Did you know that the average person takes between 8,000 and 10,000 steps a day, which adds up to more than 185,000 kilometers in their lifetime? That’s enough to circle the globe four times! With all of that in mind it’s true what Leonardo da Vinci says, “The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.” But you’re only given two feet to last you your lifetime, so it’s important to take care of them. We’re talking once again with Dr. Vanita Bali, head Chiropractor at Body Works Clinics, to find out more about the benefits of orthotics.
Orthotics are a prescribed medical device, which means that they are custom to you and your feet. A chiropractor or chiropodist would use a cast, an impression or a laser scan to perfectly fit your orthotic. The concept behind orthotics is to control the alignment and the function of the foot. Orthotics treat and prevent abnormal motion and the rolling of the foot by redistributing the pressure on the bottom of your feet. This reduces pain, discomfort and calluses; it increases the effectiveness of your walking gait and decreases pain on the foot and legs.
As someone who has chronic low back pain plus sciatica, I cannot function without my orthotics. Even while regularly doing my exercises and following my treatment plan, I still need that daily support in my shoes to keep going. Without the orthotics, I’m going to have an increased low back pain after standing and treating patients all day.
Orthotics help treat a lot of different conditions. They are not just for foot pain or flat feet. Orthotics can treat a myriad of symptoms and pain, such as:
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- Low back pain and sciatica;
- Hammertoes;
- Bursitis;
- Bunions;
- Arthritis;
- Athletic-related pain;
- Knee, ankle & hip instability.
Orthotics are also key for our patients who walk, run or stand for work. This can include Canada Post Employees, TTC employees, factory workers, retail workers, health care workers and more. We also help a lot of workers in industrial industries that require steel shanks in their boots, as this can be quite painful to walk in every day. We strive to make sure to help the elderly with cushioned orthotics, to help keep them moving and active in their senior years.
The process of getting orthotics is quite simple! Each patient who requires orthotics or would like an assessment on their feet to see if they would benefit from orthotics would book an appointment with us. We would do a full assessment of your feet and lower body, and then complete a gait scan. We would watch each patient walk and see how their feet are moving, how the knees and hips are working, and check your body posture from head to toe. We would do a laser scan of your feet, which checks different pressure points and different angles on your feet. This scan is actually sent to our orthotic company and they will make a custom orthotic based on your scan, foot size, body weight, medical history, and any foot conditions that the patient has encountered.
Ready to help your feet out? Body Works is here to help! Body Works Physiotherapy has four locations to serve you better. You can check out our contact page, or you can give us a call at 1-866-7PHYSIO. We are looking forward to helping you soon!
