How Pedorthists Can Help Alleviate Foot Pain 

Certified Pedorthists are experts in designing, manufacturing, fitting and modifying footwear, orthotics and lower-limb braces to help alleviate foot problems and improve mobility. They’re compression fit specialists and footwear fit experts and even offer a variety of devices such as night splints, partial-foot prosthetics and more. They also work with doctors, physical therapists and other healthcare professionals to develop treatment plans for the foot and ankle.

Custom-Made Orthotics

In addition to easing pain, orthotics can prevent problems with your hips, knees and spine. They can also improve your posture and balance, especially if you’re overweight, another common cause of foot pain.

A Pedorthist Ottawa is trained in making custom-made orthotics, which are different from the prefabricated versions you can buy in shoe stores or online. They are based on a plaster mold of the bottom of your feet. These orthotics are made from leather, plastic or 3D printed.

Unlike insoles, a subset of orthotics, they help correct the structural issues within your feet that lead to pain. Taking the time to get measured for orthotics could save hours or weeks of strapping tape on your feet. Please schedule an appointment with a podiatrist or non-surgical foot specialist today to learn how they can help you find relief.

Custom-Made Footwear

Foot pain is often the result of improperly fitting shoes. Pedorthists can fit you with custom footwear that will address your specific needs and help alleviate your discomfort. A Pedorthist will take a cast of your feet and design a shoe or boot that fits your foot precisely. This type of footwear can address issues such as bunions, hammertoes, flat feet and other foot deformities.

They can also provide extra support for the ankle and heel to help prevent fractures or other ailments related to repetitive activity. In addition, they can add a rocker sole to a shoe to provide extra cushioning to reduce shock impact.

This will help to alleviate pain from conditions such as arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Footwear modifications are also within the scope of practice for a Certified Pedorthist. They can change the interior surface, lining or closure of stock footwear.

Footwear Modifications

Pedorthics is designing, manufacturing, fitting and modifying footwear or shoe inserts for patients with foot problems. Whether it is to help with foot pain, diabetic ulcers, or even reduce the incidence of falls in people with mobility issues. Pedorthists are uniquely suited to make footwear changes, as they understand the interaction between the foot and shoe.

These alterations may be internal or external, and they can reduce the load on stiff, painful joints in the ankles and feet, control excessive pronation and provide greater comfort while you are walking and running.

Some examples of these modifications include a Shuffle Plate, which adds a layer of slippery material to the bottom of the shoe; a Thomas Heel Modification (an extension longer than the standard heel on the inside) to support the rear foot or mid-foot medially; and a Sole Bar (a steel or carbon fiber full-length bar laminated between the sole to eliminate dorsiflexion). These are just some of the many footwear modification options available.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy helps alleviate foot pain through modalities such as massages, gentle foot stretches and specific exercises that help strengthen the muscles of the feet. These exercises can also help improve balance and the ability to bear weight on the feet. Physical therapy helps reduce the severity of some foot disorders, including arthritic conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

It can also address foot fractures, stress injuries, Morton’s neuroma and metatarsalgia. For example, a physical therapist can help reduce the pain and discomfort of bunions (hallux valgus), which cause the big toe joint to enlarge over time, resulting in a bump on the side of the foot. They can also help people with neuropathy improve their balance and walking abilities and address any changes in sensation.

Nutritional Counseling

If you suffer from foot pain, there are many ways that a podiatrist can help alleviate it. From helping you find the right footwear to implementing stretches, they can help you get back on your feet. A pedorthist can also teach you healthy lifestyle habits that reduce stress on your feet and ankles.

For example, regularly soaking your feet in warm water and adding generous Epsom salts can ease pain swelling and relieve stiffness. Podiatrists know that foot pain can be a symptom of other health conditions, and they’re not afraid to recommend additional testing or refer you to a specialist for further evaluation. This is especially important if other symptoms, such as a fever or fatigue, accompany your foot pain.