Orthotics West

Hello December! Thankfully outside isn’t canceled, hoping everybody gets a chance to enjoy the mild Alberta weather!

Foot FAQ/Fact Friday Q: I am worried about the way my child walks; their toes point in. Should I see someone to check it out? A: In toeing gait in children is f...airly common but it is always a good idea to have an assessment to gain some education about the available treatment options. Pediatric in toeing is often referred to as being pigeon-toed, where a child’s feet turn inward instead of straight while walking. They may have a tendency to trip when they walk or run. While many children will grow out of their intoed gait, it is important to assess why it is happening as it can lead to continued foot problems in later years. In toeing gait is typically caused from an inward turn of the midfoot (pronation), the shinbone or the thighbone while walking. A Canadian Certified Pedorthist assesses the structure and movement of the feet and legs to see how they are working together when standing and walking. Young children usually have flexible and flatter feet that will change as they grow. Treatment options can include: Off the shelf insoles with a gait plate A Canadian Certified Pedorthist can help you choose an insole with features to help limit in toeing. These features may include high walls to help hold the flexible foot and an extension at the front caused by twisting of the lower limb. Custom made gait plates A Canadian Certified Pedorthist can manufacture a custom orthotic to maintain the proper support through the arch and cup the heels. These may also include a forefoot extension called a gait plate. This works by increasing the amount of time spent on the outside edge of the foot which decreases in toeing. Physiotherapy Physiotherapy may be recommended to strengthen the muscles that move the leg away from the midline (abductors), and to stretch the muscles that bring the leg towards the midline (adductors). If you have any questions about your child’s feet, legs or walking, your local Canadian Certified Pedorthist would be happy to check their feet during an assessment. To find a pedorthist near you, visit www.pedorthic.ca/

November is diabetes awareness month - Learn more about diabetic-specific orthotics?

What to expect for your Pedorthic Assessment. HISTORY: To obtain a good starting point, we’ll chat about your current complaints, your occupation demands & lifestyle, previous injuries, medical conditions, footwear choices, etc. WEIGHT-BEARING ALIGNMENT: assessment of your natural standing position, determining your foot type, and assessment your bottom-to-top alignment.... GAIT ANALYSIS: assessment of how you walk - I will record you walking and we will review your biomechanics in slow motion. If you are a runner we will also do a running analysis. BIOMECHANANICAL ASSESSMENT: taking a look at how your lower leg and foot muscles and joints function. Assessment of any specific injuries / complaints. FOOTWEAR ANALYSTS: assessment of wear patterns, your shoe fit and function. TREATMENT PLAN: After we get the entire picture from all the steps above I like to explain the findings so you have a better sense of potential causes. We then discuss your options - many times it’s a combination of : home exercise plans, custom foot orthoics, footwear advice, shoe modifications, compression therapy, referral to another healthcare professional such as Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, or Massage/Acupuncture. BALANCE : We believe in a multidisciplinary approach to healthcare and work with many great therapists. If we can’t help you, we know someone who can!

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes. A common symptom of plantar fasciitis is sharp heel pain first steps in the morning. To help reduce the morning pain - Try gently stretching the foot and calf muscle (as shown in the picture below) before getting out of bed and have a pair of supportive indoor sandals ready to sli...p into. Our Canadain Certified Pedorthist - C Ped (C) are trained to assess the various causes of plantar fasciitis. We provide custom foot orthotics and home programs to help overcome plantar fasciitis. Give us a call today 587.577.7283 or see our locations at https://www.orthoticswest.com/locations

7 Tips for Fitting Footwear | A Pedorthic Approach

Foot Fact/FAQ Friday Q: Are the shoes I wear important to the effectiveness of my orthotics? A: Yes. Your custom foot orthotics (CFOs) can only be as helpful as... the footwear you put them in allow them to be. That means your shoes need to fit well and the CFOs will need to interface well with the inside of the shoes. It is often best to go shoe shopping AFTER you have your new CFOs so that you can take them with you and try everything together for maximum comfort. Alternatively, your Canadian Certified Pedorthist can construct and shape the CFOs for the specific make and model of footwear including for skates and cleats. Replace worn out or distorted shoes in order to provide a suitable platform for your new orthotics. For more information about the best footwear and orthotics combination for you, check out pedorthic.ca/find-a-pedorthist/

Hi Everyone! I'm excited to announce that Orthotics West will be servicing multiple clinics in Calgary. We offer full Pedorthic Assessments including: foot and lower limb evaluation, video gait analysis, custom foot orthotics and other complementary devices. For more information check out our website at https://www.orthoticswest.com