St. Catharines - Main Office
123 Queenston St
Fort Erie - Satellite Office
7-238 Bertie St
Get Moving Again with Orthotics
Important: If you have a medical concern your physician should always be your first point of contact. Only he or she can make the accurate diagnosis and inform you the correct treatment.
No matter what your activity, orthotics may help boost your performance.
What Are Custom Orthotics?
Orthotics (Greek: Ορθός, ortho, "to straighten" or "align") is a specialty within the medical field concerned with the design, manufacture, and application of orthoses. An orthosis (plural: orthoses) is "an externally applied device used to modify the structural and functional characteristics of the neuromuscular and skeletal system." An orthosis may be used to:
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Control, guide, limit and/or immobilize an extremity, joint or body segment for a particular reason
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To restrict movement in a given direction
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To assist movement generally
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To reduce weight bearing forces for a particular purpose
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To aid rehabilitation from fractures after the removal of a cast
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To otherwise correct the shape and/or function of the body, to provide easier movement capability or reduce pain
(All medical definitions sourced from College of Pedorthics Canada.)
How Do Custom Orthotics Work?
Orthopedic devices correct or help mechanical parts of the body that do not function well. These different devices known as orthoses either restrict or assist movement. They help with rehabilitation from sprains, fractures, and injuries. Orthoses can also help correct certain functions and shape (such in the case of scoliosis), guiding or controlling movement of arms, legs, or joints. Combining knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, biomechanics, and engineering, orthotics can help you get back on your feet.
Why Do You Need Custom Foot Orthotics?
The pain you feel in your feet or legs may be helped by orthotics. No two feet are the same, therefore no two orthotics are created the same. At Pedco you can be sure a custom made orthotic will be tailored to your needs and expectations. Having a custom made orthotic may relieve you of any pain you may have in your feet by evenly distributing the pressures throughout your whole foot. A major advantage at Pedco is that we manufacture, fit, and adjust all of our orthotics on-site. We will help you to understand how the orthotic can help improve your symptoms.
Custom vs. OTC
While orthotics can be made using several different processes, at Pedco Foot Care Clinic Inc. we prefer obtaining a mold of your foot in a non-weight bearing position. A Gait analysis is then done to observe how your feet are moving during your walking motion. We combine the information in our on-site lab to create your custom made orthotics.
At Pedco Foot Care Clinic Inc., we specialize in customizing an orthotic that will treat your symptoms, prevent future deformities, and will fit into your everyday footwear. We offer soft or hard orthotics, plastic or graphite, thick or thin to best suit your needs. We will help you find the best fit and performance for your requirements. Work boots may require firm orthotics with soft covers for hours of standing. Athletic shoes may require firm but light orthotics to maximize your performance.
Your new orthotics will last you up to three years. However during every day wear your orthotics may need to be repaired, we would ask you to return once a year to have your orthotics inspected and repaired as required. This is a FREE service we offer to all our patients. Because our lab is on-site we do all repairs on-site (most times while you wait)