Custom Orthotics in Markham, ON by Foot Medical Centre
126 Wellington St. W, Suite 203, Aurora, ON, L4G 2N9
Custom Orthotics in Markham, ON by Foot Medical Centre
Foot Medical Centre offers a full range of foot care products and services. Our knowledgeable and experienced foot care professionals, chiropodist and caring staff will ensure that all of your foot health concerns are addressed.
Diabetic Foot Care in Markham, ON by Foot Medical Centre
One of the most common foot problems associated with Diabetes is the inability to feel pain when you injure your feet or sense pressure on the foot; a condition known as Diabetic Neuropathy. This condition is due to a damaged nervous system which is caused by the high blood glucose levels.
The weakened nervous system is not able to effectively convey messages from the feet to the brain, leading to an inability for the patient to feel their feet. This also impairs normal sweat secretion and oil production in the feet, leading to excessively dry feet. Also, the inability to sense their feet may lead to abnormal pressure forces on the feet during walking, which may develop into skin problems that often result in sores.
Due to the suppression of the immune response in diabetics, the body is often unable to heal any wound that may develop. If left untreated, bacterial infections can lead to gangrene, which may require amputation to ensure that the infection does not spread to other parts of the body.
If you suffer from Pre-Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes, it is crucial that you ensure optimal foot health and visit us for a Diabetic Foot Screen. This will reveal your risk catagory and be a starting point to a proactive treatment protocol to reduce the risk of complicated foot conditions such as swelling, infection, and pain. Our Chriopodists/Foot Specialists are here to answer any questions you may have concerning Diabetes and Diabetic Foot Care, so please contact us today to learn how we can help you protect your feet for a lifetime.
Ankle Foot Orhtotic (AFO) in Markham, ON by Foot Medical Centre
An AFO is a custom made medical appliance that is used to support, realign, and assist in the motion within the foot and ankle. These devices are fabricated with intricate precision to comfortably fit the user, and are made with polycarbonate and graphite shells to reduce bulk and weight.
Children’s Feet Health
Proper foot care for children’s feet probably doesn’t jump to mind as a top priority. However, there are several ailments that can affect a youngster’s feet, and it’s important that proper steps be taken to ensure good foot health during their development.
Human foot anatomy is an amazing and complex piece of engineering, comprised of 26 bones, 33 joints, 19 muscles and 107 ligaments.
It is therefore very important to promote optimal foot development in children, from infancy to adulthood. As a child develops, all of these structures must adapt and learn to work together so that they can carry them throughout life.
Children’s feet need time and care to develop properly. During infancy, the foot bones are very malleable, and can easily be deformed due to tight fitting socks, jumpers or footwear. If not fitted properly, bones can be forced out of place, and joint cartilage can become permanently damaged leading to arthritis and other foot deformities.
Children’s feet usually take 16 to 18 years to fully develop into the adult foot and your Chiropodist or Podiatrist (Foot Specialists) are happy to provide podopediatric foot care services every small step of the way.
Pediatric Foot Care in Markham, ON by Foot Medical Centre
Some common paediatric foot conditions include:
- Intoeing walking habits
- Toe walking habits
- Flat and floppy feet
- Toe deformities
- Skin Rashes and Eczema
- Skin Infections
- Warts
- Growing Pains (Osgood Schlater, Siding Larsen Johanson, and Kholer’s Diseases)
- Foot deformities (Club Foot, Metatarsus Adductus, and Cleft Foot)
Your Chiropodist or Podiatrist (Foot Specialists) knows that a child’s foot is a delicate part of the body, and must be handled with the utmost care. Treatment of a child’s foot condition may be as simple as advising a parent on how to properly care for their child’s feet, or may involve the prescription of child-safe-medication. In gait related cases, your Foot Specialist may prescribe a pediatric foot brace or custom foot orthotics.
Senior Foot Care in Markham, ON by Foot Medical Centre
Aging is a beautiful thing, and should be an enjoyable experience. However, the ability to care for your feet may become more difficult as you age, leading to the development of foot problems.
Foot Medical Centre’s team of Foot Specialists can assist you or your loved ones with all the foot care needs in our senior friendly foot clinic, which is also wheelchair accessible. Our foot clinic uses specialized podiatric chairs to accommodate seniors and those in wheelchairs. Our foot care team can assist with routine nail care and perform corn and callus treatment. We can also help manage arthritis and may recommend accommodative custom foot orthotics to provide ongoing foot comfort.
We recommend that all seniors visit a Chiropodist or Podiatrist yearly to have their feet examined, and it is out goal to make the “golden years” truly golden.
Orthopedic Footwear in Markham, ON by Foot Medical Centre
Wearing proper footwear helps promote optimal foot health and may alleviate painful foot symptoms. The Foot Specialist and caring staff at Foot Medical Centre are available to assist in finding orthopedic footwear that is suitable for you. We invite you to visit us to see our collection of orthopedic footwear, and we’ll help you find your best fit.
Features of a Good Shoe
Wearing appropriate footwear allows the small muscles within the foot to work less and ultimately leads to more comfort and less foot pain.
The main features of a good shoe are:
- Size – Your shoes must be appropriately sized in length, width and depth. The shoes should be fit to your feet, rather than your feet being fit to the shoes.
- Support – The shoe should support your foot arch appropriately, and should not be painful to wear.
- Stability – The shoe should not be collapsable, and should resist twisting and compressive forces.
- Comfort – The shoe should provide comfort both sitting and standing.
What to Look For
- The shoe should only bend under your big toe joint.
- The shoe should resist a twisting force (being wrung out).
- The heel counter should sit just below your ankle bones, be firm and resist collapsing.
- The toe box should be deep to allow free movement of your toes.
- The collar should consist of soft and durable material to prevent blistering.
- The shoe length should be a thumbs width (1.5 cm) longer than your longest toe.
- The heel should be no higher than 2.5 cm (25 mm).
- The shoe should have a fastening mechanism; laces, velcro, a belt or strap.
- The sole shape (last) should match your foot profile; a straight last for straight feet, and a curved last for curved feet.
- The midsole density should be appropriately matched to your specific foot type.
Plantar Wart Treatments in Markham, ON by Foot Medical Centre
Plantar warts are benign (noncancerous) growths that occur on the sole, heel, or ball of the foot. Most plantar warts are diagnosed based on their appearance. They are generally rough and spongy, and most are gray, brown, or yellow with dark pinpoints—these are typically tiny blood vessels that supply nutrients to the wart.
Plantar warts can occur when the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) invades the body through the skin on the bottom of the feet, typically through cuts or breaks in the skin. The virus often is present on contaminated surfaces, such as the tile floors of public locker rooms, showers, and swimming pools.
Some individuals are more prone to the virus that causes Plantar Warts than other people. Risk factors include:
Repeated HPV exposure. For example, walking barefoot in public locker rooms and common public areas.
Having a weakened immune system.
In some cases, the virus can be transmitted to the feet from other areas of the body. This is called remote location seeding.
When first diagnosed, individuals often feel a “lump” on the bottom of the foot when standing, similar to having a stone in the shoe. If left untreated, Plantar Warts can grow up to 1 inch in circumference and may spread into clusters (called Mosaic Warts). In severe cases, they may cause a change in gait pattern or posture that results in foot, leg and back pain.
<h2>Custom Orthotics and orthopedic shoes in Markham. Complete biomechanical examination.</h2>
Orthotics (also known as custom foot orthotics) are prescribed medical device used to correct and/or accommodate ones feet. They easily fit into ones shoes to hold their foot in a proper position, allowing the joints, muscles and ligaments of the feet and legs to function within their normal limits. By encouraging the feet and legs to move more efficiently, orthotics eliminate foot, leg and lower back pain. They also effectively redistribute pressure along the bottom of the foot, offloading areas of high pressure, which is an essential element in diabetic foot and wound care.
People of all ages may suffer from a foot or lower limb condition which is limiting their mobility and independence. Orthotics re-align the foot and ankle bones to their neutral position, thereby restoring natural foot function. They (orthotics) are proven to relieve symptoms associated with Plantar Fasciitis, Heel Spur Syndrome ,Heel Pain, Bunions ,Hammer Toes, Claw Toes, Corns and Calluses, Diabetes, Shin Splints, Runner’s Knee, Knee Pain, Hip Pain, Back Pain, Ankle Pain, Sciatica, Patellofermoral Syndrome, Intoeing and Outtoeing, Flat Feet, Toe Walking, Wounds.
How Are They Made?
To start, your feet are examined by your Chiropodist which includes a biomechanical assessment, and gait analysis. Next, 3D impressions are taken of your feet using a plastar of paris casting technique. This method of taking impressions is very important to the success of the orthotic devices. The casts are then sent to our orthotic lab, along with a prescription detailing the specific medical grade materials to be used in the manufacturing of your orthotic devices.
How To Wear Orthotics
To be effective, you must break in your orthotics so that your body can safely adapt to the new “foot posture”. During the break-in period, it is not unusual to experience minor discomfort, but with time the orthotics will alleviate your condition.It is recommended that you wear them in only one pair of shoes during the break-in period.
Wear your new orthotics for 1 hour on the first day. Add 1 additional hour every day for the next 6 days, so that on the 7th day, you’ll have worn them for 7 hours. Once complete, you should be wearing them full time for optimal results (even indoors).
If you are a runner, run no more than 1 mile following the initial break-in period. You may run 1 additional mile each subsequent day following the initial break-in period.
It may take up to 12 weeks to notice a reduction in your signs and symptoms.
If the orthotics are painful, remove them. Rest your feet for 2 hours and try them again. If you experience consistent pain, please contact us immediately.
Washing & Care
To clean your orthotics, wipe them with warm water and mild soap using a clean cloth. Pat them dry, and do not expose them to high heat. Avoid submerging in water. You may apply baking soda and/or anti-bacterial powders to help control foot odor.
In order to ensure the accuracy of your orthotic prescription, we recommend yearly visits with your Chiropodist.
Foot Medical Centre welcomes custom orthotic patients from Markham, Ontario.