General Foot Care Tips

• Wash your feet daily. Rinse off all soap and dry thoroughly, especially between toes.
• Trim nails straight across, and not too short. Don't cut out or dig at corners.
• Do not trim, shave, or use over-the-counter medicines to dissolve corns or calluses.
• Wear clean socks or stockings, changed daily. Don't wear any that are too short or too tight.
• Ensure your shoes fit well.

The Right Fit for Your Shoes

• Only you can tell if shoes fit. If they aren't comfortable, don't buy them!
• Don't plan on shoes stretching with wear. If you already own shoes that are too tight, ask your shoe repair shop if they can be stretched.
• Because feet spread with age, have your feet measured every time you buy shoes. Both feet should be measured as they are often different sizes. Always buy shoes for the BIGGEST foot.
• Go shoe shopping late in the afternoon. Feet swell to their largest then.
• Size depends on shoe make and style, too. Don't insist you always wear one size if the next feels better.
• The toe box should be roomy enough so you can wiggle all your toes.
• Your forefoot should NOT be wider than your shoe.
• The heel should fit snugly and the instep should not gape open.
• If you can't find shoes that fit, ask your doctor for advice.

The foot is the most complicated part of our body, yet the least cared for. It is estimated that thirty percent of the population has some type of foot problem or injury.

Sixty percent of the population is overweight and forty percent of the work force is on their feet more than four hours per day. These are staggering numbers. It is no wonder that so many people have problems with their feet! Both extra weight and prolonged pressure on the feet lead to a variety of foot disorders.

For example, when a faulty stride or extended walking causes the plantar fascia (the band of connective tissue that runs from the heel to the toe) to stretch too tautly, one feels the severe heel and arch pain of plantar fasciitis. Similarly, prolonged standing on a hard surface can cause many other foot problems to occur.

There are a variety of great products on the market that help relieve and prevent foot pain. These include Custom Made Orthotics (which can also help back, hip, knee and ankle pain), gel heel cushions, non-prescription foot orthotics and so much more.

Custom Made Orthotics in Brampton

START TAKING CARE OF YOUR FEET

We provide custom made orthotics and orthotic footwear to clients living in Brampton, Georgetown, Mississauga and the surrounding area. Orthotics and footwear are available for everything from hiking, lounging and golfing to working in the office! Please view our product line and give us a call at (905) 450-7870 if you have any questions. Full Money Back Guarantee! (If you are not fully satisfied with your orthotics, return them within a selected time period and get your money back.) Free Modifications! (If your orthotics don’t feel just right, we’ll modify them for free.) Visit us at Queen West Physiotherapy & Acupuncture 345 Queen Street West, BRAMPTON (905) 450-7870 or toll free at 1-866-410-TENS(8367) Directions to our clinic

Get a sophisticated Gait Analysis of the way you walk, in the comfort and convenience of your workplace! For groups of 5 or more people, we can come right to your workplace to assess your feet and provide a truly computerized weight bearing, dynamic gait analysis. Please call us for details.

What are orthotics and how can they help me?

Your feet don’t have to hurt anymore! Custom made orthotics are specialized insoles or “inserts” that make your feet happy all day long by taking the pressure off them. They also help relieve your back, hip and knee pain. Our orthotics are very thin and light weight – they fit easily and discreetly into your existing shoes and provide instant relief.

What types of orthotics are available?

We carry a large selection of different types of orthotics. For example, we offer specialized orthotics for:

· the everyday, casual walking shoe
· the dress shoe
· the arthritic foot
· the diabetic foot
· the runner/jogger
· the skier/skater
· the golfer
· the court athlete
· children

What are orthotic shoes and sandals? Can I see them online?

Orthotic shoes and sandals are specially designed footwear with custom made orthotics built right in. We have a wide variety of styles of both shoes and sandals which provide the ultimate in comfort and style. Yes, they can be viewed online in order for you to choose the right pair for you. Please see our complete selection which is available to you!

Am I covered?

If you have an insurance plan through your work or spouse’s work, you are likely covered for orthotics. Most insurance plans allow for 1 pair of orthotics per year which can be prescribed by your physiotherapist or family doctor, depending on your specific health plan.

Some plans even cover 1 pair of orthotic shoes or sandals per year. To ensure that you are covered, call your insurance company or look through your insurance benefits handbook. If you need help, call us and we will assist you.

What conditions are orthotics good for?

Orthotics can help the following conditions:

Patello-femoral Syndrome
When a person plants his or her foot with a flat footed approach, the weight shifts more to the inside of the knee, leading to stress on the joint and improper sliding of the knee cap in its groove. This leads to a common condition called Patello-femoral Syndrome which can cause severe pain, swelling, and clicking under the kneecap.

Hip and Back Pain
Flat feet may also lead to hip pain since the muscles around the hip are working at a disadvantage when gait (walking) biomechanics are not normal. The shock of the heel hitting the ground when walking is transmitted up the leg, through the pelvis, and to the low back. Flat feet affects the alignment of the whole kinetic chain (group of related moving joints), involving the foot, knee, hip and the spinal column, leading to pain in any one of these locations.

These conditions can all be treated by physiotherapy along with custom-made orthotics to restore normal biomechanics of the foot and leg.

Foot Pain
Orthotics are also recommended when a patient is diagnosed with one of the following foot problems: Plantarfasciitis, Morton’s Neuroma, Bunions, or Achilles Tendonitis.

Plantarfasciitis
Plantarfasciitis is the result of flat feet causing repeated over-stretching and tearing of the soft tissue fibres on the sole of the foot. Occasionally, a bony spur develops at the attachment of this tissue to the heel bone.

Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles Tendonitis develops when the flat foot ends up rotating the lower leg bone against the thigh bone, causing the calf muscles to stretch. This leads to the attached Achilles tendon becoming overstretched and inflamed.

Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s Neuroma is also caused by flat feet which trigger stress in the bones of the ball of the foot. This in turn leads to constant irritation of the nerves that pass between each of these bones. As a result the bundle of nerves becomes thickened and swollen, causing pain in the ball of the foot and numbness in the toes.

Bunions
Similarly, bunions are formed due to flat feet and excessive pressure on the inner surface of the big toe during the push-off phase of walking. As a result, the big toe joint becomes over-stretched and distorted and starts to turn inwards.

Since each of these conditions develops as a result of flat feet, orthotics (in combination with physiotherapy and activity advice) will restore normal biomechanics of the foot and will gradually help relieve the pain and inflammation.

Our physiotherapists are specially trained to assess your need for orthotics and use state of the art technology to create the perfect orthotic for you.

Do I have to come in? What is the process of making orthotics?

Yes, in order to make custom made orthotics specific to your foot’s measurements, you need to come to our office for a foot assessment. It is advisable to make an appointment ahead of time. The full assessment could take anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes.

IT TAKES A COMPUTER TO MAKE ORTHOTICS THIS PERFECT!
There is a secret to making orthotics that give you exactly the right correction. This involves accurate measurements of the way you walk. At Queen West Physiotherapy & Acupuncture, we custom craft prescription foot orthotics by using a method of truly computerized weight bearing, dynamic gait analysis (analysis of your walking). Our orthotics are made from measurements that are taken by a computer while your feet are in motion and bearing weight.

Here’s how it works – You walk across a mat that is connected to a computer. The mat has 960 electronic sensor points built into it. As you walk, the mat scans your feet in motion 30 times per second, taking incredibly precise measurements throughout your footstep, of the way your feet touch the ground, and how you distribute your body weight. The information is analyzed by the computer to produce 2D and 3D graphic images of your feet that you can see on the screen. This information is fed via modem to sophisticated diagnostic software that specifies the required orthotics. In less than 72 hours from the time of the scan, you could be enjoying your very own custom made orthotics!

In addition to creating orthotics using our gait scan, we also can produce an exact mold of your feet from a cast impression made from specialized foam. We then incorporate the necessary modifications (ie. heel cushion, heel raise, etc.) to create very comfortable custom made orthotics which will give you maximum comfort.

Please call us for an assessment made by a qualified physiotherapist, followed by an accurate and convenient gait analysis.

Do you have orthotic sandals and shoes?

YES, WE OFFER A GREAT SELECTION OF CUSTOM MADE ORTHOTIC FOOTWEAR, INCLUDING SANDALS, SHOES AND SAFETY BOOTS.

How long does it take to get orthotics?

Upon payment of the orthotics, they are ordered immediately and are generally ready for pick up at our office after 3 to 5 days. Orthotic sandals and shoes generally are ready between 5 and 10 days after payment.

Yes we do – we carry both Footmaxx and The Orthotic Group brands of orthotics and footwear which allows for a great selection from which to choose!

Can you switch orthotics from shoe to shoe or sandal to sandal?

Yes, orthotics can be switched from shoe to shoe. They can also be switched from sandal to sandal depending on the specific type of sandal.