are some good tips in here to help alleviate some pain! See more

Health is always first As much as this is scary to say, the time has come to create social distancing to give our healthcare system and at-risk population a fighting chance. As Canadians, I feel like we are all taking this very seriously. I believe that we will make it through this pandemic without collapses to our healthcare, and have greater preservation of life.... Since my profession requires hands-on assessment, it doesn’t really leave much room for social distancing. Clinical appointments in Ancaster are tentatively suspended until April 5th, and my home visits will also be taking a break until the advice of social distancing is lifted. As a small business owner, this is scary. No assessments mean no paycheques, and in a business where I can't shift my services to online, I will have to sit and wait. So I will choose to focus on the jobs I have been putting off; the bathrooms that need a good scrubbing, the lab that needs cleaning, and the children that need some silly play time with Mommy and Daddy. Let's all take a breath, focus on the good, and we will get through this together. One more thing. Lay off the toilet paper hoarding ok?? See more

Sore feet in your winter boots?? Recently, I have seen an increase of educators coming in for assessments. It made me think about how their working environment has changed over the last few months. Let’s discuss winter footwear!!... Many winter boots provide a warm and cozy environment for our feet, but aren’t as supportive as they should be for hours of walking on slippery and uneven, snow-covered sidewalks. So, what type of boots should you get?? Well, to be perfectly honest, I don’t even own winter boots myself! I own a high-cut pair of waterproof hikers. They have fantastic tread for all different terrains, the gore-tex lining keeps my feet dry in the wettest conditions, and with a good pair of warm socks they become my winter boots! If you’re struggling with foot pain, take a look at the back of the boot and see if your boots have a strong heel counter.(the part that you put a shoe horn against to slide a foot in). Does the sole of the shoe move more than a gentle bend at the toes for propulsion? ( it shouldn’t twist from side to side or roll up into a ball ) If your boot is lacking these supportive features, your foot is working harder to balance on more difficult terrain. And this is just the tip of the iceberg! I’d love to help you figure out what is hurting you and treat any heel, arch, or any other lower limb pain you have developed during these cold months. Feel free to share with your friends! Sharing is caring!

Plantar Fasciitis! Let’s talk heel pain. Plantar fasciitis presents as sharp heel pain first thing in the morning but subsides after some time spent on our feet. It can feel like you are stepping shards of glass, and the pain can radiate up the medial (inside) of your heel, or even in through your arch toward the ball of your foot. ... Many of us forget to take care of our feet inside our homes during the winter months. Hardwood floors and ceramics do nothing good for our feet! When hard flooring is paired with poor foot mechanics, it is a perfect recipe for tears in our plantar fascia, which causes the heel pain! Indoor footwear such as sandals with supportive arch supports are a great option to wear as a house shoe. Calf tightness is directly linked with the onset of plantar fasciitis. Try lightly stretching your calf muscles and foot before you step onto the floor in the morning. There are many attachment points in our feet from muscles that originate behind our big gastroc muscles! When these are tight, they can create more pull and tension in our arches. Custom made orthotics are one of the easiest and most comfortable ways two treat plantar fasciitis. They put your foot into a position where tension on the plantar fascia is eliminated, allowing the healing process to occur while you go about your day! Share this post with your family and friends who are suffering! There are some good tips in here to help alleviate some pain! See more

Out of office ! Well, you’ve worked me hard this last year, and especially these last couple of months, so I’ve decided it’s time to slow down ... for a week I will have limited access to email and social media Feb 2-10th, so if I don’t get back to you right away, hang tight! ... It’s vacation time! Or as us parents call it, breaking up fights in a warmer climate. See more

Sore feet in your winter boots?? Recently, I have seen an increase of educators coming in for assessments. It made me think about how their working environment has changed over the last few months. Let’s discuss winter footwear!!... Many winter boots provide a warm and cozy environment for our feet, but aren’t as supportive as they should be for hours of walking on slippery and uneven, snow-covered sidewalks. So, what type of boots should you get?? Well, to be perfectly honest, I don’t even own winter boots myself! I own a high-cut pair of waterproof hikers. They have fantastic tread for all different terrains, the gore-tex lining keeps my feet dry in the wettest conditions, and with a good pair of warm socks they become my winter boots! If you’re struggling with foot pain, take a look at the back of the boot and see if your boots have a strong heel counter.(the part that you put a shoe horn against to slide a foot in). Does the sole of the shoe move more than a gentle bend at the toes for propulsion? ( it shouldn’t twist from side to side or roll up into a ball ) If your boot is lacking these supportive features, your foot is working harder to balance on more difficult terrain. And this is just the tip of the iceberg! I’d love to help you figure out what is hurting you and treat any heel, arch, or any other lower limb pain you have developed during these cold months. Feel free to share with your friends! Sharing is caring!

Let’s talk a bit about insurance fraud in the orthotic world When you are offered a free shoe with your orthotic, it’s at the cost of the quality of the orthotics. The assessor will go through the motions of doing an assessment, but when it comes to your orthotic, you are given a pre-fabricated insole labelled high arch Low arch etc. None of these are actually formed to your foot, and it’s not what you are paying for!... So let’s say you have $500 dollar coverage for an orthotic. These fraudulent places will charge you that amount, then say you can get a shoe up to say $150 dollars. The shoe is usually purchased from a warehouse at a discounted cost of less than half of the retail price you see, and the insoles they are providing you are at a cost of about $12. Now, do you understand why your heel still hurts, or you aren’t as comfortable as you should be? ’ , !! I like to let my work speak for itself. No, you won’t get a free shoe from me, BUT I will be more than happy to educate you on what the best footwear is for your foot type and condition! I hand-make each of my patients orthotics MYSELF. I cast, thermo-mould the materials to your foot mould, cut and grind it down to fit in a shoe, and can do adjustments where necessary. I LOVE what I do. I love to educate you based on your symptoms so you can understand your body a bit more, and why you develop pain. I want to change the conversation around Orthotics. You should be happy to put them on each day because they make a difference in how you feel. I would be thrilled to show you the difference a true custom orthotic makes. Please share to help get the word out! #liftingtheveil #ethicalpractice #choosehandmade #endrant See more

Out of office ! Well, you’ve worked me hard this last year, and especially these last couple of months, so I’ve decided it’s time to slow down ... for a week I will have limited access to email and social media Feb 2-10th, so if I don’t get back to you right away, hang tight! ... It’s vacation time! Or as us parents call it, breaking up fights in a warmer climate. See more

It's my birthday! .. Well kinda...1 January 5, 2019 was my first official clinic day at the Foot-Knee-Back Clinic in Ancaster on my entrepreneurial journey! What a year it has been!... I've learned and mastered aspects of business I had previously avoided because I thought I wasn't good at them. I have pushed myself out of my comfort zones to ensure that I grow personally and professionally, because growth comes from discomfort. YOU are the master of your mind, happiness, efforts and success. There is power in passion and perseverance. THANK YOU to all who have supported me by answering my plentiful questions, saying they were proud of me, or have chosen to send patients, family and friends my way. Year 2 is underway! New goals are already in place, and I'm excited to see what I will learn, and who I meet. I love what I do, and I hope that shines through See more

Let’s talk a bit about insurance fraud in the orthotic world When you are offered a free shoe with your orthotic, it’s at the cost of the quality of the orthotics. The assessor will go through the motions of doing an assessment, but when it comes to your orthotic, you are given a pre-fabricated insole labelled high arch Low arch etc. None of these are actually formed to your foot, and it’s not what you are paying for!... So let’s say you have $500 dollar coverage for an orthotic. These fraudulent places will charge you that amount, then say you can get a shoe up to say $150 dollars. The shoe is usually purchased from a warehouse at a discounted cost of less than half of the retail price you see, and the insoles they are providing you are at a cost of about $12. Now, do you understand why your heel still hurts, or you aren’t as comfortable as you should be? ’ , !! I like to let my work speak for itself. No, you won’t get a free shoe from me, BUT I will be more than happy to educate you on what the best footwear is for your foot type and condition! I hand-make each of my patients orthotics MYSELF. I cast, thermo-mould the materials to your foot mould, cut and grind it down to fit in a shoe, and can do adjustments where necessary. I LOVE what I do. I love to educate you based on your symptoms so you can understand your body a bit more, and why you develop pain. I want to change the conversation around Orthotics. You should be happy to put them on each day because they make a difference in how you feel. I would be thrilled to show you the difference a true custom orthotic makes. Please share to help get the word out! #liftingtheveil #ethicalpractice #choosehandmade #endrant See more

It's my birthday! .. Well kinda...1 January 5, 2019 was my first official clinic day at the Foot-Knee-Back Clinic in Ancaster on my entrepreneurial journey! What a year it has been!... I've learned and mastered aspects of business I had previously avoided because I thought I wasn't good at them. I have pushed myself out of my comfort zones to ensure that I grow personally and professionally, because growth comes from discomfort. YOU are the master of your mind, happiness, efforts and success. There is power in passion and perseverance. THANK YOU to all who have supported me by answering my plentiful questions, saying they were proud of me, or have chosen to send patients, family and friends my way. Year 2 is underway! New goals are already in place, and I'm excited to see what I will learn, and who I meet. I love what I do, and I hope that shines through See more