By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) When the warm weather sets in, many people tend to replace their shoes with sandals or flip flops. While the flips are easy to slide-on, they can cause damage to the feet and legs due to their lack of support. When you walk with the flips, the...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) Bunions are more than a beauty issue. They can grow and worsen over time causing pain and hinder mobility. It is otherwise called as hallux valgus – hallux means big toe and valgus means away from the midline of the body. Tight narrow dress shoes with a...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity (AAFD) describes a progressive flattening of the medial longitudinal arch resulting in pain and swelling along the medial foot and ankle, difficult walking and standing for long periods, changes to the foot’s appearance as the condition advances, and decreased function of the affected...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) Children can suffer from knee and heel pain just like adults and can be affected by poor biomechanics. Knee Pain – Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease Osgood-Schlatter’s disease is a common cause of knee pain in growing children especially boys between the ages of 10 and 15, but it can...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) Heel spurs also known as calcaneal spurs are bony outgrowths that can occur on the underside of a person’s foot due to repetitive damage to the heel resulting in a buildup of calcium. Heel spurs happen when long-term muscle and ligament strain wears out the soft tissues...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) Metatarsalgia is a general term used to denote pain in the ball of the foot. With this common foot condition, one or more of the metatarsal heads become painful, usually due to excessive pressure over a long period of time. Those with metatarsalgia experience pain and inflammation...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) There are two phases that can be observed in gait or walking – stance and swing. During stance phase, the foot is on the ground and during the swing phase, the foot is moving forward through the air. Problems usually occur in the stance phase. Pronation is...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) Orthotics is derived from the Greek word ‘Ortho’ which means “to straighten” or “align”. It is a prescribed medical appliance that can be discretely inserted into the footwear to support, align, prevent and/or accommodate foot abnormalities and improve how the foot functions. A custom-made foot orthotic is...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) The curved contoured area on the bottom of the foot between the heel and the ball of the foot is the arch. Some people have high arches, while some others have low arches – both affect the way your feet and legs work while walking or running....
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) Orthotics are recommended for daily use and is specific to each person. Feet change, and the devices start to wear out. Orthotics are just like eyeglasses - you change them when the eyesight changes. Likewise, the orthotics should be changed when there is a change in your...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) Young children and babies have feet that are flat. Before the bones are formed, much of the foot and ankle are still made up of soft tissue, fat, and cartilage. The arch is not formed fully yet. When the child starts to walk, the joints are still...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C)Flat feet or pes planus is a condition where the arch of the foot is collapsed and the entire foot comes into contact with the ground completely or almost completely. It is also referred to as fallen arches. It can be congenital or acquired, and can affect either...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C)Heel pain is a common symptom that can affect anyone from excessive stress on the feet. Our feet composed of many bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and tissues take a lot of pounding when standing all day at work, or enjoying the daily run. They can withstand a lot...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) Strenuous exercise, running, ill-fitting and worn-out shoes etc. can cause or aggravate foot, ankle or calf pain. Stretching prevents injury to a certain limit, and it can be done anywhere – in the gym, home or office. This can help relieve the tightness in the calves and soles...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) Most children learn to walk by their first birthday, though some start walking sooner or later. A growing child needs a frequent change of shoes. Parents concerned about what kind of footwear is most appropriate for their child, depending on the age and growth, will find this article...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) The primary purpose of footwear is to protect the foot and prevent injury. To meet this purpose, it should fit well.Usually, shoes are incorrectly chosen based only on how stylish they are. When selecting footwear, the most important factor to look for is comfort. A simple question that...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) During running or jumping, there is a considerable amount of force produced during each moment the foot makes contact with the ground. Repetitive strain or excessive use of muscles and joints result in fatigue, pain, discomfort and various overuse injuries. Some of the common injuries and pedorthic solutions...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) Foot problems are one of the leading causes of hospitalization of people with diabetes. Out of a good number of people living with diabetes, a per cent get affected with infections and ulcerations, and will be at risk of losing a lower limb or foot through amputation.Regular foot...
By: Sara John, C.Ped (C)., C.Ped Tech (C) Any server, cashier, nurse or hairdresser can tell you - standing all day is uncomfortable and it takes a real toll on your body. But the fact is that standing on your feet all day isn’t just uncomfortable - it can lead to or accelerate potentially serious health...