Foot deformities and other chronic podiatric conditions can cause considerable pain and dysfunction for patients. Fortunately, here at Podiatry Associates in Mississauga, East Toronto, Whitby, and Brantford, ON, surgery and lengthy recovery are not the norm. Our foot specialists offer a number of treatments to address podiatric issues, including the use of customized orthotics to improve function, ease pain, and accommodate deformities. Could orthotics help you?

What is an orthotic?

Orthotics are custom-fabricated shoe inserts that are available from the podiatrists here at our offices in Mississauga, East Toronto, Whitby, and Brantford. Designed to cushion, protect, and balance your feet, orthotics present a wonderful alternative to more invasive interventions, such as surgery. Made according to your specific diagnosis, lifestyle, and foot structure, orthotics fit inside your shoes to deliver comfort and stability.

What kinds of orthotics are there?

Of course, we've all seen shoe inserts and insoles sold at the local pharmacy or supermarket. Sometimes termed "kiosk-generated products," these inserts provide limited benefits, especially when it comes to more specific concerns, such as bunions. Consequently, most podiatric issues are much better addressed through the high-quality materials, expert design, and individualized manufacturing process involved with orthotics.

In general, orthotics are either accommodative or functional. Accommodative orthotics are made of softer materials to cushion, support, and protect feet that are marred with ulcerations, corns, calluses, and deformities (either acquired or congenital). Functional orthotics, on the other hand, typically provide more support for athletes and people who spend a significant amount of time on their feet.

What conditions do orthotics treat?

Orthotics are an exceptionally versatile treatment. Conditions they can improve include:

• Bursitis
• Arthritis
• Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs
• Bunions
• Corns and calluses
• Diabetic ulcers
• Gait imbalances, such as overpronation
• Charcot foot
• Hammertoes
• Flat feet, or fallen arches
• High arches
• Shin splints
• Lower back pain
• Knee pain
• Hallux rigidus, or stiff big toe
• Limb deformities
• Uneven foot or limb length

Do you qualify for custom-made orthotics?

To qualify you for treatment, your podiatrist will do a complete foot and ankle examination and some imaging (X-rays or another kind). Also, they may perform a video or computer gait analysis to determine precisely how you place your feet on the ground and whether your weight and pressure are evenly distributed. Proper balance often alleviates many foot and ankle problems, including chronic pain.

Custom-molding of your orthotics follows. Your inserts will be made for your feet and your feet alone, much like eyeglass lenses are fabricated according to your specific prescription.

Learn more about orthotics

Call one of four offices (Mississauga, East Toronto, Whitby, and Brantford) to schedule a consultation with one of our podiatrists: Contact us by calling (905) 568-3800 for the Mississauga office, (416) 694-4166 for the East Toronto office, (905) 433-0200 for the Whitby office, or (519) 751-2900 for the Brantford office.

Custom made orthotics improve the health and function of feet that have been hurting due to structural abnormalities and unbalanced gait. At The Podiatry Associates in Mississauga, East Toronto, Whitby, and Brantford, Ontario, your podiatrists prescribe these specialty inserts with great success, allowing patients of all ages to be free of pain and have better ankle functionality. Drs. Barry Noble, Mark Bradley, and Marilyn Bradley use today's latest diagnostic techniques and materials to craft the best orthotic choice for their patients, and they can help you, too!

What are orthotics?

They are custom-fabricated inserts placed directly into shoes. Accommodative orthotics are made of soft materials to protect and cushion feet that have wounds, calluses, and other skin/structural issues. Diabetics typically benefit from these soft orthotics as well.

Another orthotic type is the functional orthotic. Constructed from more rigid materials such as carbon fiber, these customized inserts provide biomechanical stability in order to avoid gait problems and other issues caused by abnormal motion of the feet. Plantar fasciitis, stemming from overpronation, is a podiatric condition which benefits from functional orthotics, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).

Conditions which benefit from orthotics

Orthotics are a wonderful alternative to more invasive therapies such as surgery, medications, or cortisone injections. Typically, they last indefinitely, being precisely crafted according to a digital or cast mold of the foot. The APMA says that while drugstore inserts (heel cups, insoles, and the like) have their place for very minor problems, custom-fabricated orthotics render the best therapeutic effects and outlast any retail product.

Your podiatrists prescribe orthotics for conditions such as:

• Plantar fasciitis
• Foot ulcers
• Foot and heel pain
• Tendonitis
• Bunions
• Hammertoes
• Flat arches
• Ankle sprains
• Corns and calluses

At The Podiatry Associates, your professional team uses visual inspection and conventional gait analysis (i.e. watching you walk) to determine if orthotics are the right treatment modality. Also, we use FSCAN examination and frame by frame PediGait video analysis for the most precise observation and evaluation of biomechanical abnormalities.

Let us help you

The Podiatry Associates delivers a wide variety of services which help you stay on your feet and keep moving. We have four convenient locations to serve you best: Mississauga, East Toronto, Whitby, and Brantford, ON. Schedule an appointment by calling (416) 694-4166 for the Toronto office, (905) 433-0200 for the Whitby office, (905) 568-3800 for the Mississauga office, or (519) 751-2900 for the Brantford office.

How orthotics from your podiatrists in Mississauga, Ontario, can help you and your feet

Do your feet hurt? This foot pain could be caused by an inordinate amount of stress created by the way you walk. The podiatrists here at Podiatry Associates in Mississauga, ON, can analyze the way you walk to determine what is causing your foot pain and then recommend a custom-made orthotic to help relieve your foot pain. We have several convenient office locations in Mississauga, East Toronto, Whitby, and Brantford, Ontario to help you and your feet—read on to learn more!

How We Diagnose The Problem

The podiatrists here at Podiatry Associates offer video gait analysis, a state-of-the-art way to view how you walk. Through video, your biomechanics are examined to see how walking motion is affecting your feet. Video gait analysis benefits podiatrists by providing a tool for better diagnosis. It also benefits you because you can actually see how you walk and how that motion might be impacting your feet.

Computer gait evaluation is another high-tech tool to assess current and future foot problems. Force and time are measured while you are standing or walking. Force can be measured with or without custom orthotics to determine whether the orthotic is of full benefit to reduce foot stress.

Video gait analysis and computer gait evaluation are combined with a comprehensive clinical examination to provide you with the best orthotic to help correct your walk and relieve foot pain.

How We Can Help

The podiatrists at Podiatry Associates offer a full range of custom-made orthotics to help relieve the stress on your feet.

Your podiatrists may recommend soft orthotics, which are shock absorbing, help with balance, and take pressure off of your feet. They are an excellent choice to bring relief to arthritic or diabetic feet.

Semi-rigid orthotics are another choice, combining both soft and rigid materials. They are a great option for treating some foot issues in children, and for people who play sports.

Rigid orthotics are used to relieve strained tendons, muscle aches, and leg pain because they limit the motion of foot joints. They can be worn to reduce stress when walking or for added foot support.

Give Us a Call!

You can get relief from foot pain, and it all starts with how you walk! Computer and video gait analysis, combined with custom-made orthotics, can help you get back on your feet without pain. For more information about gait analysis, orthotics, and other foot care services, call Podiatry Associates, with offices in Mississauga, East Toronto, Whitby, and Brantford, Ontario. Call now!

I can`t believe how many times per day i have answered this question in 30+ years of clinical practice and teaching. The answer is simple, your footwear are the foundation of your structure!. Without a stable solid foundation the best orthotic in the world will do little to improve your functional control or stability. It's a bit like a race car team struggling to adjust the suspension on their car while running street tires on the track. In the modern world we have chosen to live in, the surfaces our feet deal with every step are hostile, unforgiving and repetitive. Like or not we are completely dependant on the use of footwear as a result of our environment. The shock absorbing nature of the footwear has won over the popular vote in both manufacturing and retail versus structural stability. As a result of this structural integrity and functional design has seen a rapid decline in the last 10 years. Innovation appears rampant in the market place, however when examined even briefly, reveals that most designs are intended to appeal to the eye or allude to an advanced but unrevealed technology. The real beneficiaries of these changes are the manufactures and the retailers. So as per usual its a case of buyer be beware, or buyer be better informed. If we as clinical specialists don't arm you with the necessary information you need to purchase the correct footwear for your specific feet then we have failed to perform our most fundamental of tasks.

So back to the question, shoes versus orthotics. Good stable foot footwear is vital and in many cases all that may be required. Where symptoms prevail or the severity of the condition demands orthotics are often a superb next step and must be designed appropriately with consideration for the condition, individual and the activities intended.

Could orthotics improve your sore, tired feet?

Chances are good that you’ve seen shoe inserts before. These foot-shaped products are designed to fit inside your shoe and offer support while also improving any preexisting foot conditions you might have. Wondering if orthotics could be right for you? From the office of our Whitby, Mississauga, Brantford, and Toronto, ON, podiatrists, find out what orthotics could do for your foot health.

As you might imagine, orthotics come in many different shapes, styles and sizes to accommodate a host of foot shapes and issues. We have orthotics that can alter and improve how the foot functions, we have orthotics that are protective and supportive and those that do a little bit of both. During your evaluation, our Toronto, ON, foot doctors will examine your feet and discuss the symptoms and issues you are having to determine which type of orthotic is right for you.

Could I benefit from orthotics?

There are many ways in which orthotics can improve your foot health. They can be used to:

• Support the arches or raise arches
• Realign the foot’s structure to improve function
• Redistribute the weight more evenly
• Relieve pain and sensitivity in certain areas of the foot
• Improve shock absorption

As you might imagine, mechanical problems in the feet can lead to everything from heel and arch pain to hip and back problems. In fact, while a lot of people may not realize it, their lower back pain could be due to a biomechanical dysfunction in the feet. Fortunately, custom orthotics can improve the health and function of your feet to prevent or even alleviate these issues.

You could benefit from custom orthotics if you are dealing with:

• Overpronation
• Flat feet
• Achilles tendonitis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Bunions
• Hammertoes
• Runner’s knee
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome

…And the list continues. If you are dealing with any of the issues above, or if you just feel like your feet might need a little more support and cushioning throughout the day then you can always turn to us to find out if orthotics could improve the health and function of your feet on a day-to-day basis.

No matter whether you are dealing with flat feet, rheumatoid arthritis or sore runner’s feet, custom orthotics might be able to help you. Turn to the experts at Podiatry Associates, who are proud to serve the Mississauga, East Toronto, Whitby and Brantford, ON, areas. Call us today.