Your Feet...

The foot is one of the most important structures in your body. The feet provide your foundation and transportation for a lifetime. However, hard surfaces at work and play along with constrictive footwear have produced a multitude of foot ailments which can affect your entire health and well being.

Many foot problems are inherited while other result from abnormal pressures that cause deformities to develop during childhood. Periodic examinations of a child's feet during the growing years are vital to a child's lifetime foot health. As a child, correction of a foot problem is easier to attain and much less costly and time consuming.

Untreated foot disorders can cause painful complications. Bunions, corns, calluses, leg and back disorders have been demonstrated to be the result of poor foot function. The problems can stop a person from participating in various work related, social, or athletic activities. Therefore, treatment and/or correction of foot problems are best started at the earliest stages.

A Podiatrist is a specialist who will help you overcome your foot ailments. The podiatrist holds a D. P. M. (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine) degree. Most foot problems can be treated with or without surgery by a podiatrist. The podiatrist can provide foot care to both children and adults.

 

 

 

Orthoses (orthotics) are individually designed shoe inserts which can relieve foot pain by altering the abnormal function of the feet. The orthoses help to re-align the feet back to the proper position so the patient can stand, walk and run more comfortably. However, orthoses are NOT simply arch supports.

Will You Need Orthoses?

The Podiatrists (foot specialists) at the Edmonton Foot Health Centre will determine if you will benefit from foot orthoses after careful consideration of your symptoms and thorough examination of your feet. Over the many years, the podiatrists at our centre have achieved great success in the orthotic treatment of many foot problems. They use orthoses to treat patients of all age groups.

Types of Foot Problems Helped by Orthoses

Some of the more common foot problems which can be helped by orthoses include heel pain, flat feet, high arches, bunions, hammertoes, and calluses. Our podiatrists have also utilized orthoses to treat ankle weakness and frequent sprains. Sometimes, knee and back pain may be relieved by orthotic control. The foot surgeons at the Edmonton Foot Health Centre can recommend orthoses after surgical correction of certain foot deformities. Here, the use of orthoses is an attempt to reduce the possibility that the deformity may recur.

Types of Foot Orthoses

The podiatrists at our centre can prescribe different orthotic designs with various materials. Their decision of what orthotic type is best suited for you, is based upon your presenting foot problem, your shoe preference and your activity level. Our goal is to improve your foot function and relieve your foot pain.

Orthoses for Adults

The orthoses for these patients can be made from rigid, semi-rigid or soft materials. The rigid orthoses are intended to control function or motion of the feet. Adults who need some re-alignment of their feet and lower limb will benefit from this kind of orthoses. The semi-rigid orthoses will permit both control and shock absorption. Thus, this type is recommended for athletes. The soft orthoses are protective in nature. these orthoses are ideal for patients with diabetes or arthritis so excessive pressure can be removed from sore areas of the feet and the weight more evenly distributed along the bottom of the feet.

Orthoses for Children

Orthoses can be used for children as soon as the start to walk. The podiatrists at the Edmonton Foot Health Centre have used foot orthoses to treat flat feet, pigeon toe, and in-toe in children. This is intended to prevent the development of the foot deformity during growth and limit future foot symptoms. The orthoses can be placed inside the child's shoes. The amount of time required for orthotic treatment in children will depend upon the seriousness of the foot deformity and how soon the treatment is initiated.

Final Word

If you, a family member or a friend suffer from the foot deformities mentioned, it may be beneficial to speak to one of the podiatrists at the Edmonton Foot Health Centre about orthoses.