ORTHOTICS

We offer custom orthotics to help support all arches of the foot and allow normal foot movement.  Your feet are the foundation of your body. They support you when you stand, walk, or run. And they help protect your spine, bones, and soft tissues from damaging stress as you move around. Your feet perform better when all their muscles, arches, and bones are in their ideal stable positions.  Even if your feet don't hurt, they may be contributing to your overall postural balance.

Custom Foot Orthotics
An 'orthotic' is a device designed to restore your natural foot function. Many 'biomechanical' (walking) complaints such as heel pain, knee pain and lower back pain are caused by poor foot function. Orthotics re-align the foot and ankle bones to their neutral position, thereby restoring natural foot function. In turn, this helps alleviate problems in other parts of the body.  In addition, orthotics give a more even weight distribution, taking pressure of sore spots (e.g. the ball of the foot, corns in between toes, bunions, etc) and they provide some shock absorption.

Who needs orthotics?
Orthotics benefit people with foot, knee, back, and neck pain or discomfort due to walking imbalance.  Everyone who walks needs support of their foundation.  In time, gravity will win… for those who don’t provide their feet with good shoes and support.

Can you wear the orthotics during all daily activities?
People who stand or walk all day will benefit from orthotics.

If you suffer from pain during any form of sporting exercise then orthotics can reduce the pain associated with your condition.

For overweight individuals, orthotics will help to counteract the extra stress being placed on the feet.

What specific conditions may be helped?
Below is a list of some conditions that orthotics can help:

• Achilles Tendonitis
• Metatarsalgia
• Sesamoiditis
• Neuroma
• Tendonitis
• ankle sprains
• flat feet
• corns and bunions
• pronation
• arch, heel, top of the foot, knee, shin, and toe pain

Imbalance in your feet can alter the bony structure of your feet and lower legs. Foot orthotics may eliminate posture problems and can eliminate foot and leg pain.

Do I need a physician's prescription to get custom orthotics?
No.  We are primary health care professionals, therefore a physicians' referral is not needed. Custom orthotics are orthotics that are especially molded to your feet.

Why do I need orthotics?
Imbalances of the bones of the feet can result in abnormal foot motion (over pronation). This can impair foot function which can result in abnormal rotation of the legs and sometimes affects the knees, hips or back. If we combine these tremendous forces with the need for precise balance, we can see how small structural changes in the foot can make significant differences. Orthotics help to improve those structural changes.

How long will my Foot Orthotic Last?
Usually between 2 to 5 years.  Depends on activity level.  An avid runner will break down an orthotic quicker than the average person.

Does it take time to get used to orthotics?
Your feet need time to adjust to the correct biomechanical (walking) position. Orthotics should be gradually used to begin with. During the first 4 days, the orthotics should be used for approximately 3-4 hours per day.  After this period of time it is recommended you use the orthotics for 6-8 hours.  In the second week of use the orthotics can be utilized all day.  We will go over some techniques to use at home to get the foot prepared for the changes prior to use.

What is the cost of custom orthotics?