What are custom orthotics?
Orthotics are medical devices concerned with the assessment of biomechanical abnormalities and the correction of these biomechanics through the manufacturing of custom insoles for support and function.

At Bloor West Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine Centre, our rehabilitation team including Chiropodists, work closely together when diagnosing any foot ailments which may be contributing to our patients pain, discomfort or injury. Sciences such as materials engineering, gait analysis, anatomy and physiology, and phychology contribute to the work done by orthotists, the professionals engaged in the field or orthotics.

Individuals who benefit from orthotics may have sustained a physical impairment or injury. Additionally, a patient my be experiencing pain in the hip, lower back, knee, or leg, due to improper foot alignment. Orthotics will counteract this problem, and when properly prescribed and fitted, can decrease and eliminate the pain. Orthotics allows the muscles, tendons and bones of the feet and lower legs to function at their highest potential. They can also increase stability in an unstable joint, prevent a deformed foot from developing additional problems, and improve quality of life overall.

Benefits  
It is important for patients to follow the therapists instructions on when to wear them to obtain the greatest benefit. In addition to providing relief for painful foot problems or an injury, othotics may be of benefit to people who must walk or stand excessively on the job. For those who are active in sports, orthotics will often increase endurance, performance and strength. For over weight individuals, orthotics can help to counteract the extra stress on the feet, as minor problems are often magnified due to the increased weight.

Orthotics are particularly effective in relieving foot fatigue and discomfort experienced by older adults, who may have developed arthritis in their feet. Orthostics may also be prescribed for children who have a foot deformity.

In athletic individuals, sports activities result in a great deal of movement and pressure on the foot. Slight imbalances in the foot that are not harmful or even detectable under usual circumstances may take one more vulnerable to injury with the extra stress of sports activity. By eliminating the need for one’s muscles to compensate for imperceptible imbalances, orthotics can reduce fatigue and promote efficient muscle function to enhance performance.

• Reduce pain
• Provide support
• Prevent or halt the development of foot deformity
• Provide better positioning
• Relieve pressure on a certain area of the foot
• Improve the overall biomechanical function of the foot and lower extremity 
  

Did you know...
we offer physiotherapy

Physiotherapists are University trained health care practioners with a highly advanced understanding of body mechanics (how we move), the injury and illness that prevent appropriate movement, and how to restore lost mobility.

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