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» Frequently Asked Questions
What should I Expect at my Appointment with a Certified Pedorthist?
An in-depth biomechanical assessment including weight bearing, non-weight bearing and range of motion testing
A gait analysis
Education in footwear features and style appropriate to your needs
If you are a candidate, a 3-dimensional cast of the foot will be taken to create a custom-made pair of foot orthotics, designed to address your specific needs
If you are casted for orthotics, there is a Fitting which includes fine-tuning of the orthotics on-site to achieve optimal comfort and function
What do I need to Bring?
Patients must have a written referral on a physician’s prescription pad for prompt processing of claims. The referral must include a diagnosis and recommendation for custom foot orthoses for daily use.
Patients should also bring samples of the shoes worn on a regular basis at home, during activity and at work.
How long will it Take?
Turnaround time is 2 weeks from Assessment to Fitting.
What are the Payment Options?
Debit, Visa, MasterCard, Cheque, Cash
Are Custom-Made Orthotics covered by OHIP?
No, custom-made orthotics are not covered by OHIP. They are, however, often covered by your extended healthcare benefits.
Please check your policy to determine the amount of your coverage as it varies from plan to plan.
Please note that most insurance companies require a written referral on the physician’s prescription pad in order for the devices to be covered.
Please make sure to have this documentation when coming to your appointment. The referral must include a “diagnosis” and a recommendation for “custom foot orthoses”.
What should I Expect at my Appointment with a Certified Pedorthist?
An in-depth biomechanical assessment including weight bearing, non-weight bearing and range of motion testing
A gait analysis
Education in footwear features and style appropriate to your needs
If you are a candidate, a 3-dimensional cast of the foot will be taken to create a custom-made pair of foot orthotics, designed to address your specific needs
If you are casted for orthotics, there is a Fitting which includes fine-tuning of the orthotics on-site to achieve optimal comfort and function
» More Questions...
What is a Foot Orthotic?
Foot orthotics can range from simple off-the-shelf arch supports to custom-made devices. The materials used to make them vary from firm plastic to softer foams of varying densities. Depending on the combinations used, the orthotics may be semi-rigid or soft. In general, semi-rigid orthotics provide the best combination of support and comfort.
What is a Certified Pedorthist?
A certified pedorthist is a heath care professional who is trained and certified in the assessment, design, manufacture, fit and modification of foot appliances (i.e. orthotics) and the fitting and modification of footwear with the goal of alleviating painful or debilitating conditions of the foot and lower limb.
What are some common conditions treated by Pedorthists?
Metatarsalgia - pain in the ball of the foot
Plantar Fasciitis - pain in the heel or arch area of the foot
Numbness or Tingling in the toes
Achilles Tendinitis
Tibialis Posterior Tendinitis – shin splints
Arthritis – pain and swelling in the first toe joint and ankle
Diabetes - loss of sensation/decreased blood flow
Bunions
Callouses
Knee Pain
Hip Pain
Low Back Pain
Leg Length Difference
These conditions are treated and can be alleviated by the re-alignment of anatomical structures and the redistribution of external and internal forces in the foot through the use of orthotics. Orthotics can also help to accommodate foot deformities and improve balance.
How are Custom-Made Foot Orthotics Made?
Plaster is then poured into the mold and the orthotic is constructed on the positive image of the foot.
How are Custom-Made Foot Orthotics Fitted?
When you schedule an appointment to pick up your orthotics you will be asked to bring your shoes so that the devices can be fit properly into them.
The pedorthist will look at the devices under your feet to make sure that they are supporting you in the correct way and will make adjustments accordingly while you wait.
What Type of Footwear can I wear my Custom-Made Orthotics in?
Depending on the extent of your problem and the footwear that you are normally in for every day activities, different styles of custom-made orthotics can be created.
These options are something that the pedorthist will go over with you during your assessment.
That being said, the best type of footwear for an orthotic is a lace-up shoe that provides enough room and support for the orthotic such as a walking or running shoe.
Can my orthotics fit into Ski Boots and Skates?
What type of professional training does a Certified Pedorthist have?
A Canadian Certified Pedorthist must first have a degree in a university health sciences field such as Kinesiology.
The pedorthics course is offered through the University of Western Ontario and involves intense training in lower limb biomechanics, gait analysis, manufacturing and fitting of foot appliances, and fitting and modification of footwear.
The pedorthics course is offered through the University of Western Ontario and involves intense training in lower limb biomechanics, gait analysis, manufacturing and fitting of foot appliances, and fitting and modification of footwear.
In order to be eligible to write the certification exams a three month internship in each of the following areas must be completed: clinical, laboratory and footwear.
All Certified Pedorthists in Canada are members of the Pedorthic Association of Canada and the College of Pedorthics of Canada.
All Certified Pedorthists in Canada are members of the Pedorthic Association of Canada and the College of Pedorthics of Canada.
» Research and Best Practices...
JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS
In children with JIA, custom-made semirigid foot orthotics with shock-absorbing posts significantly improve pain, speed of ambulation, and self-rated activity and functional ability levels compared with prefabricated off-the-shelf shoe inserts or supportive athletic shoes worn alone.
Efficacy of Custom Foot Orthotics in Improving Pain and Functional Status in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Randomized Trial
Journal of Rheumatology. 2005 May; 32(5):945-50.
ANKLE AND FOOT INJURIES IN ATHLETES
The recipe for keeping our athletes healthy includes early intervention, undergoing proper rehabilitation, applying braces or orthotics when indicated, and preventing injuries when appropriate.
Ankle and Foot Injuries in Pediatric and Adult Athletes.
Primary Care. 2005 Mar;32(1):133-61.
PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME
Custom-fitted foot orthoses may improve patellofemoral pain symptoms for patients who demonstrate excessive foot pronation.
Effects of Foot Orthoses on Quality of Life for Individuals with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy. 2004 Aug;34(8):440-8
CHARCOT ARTHROPATHY
Using a simple treatment protocol with the desired endpoint being long-term management with commercially available, therapeutic footwear and custom foot orthoses, more than half of patients with Charcot arthropathy at the midfoot level can be successfully managed without surgery.
Surgical Versus Accommodative Treatment for Charcot Arthropathy of the Midfoot
Foot Ankle International. 2004 Aug;25(8):545-9.
PLANTAR FASCIITIS
Custom semi-rigid foot orthotics may significantly reduce pain experienced during walking and may reduce more global measures of pain and disability for patients with chronic plantar fasciitis.
The Impact of Custom Semi-rigid Foot Orthotics on Pain and Disability for Individuals with Plantar Fasciitis
2002 The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy. Apr;32(4):149-57.
LOW BACK PAIN
Subjects in this prospective study experienced more than twice the improvement in alleviation of pain, and for twice as long, compared with subjects in a study using traditional back-pain treatment.
Chronic Low-back Pain and its Response to Custom-made Foot Orthoses
Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. 1999 Mar;89(3):109-17.