It is not always obvious how important our feet and the mechanics of how our bodies align are until we start to experience pain or discomfort. With web searches, advice from friends who have had similar aches, and a few do-it-yourself ‘fixes’ it can seem overwhelming (and slightly frustrating) to determine what the root cause of your pain is and what you can do to relieve it.
By definition, a Canadian Certified Pedorthist (C. Ped (C)) is trained in the assessment of lower limb anatomy and biomechanics. They are experts in designing, fitting, and modifying custom made orthotics and orthopedic footwear. They are experts when it comes to all things feet! But how do you know if you should see a Pedorthist or not? Here are our top 5 reasons why someone should see a Pedorthist:
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Foot pain
Something we’re bound to have experienced at one point or another. In our daily lives we are often required to remain on our feet for excessive periods of time. This can put the bones and soft tissues of our feet under a lot of stress, causing pain (especially with improper footwear). Pedorthists are trained to assess your feet and gait to create solutions to help prevent and alleviate your pain.
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Knee pain
Did you know that improper footwear or general foot problems can also cause stress on your knees? Foot pain can cause you to subconsciously change the way you walk to put less pressure on those sore spots. These compensatory movements can result in the supporting musculature and soft tissues becoming stiff, putting excess pressure on your joints. In seeing your Pedorthist, such issues can be identified and mitigated.
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Back pain
Although your feet may not be the only reason for your low back pain, oftentimes orthotics can provide some relief. Much like our knees, our back responds to compensatory movements from our lower body. Therefore, creating quality support for our feet can start a chain reaction for the rest of our body.
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Instability or balance problems
Instability can result from a variety of issues including hyper-mobility in your feet and lower limb, leg length discrepancies, sensory and neurological issues (peripheral neuropathy) diabetes, pain, or poor footwear. A Pedorthist can help with all these issues by assessing and creating a custom solution just for you. This could include custom orthotics, shoe modifications, or helping you to find the proper footwear suited to your needs.
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Trouble finding comfortable shoes
Pedorthists can help you to find the proper shoes for your lifestyle and foot type. Common troubles in finding comfortable shoes include:
- Having overly narrow or wide feet making “standard fit” shoes uncomfortable
- Heel frequently slipping out of shoes
- Orthotics or over the counter insoles do not fit properly in shoes
- Toes feel cramped or uncomfortable
- Seams or other parts of the shoe excessively rubbing
At Orthoquest we have a wide variety of quality shoes available for a range of foot types. Our Pedorthists can educate you on which shoes are best to fit your current insoles and make sure your future orthotics will fit.
Our team of Pedorthist are trained professionals who are knowledgeable in designing, fitting and modifying custom made orthotics and orthopedic footwear. If you or someone you know are struggling with being able to do the activities you enjoy book an assessment with one of our Pedorthist and let us help you Move Well, Be Well.
