For your first appointment with a Canadian Certified Pedorthist, there are a fewthings you need to bring:

  • A prescription from your doctor for foot orthotics
  • A pair of your most often worn footwear.  By looking at the wear pattern at the top, bottom and insole inside of your shoes, this tells us how you walk and wear down your shoes
  • Wear loose clothing or shorts because we will be examining your feet and lower limbs

As Certified Canadian Pedorthists, we want to cover all areas of why you are  experiencing pain. By completing a thorough examination, it enables us to design a very individualized treatment plan for you.
The first part of your pedorthic assessment includes a history taking. Here, a series of probing questions are asked to get a better picture of where and why you are experiencing the pain.
Once we have an idea of how long you have been experiencing this pain and why, a series of tests will be performed including:

  • Testing your joint range of motion in your feet and ankles to make sure that each joint moves in its full range
  • Testing the strength of certain muscles
  • Checking to see the type of foot you have: normal, flat or high arched
  • Identifying any boney prominences, edema, discolouration
  • Alignment of your knees and lower back
  • Gait analysis to watch how you walk

From our analysis of all this information, we design a customized treatment plan, which may include:

  • A pair of custom-made foot orthotics to either correct or accommodate your feet
  • Stretching and strengthening exercises will be given if needed
  • Footwear will be recommended that best suites your lifestyle
  • Ice therapy may also be suggested if inflammation is noted
  • Appointments with other health care professionals may also be suggested if we feel you may need to be looked at further. Other health care professionals may include physiotherapist, chiropractors, massage therapist to name a few.

If custom-made orthotics are recommended, the Canadian Certified Pedorthist will
capture a three-dimensional impression of both of your feet to fabricate your pair of custom-made foot orthotics. Whether using foam, plaster casting, moldable wax or a computerized system, these methods are best suited for capturing the contours of each foot. Once both feet are casted, a second appointment is booked for you to pick up your custom-made foot orthotics and to review your treatment plan.
If you would like to book an appointment with a Certified Canadian Pedorthist in your area, please click here so you can search for the closest near you.
Submitted by: Melissa Bendo B.Kin., C. Ped. (C) Walkerton, Ontario