Footcare Health

If My Feet Hurt, Does This Mean That I Need Foot Orthotics?

2006-06-27T18:08:00.000-03:00

By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)
Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Foot & Ankle Clinic

The short answer to this question is NO. In my experience, the first line of defense for managing foot pain is footwear. In today’s society, shoes come in many shapes and sizes. In fact, some shoe styles are not even conducive to the shape of the human foot. Yet people still wear them on regular basis. This creates undue stress on the tissues and joints of the feet and subsequently leads to foot pain.

That being said, many times people have come into our clinic for an assessment, thinking that they need custom orthotics, when all they really needed was the correct shoe to fit their foot. It is actually estimated that 20 to 30 percent of Canadians do no wear the correct type of shoe. Although buying expensive and well built shoes can be a good thing, if the shoes you picked out don’t have the correct characteristics for your foot type, the price of the shoes will become meaningless because they won’t be comfortable.

If you’re assessed by a Canadian Certified Pedorthist and it is determined that you do not require foot orthotics, he or she will then be able to guide you in choosing footwear that will fit correctly and also have the necessary construction to help manage your foot pain.

Following are some very simple tips to keep in mind:

Wear activity-specific footwear. This simply means that you should wear shoes that are constructed for what you are doing.. Therefore, if you need to walk to the bank on your dinner hour, walk there with your walking shoes or sneakers as opposed to your dress shoes.
If you suffer from foot pain, put away your “dressier” or “fancier” shoes for a short period of time and wear comfort/casual footwear while your feet recuperate. You will be surprised how quickly they do.
If you need to wear dress shoes for work, wear comfort footwear until you get to work, slip on your dress shoes at work, then take them off when you leave.
If your shoes come with laces, tie them. If they come with straps, fasten them. If they come with buckles, buckle them. Those fasteners are there for a reason.
If you have foot pain, look at the shape of your foot, then look at the shape of your shoes. If they aren’t the same, chances are that’s part of the problem.
If your foot pain lasts for several days or becomes debilitating, consult your family Doctor.

For more information about Pedorthics, visit www.pedorthic.ca or call Thera-Ped Foot and Ankle Clinic.

When and Why Should I See a Canadian Certified Pedorthist?

2006-06-27T18:00:00.000-03:00

By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)
Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton

Any time you suffer from pain in the legs and/or feet, you should first consult your family physician. He or she will then decide whether to refer you to a Canadian Certified Pedorthist.

Canadian Certified Pedorthists are one of the few healthcare professionals educated in the assessment, design, fit, manufacture and modification of foot orthotics and footwear. To become certified, Canadian Certified Pedorthists undergo a rigorous training and examination process, which includes testing their knowledge of biomechanics, anatomy, physiology of the legs and feet, foot orthotic fabrication and modification as well as footwear fitting and modification.

As footwear and foot orthotics experts, Canadian Certified Pedorthists work as members of a health care team to alleviate painful or crippling conditions and/or restrictions in the legs and feet. With the recommendation of a physician or other prescribing healthcare practitioner, Canadian Certified Pedorthists provide foot orthotics and footwear to assist in:

• Accommodation of foot deformities
• Realignment of the feet and legs
• Redistribution of external and internal forces acting on the feet and legs
• Improvement of balance
• Controlling the function of the feet and legs
• Accommodation for circulation problems in the feet and legs.
• Helping lack of function in the feet and legs resulting from accidents/trauma, deformity, disease or nerve and muscular disorders.

Canadian Certified Pedorthists work alongside healthcare professionals, like your physician, to fill prescriptions for footwear and orthotics and make recommendations regarding appropriate footwear management.

All Canadian Certified Pedorthists are members of the College of Pedorthics of Canada and the Pedorthics Association of Canada. For more information, visit: www.cpedcs.ca and http://www.pedorthic.ca..

Why Won’t My Foot Orthotics Fit Into All My Shoes?

2006-06-27T17:55:00.000-03:00

How Can Footwear and Foot Orthotics Help Manage My Arthritis?

2006-06-05T11:49:00.000-03:00

Arthritis comes in many forms. Basically they all involve some form of inflammation in the joints. Therefore pain is experienced when pressure is applied to these stiff and inflamed joints. In the case of your feet, forces coming from the ground can sometimes equal 4 times your body weight. Therefore, any decrease in these forces will help decrease the pain caused by arthritis.

In order to reduce these forces, a Canadian Certified Pedorthist will use special materials in order to create a full-contact foot orthotic device; a full contact will spread your body weight over a larger surface and accommodate inflammation, thus reducing high areas of pressure. Moreover, when we add additional supports or cushioning to the orthotics, ground reaction forces can be reduced even more.

When addressing stiff joints however, footwear is even more important than foot orthotics. Choosing the right shoe with the correct upper and sole constructions will go a long way in reducing strain on arthritic joints. As a Canadian Certified Pedorthist, I am trained to guide you in your choice of footwear.

Deformed arthritic feet are usually dealt with by modifying shoes. Our goal in this case is not to correct, but more to accommodate for the deformity. At Thera-Ped, we see foot deformities on a regular basis and provide a variety of specialty footwear and modifications to help manage the arthritis in your feet.

Speak with your physician to see if pedorthic therapy is right for you. For more information about pedorthic management of arthritis, visit www.pedorthic.ca or call Thera-Ped Foot and Ankle Clinic for an appointment at 506-382-FOOT (3668).

What Is The Best Way To Cast For Custom-Made Foot Orthotics?

2006-05-10T17:18:00.000-03:00

By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)
Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Foot & Ankle Clinic

I have worked with virtually every casting method out there and in my opinion, there is no one casting method that I find to be better than another. Moreover, no method seems to bring forth better results. It really boils down to the imagination of the person making your foot orthotics. Permit me to elaborate…

A foot orthotic device is considered “custom-made” if it is created from raw materials that are molded to a three-dimensional representation of the foot. This three-dimensional representation is also referred to as a cast. The three most common casting methods used among pedorthic practitioners are: (1) Slipper Casting using plaster of Paris, (2) Foam casting using memory foam and (3) Computer Casting using a CAD/CAM system. Each one of these systems has their strong and weak points. However, a good clinician will know how to use the strengths of each system to their maximum.

When making a pair of orthotics, you have in front of you more than just a pair of feet. You have a real person. This person has friends, family and a lifestyle that is more than likely very different from the next person in the waiting room. Therefore, there are many aspects to consider before deciding on how to build foot orthotics for this person.

Plaster and foam casting systems allow Pedorthists to use virtually any material (by itself or in combination with other materials) when building orthotics. The chosen material(s) can be heated, then vacuum-formed to the cast. At Thera-Ped, we use anywhere between 30 and 40 different materials in the course of a month. The significant disadvantage to these systems is that the process for creating the foot orthotics is very time consuming.

Computer generated casts have their advantages as well. They are quick and clean ways of taking three-dimensional casts of the feet. Because of this, they allow the Pedorthist to make a pair of orthotics much quicker than with the other methods. They also allow the Technician making the orthotics to see what the modified cast will look like before even starting the manufacturing process. However, the disadvantage to computerized casting systems is due to the proprietary nature of the systems. The choice of materials you can use is severely limited. These systems mill the orthotics from pre-manufactured blocks. The blocks are available from the manufacturer of the computer systems. Therefore, the choice of materials from which to make orthotics is restricted by the manufacturer of the blocks.

In the end, the patient must decide what method they think will work best for them. For more information about Pedorthics in Canada, please visit: www.pedorthic.ca or www.cpedcs.ca.

How Can a Certified Pedorthist (Canada) Manage My Arthritis?

2006-02-13T11:20:00.000-04:00

By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped. (C)
Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton

There are over 100 types of arthritis, but they basically are grouped into 1 of 2 categories. The first category is “mechanical arthritis” and involves disease in the cartilage of the bones. Osteoarthritis is probably the most well known form of arthritis to fall into this category. The second category is called “inflammatory arthritis” and involves inflammation of the synovium (or lining) around the joint.

Regardless of the type of arthritis you have, any pressure or overuse applied to an affected joint can be very painful. That’s where a Canadian Certified Pedorthist can help. Following a referral from your doctor, Pedorthists work to reduce the pressure and use of affected joints by using two types of therapy.

The first type of therapy is called “orthotic therapy” and is the most commonly used. Custom foot orthotics, when carefully designed, can significantly reduce pressure on affected joints of the feet, ankles and even the knees. Moreover they can redistribute the forces applied to the feet from the ground below.

The second form of therapy is called “shoe therapy.” This involves using either specialty footwear or modified footwear that works to change how the foot functions. A properly modified shoe can reduce the pressure exerted on some joints of the feet by at least 50% in some cases.

Remember, these therapies are meant to be a compliment to whatever other therapies your doctor has prescribed. Talk to your physician to see if pedorthic therapy is right for you.

At Thera-Ped Moncton: “We’re with you every step of the way.” / Chez Thera-Ped Moncton: “Ensemble, un pas à la fois.”

My doctor wants me to consult a Pedorthist. How do I choose a Pedorthist?

2006-01-16T09:23:00.000-04:00

By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)
Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton

A Pedorthist is a person who is trained in helping painful or debilitating conditions of the feet and legs by using, fabricating or modifying footwear and/or orthotic foot devices.

The College of Pedorthics of Canada (CPC) is the regulatory body that is responsible for certifying Pedorthists in Canada. To be eligible for certification, every candidate must be a member of the Pedorthic Association of Canada in good standing.

The CPC ensures that certified members are accountable for upholding the pedorthic profession to the highest standards of practice. The CPC institutes stringent guidelines that assure public safety and instill confidence in the services that Pedorthists provide. The following is a list of Canadian Certified Pedorthists practicing in New Brunswick:

Daniel Box, C Ped Tech (C), C Ped (C)
A.R. Menzies & Sons, Fredericton, N.B.

Pierre Bujold, C Ped (C)
Pierre Bujold Foot Centre, Campbellton, N.B.

Alan Busse, C Ped (C)
Maritime Orthopedic, Moncton, N.B.

Michael Daigle, C Ped (C)
Thera-Ped Ltd., Saint John, N.B.

Deny Dallaire, C Ped (C)
Thera-Ped Moncton, Moncton, N.B.

Wayne Dryer, C Ped (C)
Thera-Ped Ltd., Saint John, N.B.

John Hooper, C Ped (C)
The Foot Health Centre-The Shoe Fits, Hampton, N.B.

Jean-Martin McGraw, C Ped Tech (C), C Ped (C)
Chaussures McGraw Inc., Tracadie-Sheila, N.B.

Jason Power, C Ped (C)
Maritime Orthopedic, Moncton, N.B.

Jonathan Robinson, C Ped Tech (C), C Ped (C)
Able Orthotics Ltd, Fredericton, N.B.

Terry Trask, COFS, C Ped (C)
Thera-Ped Ltd., Saint John, N.B.

Derek Whalen, C Ped Tech (C), C Ped (C)
Metro Health Services, Hampton, N.B.

For more information, contact The College of Pedorthics of Canada at 1-866-819-4354 or info@cpedcs.ca or visit www.cpedcs.ca.

Some Holiday Tips For Your Feet

2005-12-19T13:23:00.000-04:00

By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)
Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton

Shopping, baking and dancing are part of almost everyone’s routine at this time of year. After a morning of baking in your kitchen, an afternoon of shopping at the mall and an evening of dancing at the office Christmas party, your feet will have suffered considerable abuse. Here are some simple things you can do to help with foot pain over the holidays:

Wear the proper footwear for your activity: So when you’re preparing the Christmas cookies while standing on your kitchen’s ceramic floor, wear your sneakers rather than the knitted slippers that your grandmother knitted. These will support your feet and prevent the muscles in your legs and feet from getting tired. The same applies for when you’re out shopping. At any other time of year, the average person logs about 15,000 steps per day. If you add holiday shopping into the mix, this number could easily increase to 30,000 steps. That’s quite a hike! Therefore, save the stiletto heels for the office party and wear a good and supportive pair of walking shoes or sneakers. You can also add an over-the-counter arch support or insole in your shoes for additional support.

Change your socks at midday: After your morning of baking, your feet need a breather. Sit for 5 minutes in · your bear feet and give them a good stretch. Then put on a fresh pair of socks. You’ll be surprised at the difference it makes.

Remember your feet in the morning: Let’s face it; we all want to look our best and have fun at the Christmas party. A few hours of dancing in dress shoes can lead to tender toes and feet the next day. My grandmother always said that hot water and epsom salts go a long way to help tired and aching feet. Frankly, personally and professionally, I agree with her.

If you suffer from diabetes or insensitive feet: Wear sensible shoes and stockings at all times. There is no need to risk serious foot complications that can arise from wearing improper footwear. Also, never soak your feet in hot water. Warm to tepid water is safer.

From all of us at Thera-Ped Moncton and The Shoe Tree, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season. // Joyeuses Fêtes de la part de Thera-Ped Moncton et The Shoe Tree.

What Are Bunions?

2005-11-21T13:16:00.000-04:00

By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)
Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton

Bunions develop secondary to a condition called hallux abducto-valgus. This is “Medicalese” for a when the big toe moves towards the second toe and becomes fixed. This change in alignment of the big toe promotes abnormal bone formation in the joint which leads to swelling and redness. This painful swelling is what is referred to as a bunion.

Bunions usually start off as mild and then worsen over time. Sometimes the pain is intensified by the swelling of the capsule around the joint. This is called capsulitis (or bursitis) and can make the joint extremely sensitive to contact.

What most people do not realize is that bunions are usually hereditary and worsen by wearing ill-fitted or inappropriate footwear (e.g. shoes that are too tight or too pointy). Abnormal foot alignments, flat feet or high arches can predispose people to bunions as well.The good news is that if you have bunions, you do not necessarily need to buy “clunky” shoes or expensive orthotics: Firstly, “bunion-friendly” footwear today is much more fashionable than it used to be.

Secondly, in milder cases, it’s just a question of wearing the “right shoe” at the “right time” in order to prevent your bunions from getting worse. And lastly, knowing how to stretch a shoe when needed will go a long way to relieving bunion pain.

Another type of bunion called a “bunionette” or “tailor’s bunion”. This deformity is the same as the common bunion but affects the small toe joint instead.

Whatever the severity or type of bunion you have, a Canadian Certified Pedorthist is trained to develop the best treatment plan to suit your condition, needs and lifestyle. If you suffer from bunions, consult your family physician or nurse practitioner to see if Pedorthics is the correct treatment for you.

All Canadian Certified Pedorthists are members of the College of Pedorthics of Canada and the Pedorthics Association of Canada. For more information, visit: Thera-Ped Moncton in Highfield Square or the following websites: www.cpedcs.ca and www.pedorthic.ca.

When and Why Should I See a Canadian Certified Pedorthist?

2005-10-24T12:57:00.000-03:00

How Can Bunions Be Managed?

2005-09-26T10:56:00.000-03:00

By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)
Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton

There are a great deal of people out there that have bunions and Canadian Certified Pedorthists are just one of many health care professionals that can help manage them. Speak with your family physician about which professional can best help you.

Bunions are painful inflammations of the 1st metatarsal joint (or ball) of the big toe. Usually, they occur in conjunction with another condition called hallux abducto-valgus. This is a fancy term for the fact that you big toe turns in towards the rest of the foot. While there are many causes, bunions are usually hereditary. Chances are, someone in your family has them as well. Therefore, since they are hereditary, we speak of managing bunions, rather than curing them. Here are some of the ways Canadian Certified Pedorthists manage bunions.

SHOE THERAPY: The most important tool in managing bunions is footwear. Choosing not only good shoes, but also the right shoe for you can make a world of difference. Moreover, depending on the severity of your bunions, you don’t necessarily need to resort to big clunky shoes. In fact, today’s shoe companies offer many stylish choices of shoes for people with bunions. A Canadian Certified Pedorthist is trained to guide you in your choice of footwear and to help develop a shoe therapy program to manage your bunions.

FOOT ORTHOTICS: When the cause of your bunions is aggravated by the mechanics of your feet (how your feet move when you walk), then foot orthotics are another tool that we can use to manage your bunions. These devices simply are inserted in your shoes and manage the “mechanics” of your feet. They can be either custom-made of over-the-counter. The type of foot mechanics you have, as well as the severity of your bunions will determine which orthotic device work best for you.

TECHNIQUES & DEVICES: While shoe and orthotic therapies are the main tools in managing painful bunions, there are many other techniques, such as shoe stretching and modification, as well as devices, such as toe splints, that are readily available as well.

Look for the logo of the College of Pedorthics of Canada in your Pedorthist’s office. For more information about Canadian Certified Pedorthist, visit: www.cpedcs.ca.

In Transition From Summer To Fall

2005-08-30T10:50:00.000-03:00

By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)
Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton

Although we hate to admit it, summer is almost over. Soon it will be back to school, as well as back to the old routine. Most people slow down to some degree over the summer. However, when September rolls around, activities and sports start up again and our bodies go through a “kick-start”. From a Canadian Certified Pedorthist’s perspective, in order to avoid foot and lower limb injuries this fall, follow these simple rules:

• Check the condition of your fall and/or sports footwear. Too many people injure themselves because their footwear is in poor shape. If your shoes are worn or deformed in any way, then it’s time to go shoe shopping.

• Wear activity-specific footwear. What this means is don’t attend your school walkathon or gym class in your flip-flops. Make sure that if you know that you will be spending a lot of time on your feet, that you wear comfortable and supportive shoes that are conducive to your activity.

• Ease back into your routine. The vast majority of people we see at our clinic in September through to December are people that “forgot” that they were less active over the summer and tried to do too much, too quickly.

• Finally, if you feel any pain of injury coming on, DON’T IGNORE IT! Consult your family physician right away. Regarding foot or lower limb injuries, Canadian Certified Pedorthists are trained to treat these injuries using prescribed orthotic and/or shoe therapies.

For more information about Pedorthics and Canadian Certified Pedorthists, visit the following websites: www.pedorthic.ca and www.cpedcs.ca.

Why Won’t My Foot Orthotics Fit Into All My Shoes?

2005-08-07T10:40:00.000-03:00

By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)
Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton

One of the most common complaints that people have regarding their custom made foot orthotics is that they do not fit into all of their shoes. In short, that’s because:

1. Not all footwear is meant to accommodate orthotics, nor should you always need to wear your orthotics in all of your footwear.
2. No one pair of orthotics will fit into every shoe. In fact, your initial orthotic devices are more than likely made to fit into a deeper type of shoe, such as a comfort walking shoe or a sneaker.
3. Your orthotics are designed with a specific treatment plan in mind and meant to relieve your symptoms. The type of shoe you need to wear is often part of that plan.

In order to demonstrate this, let’s use the following example: A person that works in an office environment complains to their doctor of heel pain. He/She enjoys walking and running for exercise. However, when at work, the dress code requires dress attire and his/her dress shoes do not accommodate orthotics.

Their doctor prescribes pedorthic therapy in the form of custom-made foot orthotics. He/She then sees a Canadian Certified Pedorthist. It is the pedorthist’s job to take into account all factors of the patient’s lifestyle when performing the assessment. Based on what is observed at the assessment, a treatment plan is created.

While each treatment plan is different, this patient’s treatment plan could resemble the following:

1. Provide custom-made foot orthotics as prescribed to be worn with case-specific running shoes (either existing or new) that accommodate orthotics.
2. Wear the running shoes with the prescribed orthotics as much as possible, especially during exercise or when on your feet for long periods.
3. Wear your orthotic devices and sneakers until you get to work. When dress shoes are warranted, wear them with gel heel cups inserted into the shoes.
4. Follow-up with the pedorthist after 4 weeks.

As you get better, the need for larger orthotics may diminish. At that point, smaller and less bulky orthotic devices can be created that will fit into more styles of shoes. Having said that, depending on the case, you may even be able to phase out foot orthotics altogether.

In conclusion, pedorthists who have their Canadian Certification [ C. Ped (C) ] are trained to develop a pedorthic treatment plan that is specific to you. The more you deviate from this plan, the more the results are affected. However, whenever possible, your pedorthist will try to accommodate as much of your existing footwear.

Ask A Professional: Can Foot Orthotics Improve My Golf Game?

2005-07-04T15:48:00.000-03:00

Can Foot Orthotics Improve My Golf Game?
By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton

Before I answer this question, let me begin by presenting you with the following situation: You're out on the golf course with friends. You have a good game going, but for some reason, your feet or legs start to ache and everything seems to go wrong from the 15th hole on. If this has happened to you, it may not be because you're a terrible golfer. In fact, a Canadian Certified Pedorthist may be able to help.
One of the roles that our lower leg muscles play is to keep our feet in proper alignment, while standing and walking. When someone has improper alignment or mechanics in their feet, these muscles have to work much harder.
Any golfer will tell you that sometimes you need to take a difficult stance in order to hit your next shot, simply because of the lay of the land on the golf course. Spread this out over 18 holes and those lower leg muscles become fatigued. In fact, by the 15th hole, they are probably no longer very efficient at maintaining alignment. Since these muscles aren't working efficiently, the alignment in your legs, feet and arches can change. Consequently, your stance, and therefore your swing, changes. The results are poorly hit shots.
By using the many orthotic options available to them, Canadian Certified Pedorthists can help you to maintain proper alignment in your feet and legs throughout your game. As we all know, alignment is crucial to a good golf swing.
In the end, playing a good golf game is a question of practice, skill and luck. Therefore, the short answer to the question is NO; foot orthotics will not improve your golf game. What they will do however, is help maintain good foot and lower leg alignment and allow you to swing your best swing all the way through to the 18th hole. Who knows? Maybe you will save a couple of strokes after all…

Ask A Professional: Orthotics & Running: Are all orthotics made alike?

2005-06-06T15:59:00.000-03:00

Othotics & Running: Are all orthotics made alike?
By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton

Last April, my cousin John Dallaire ran the Boston Marathon in 3 hours and 43 minutes. He told me later that week that he would never want to run without his custom-made orthotics.

When he started training for his marathon, John approached me and asked me to make him some custom orthotics to help with some heel and Achilles tendon pain he was having. We worked together and finally came up with a pair of orthotics that was right for him.

With John's permission, I share this with you because not all orthotics are made alike when it comes to running. Often, an orthotic meant for running should not be worn in any other shoes. The reasons for this are because running gait is different than walking gait and because the forces acting on the feet are different and in a different sequence than during normal activity. Finding the right balance between the foot, the orthotic and the running shoe can take several weeks to achieve.

My experience with John taught me to rethink how I provide pedorthic therapy to runners. Now, when treating runners, I usually build orthotics that can be easily modified. Then, I follow up regularly with the patient and adjust the devices until we achieve the right results. This also allows us to accommodate for any injuries that may occur during training.

If you are a runner and think you may need custom orthotics, talk to your doctor, or consult your pedorthist. Also, if you are a runner, please remember the following: Not every runner needs orthotics and if you are a pronator, remember that pronation is how your foot absorbs shock. Stopping it completely can cause more problems than it fixes.

Ask A Professional: Will I need to pay taxes on custom foot orthotics and orthopedic shoes?

2005-05-09T16:19:00.000-03:00

My doctor prescribed custom foot orthotics and orthopedic shoes. Will I need to pay tax on these?
By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)
Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton

This is a common question among our clients. Canada Customs & Revenue Agency supplied the following information to us: An item that is “zero rated” is an item on which no tax is applied.

Regarding custom-made foot orthotics: These devices have a zero tax rating if they are “specially constructed for an individual who has a crippled or deformed foot or ankle.” Therefore, no sales tax is applied to the sale of prescribed custom-made foot orthotics.

Regarding footwear, things are slightly different. CCRA provides a zero tax rating to any footwear that has been prescribed by a medical practitioner and that is “specially designed for an individual with a crippled or deformed foot or other similar disability.”

Therefore, the sale of mass-produced, over-the-counter footwear is not zero-rated. However, when this footwear is prescribed and permanently designed or modified to accommodate a physical deformity or disability, the footwear has a zero tax rating. In short, only once a prescribed shoe has been permanently modified, does the sale of this shoe receive a zero-rating.

A good rule of thumb: Ask the person serving you if taxes will apply to the sale of your prescribed shoes and foot orthotics.
Here are a couple of other points of interest as well: (1) Inserting or securing a pair of custom-made foot orthotics into any footwear does not constitute a modification. Therefore, even if prescribed, this DOES NOT give a zero tax rating to the sale of the shoes. (2) When a shoe accommodates custom foot orthotics this DOES NOT necessarily qualify the shoe as orthopedic. You would need to check with your health insurance provider or with your Pedorthist to see if the footwear you are purchasing has all of the necessary qualifications to classify it as orthopedic

2005-04-11T15:00:00.000-03:00

What are HEEL SPURS & PLANTAR FASCIITIS?
By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)
Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton

Heel spurs and plantar fasciitis are characterized as heel pain that is most intense when first getting out of bed or when getting up after resting. Usually, the pain becomes more tolerable once a few steps are taken.

Plantar fasciitis comes from the term “plantar fascia”. This is a broad band of tissue on the bottom of your foot that starts at the heel bone and spreads out all the way to the toes. The term “itis” means inflammation or irritation. Therefore plantar fasciitis means inflammation (or irritation) of the plantar fascia. For the purposes of this article, picture the plantar fascia as a “rubber band” spanning the bottom of your foot, keeping it in an arch. During the course of a day, it gets stretched and twisted repeatedly. When these stresses are repeated over a long time, micro tears can occur in the plantar fascia. These tears occur most commonly, but not exclusively, in the heel. When inflammation sets in, the result is pain.

If the micro tears occur very close to the heel bone, the body will deposit calcium in the tears in order to prevent further tearing. This would be comparable to wrapping tape around a rubber band to prevent it from breaking. The result is an excess of calcium on the heel bone that shows up as a “heel spur” on an x-ray. Contrary to popular belief, heel spurs do not hurt. The pain still comes from the inflammation in the plantar fascia. In fact, heel spurs are a response to plantar fasciitis. Many people have heel spurs and are pain free.

The most common treatment for plantar fasciitis is some form of arch support. There are many very good over-the-counter devices available on the market. When you support the arch of the foot and wear proper footwear, the plantar fascia cannot move as much and the stresses on it are greatly diminished. This allows the injury to heal.

If there are alignment problems with the feet, over-the-counter solutions probably won’t work and your doctor would prescribe custom-made arch supports (orthotics). Your Pedorthist is trained to spot these alignment problems and correct for them when making your orthotics.

When dealing with more severe or chronic cases of plantar fasciitis, physiotherapy should also be considered in conjunction with pedorthic therapy. In these types of cases, orthotics by themselves do not always bring about significant pain relief.

Ask A Professional: What is the difference between a pedorthist and a Podiatrist?

2005-03-11T16:10:00.000-04:00

What is the Difference Between a Pedorthist and a Podiatrist?
By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)
Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton

In Canada, CERTIFIED PEDORTHISTS, or C.Ped.(C)’s are allied health professionals trained in foot and lower limb assessment. Our job is to design, manufacture, modify and fit footwear and orthoses (orthotics) to help treat painful and/or debilitating conditions of the feet and lower legs. (Reference: Website of the College of Pedorthics of Canada, listed below) We fill prescriptions from physicians and other health professionals for specialty footwear and foot orthoses. Other examples of allied health professionals are: Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Orthotists/Prosthetists and Occupational Therapists.

Certified Pedorthists receive their certification from the College of Pedorthics of Canada. They are also members of the Pedorthic Association of Canada. Both of these organizations ensure that their members uphold the highest standards in pedorthic care. To become a Certified Pedorthist (Canada), the entire process takes between 3 and 5 years.

A Pedorthist’s scope of practice in completely non-invasive. We are trained to view the foot, the orthosis (orthotic) and the shoe as a unit in order to achieve optimal foot health.

PODIATRISTS, on the other hand, are Doctors of Podiatric Medicine. They are highly trained medical specialists that perform examination, diagnosis and treatment of disorders and diseases affecting the foot, ankle and the lower leg by medical, surgical and biomechanical methods of treatment. (Reference: Website of the Canadian Podiatry Medical Association, listed below)

Therefore, a Podiatrist’s scope of practice is much broader than a Pedorthist’s. Podiatrists, besides offering medical and surgical treatements for the feet, can also diagnose conditions and prescribe treatment. Pedorthists do not diagnose but more precisely assess and offer therapy to the foot and ankle while working from a provided diagnosis and prescription.

As a Certified Pedorthist, I have a good working relationship with local Podiatrists. In fact, I find that both professions are a good compliment to one another. For more information on either field, please visit the following websites: College of Pedorthics of Canada: www.cpedcs.ca // Pedorthic Association of Canada: www.pedorthic.ca // Canadian Podiatry Medical Association: www.podiatrycanada.org.

How can Pedorthists help people suffering from diabetic foot complications?

2005-02-22T09:58:00.000-04:00

By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)
Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton

Traditionally, very soft foot orthotics have been introduced as a technique in treating diabetic foot wounds or ulcers. However, many people suffering from diabetes have foot alignment problems that simply cannot be addressed with soft insoles. Currently, a new type of foot orthotic is being used to keep diabetics comfortably active.

The multi-density custom foot orthotic is made of 3 to 5 different materials of varying densities. The bottom lamination is the hardest. It is semi-rigid and it is the functional part of the insole. Each subsequent superior layer gets softer as you get closer to the foot. The very top layer is the softest and will conform to the foot within an hour of wear. The concept is simple: provide functional support with the bottom layer and accommodate foot deformities (or wounds) using the upper layers.

When treating diabetic foot ulcers, the secret is to maintain a total contact with the foot. With multi-density custom foot orthotics, total contact is maintained and crucial blood circulation is not compromised. Also, if faced with forefoot or rearfoot problems, a Pedorthist can easily incorporate wedges or postings on the harder bottom layer of the orthotics. As long as the original mold for the orthotics was taken in the foot’s natural position, these orthotics can be corrected to address most foot misalignments.

Finally, there is also a benefit in providing multi-density foot orthotics to those diabetic clients that do not present foot ulcers. Provided they practice proper foot care, many diabetics show improvement in skin appearance and a decrease in callusing by their 8-week check-up appointment.

Ask A Professional: How can pedorthists help people suffering from diabetic foot complications?

2005-02-14T16:36:00.000-04:00

How can Pedorthists help people suffering from diabetic foot complications?
By: Deny Dallaire, B.Sc., C.Ped (C)
Certified Pedorthist (Canada) with Thera-Ped Moncton

Traditionally, very soft foot orthotics have been introduced as a technique in treating diabetic foot wounds or ulcers. However, many people suffering from diabetes have foot alignment problems that simply cannot be addressed with soft insoles. Currently, a new type of foot orthotic is being used to keep diabetics comfortably active.

The multi-density custom foot orthotic is made of 3 to 5 different materials of varying densities. The bottom lamination is the hardest. It is semi-rigid and it is the functional part of the insole. Each subsequent superior layer gets softer as you get closer to the foot. The very top layer is the softest and will conform to the foot within an hour of wear. The concept is simple: provide functional support with the bottom layer and accommodate foot deformities (or wounds) using the upper layers.

When treating diabetic foot ulcers, the secret is to maintain a total contact with the foot. With multi-density custom foot orthotics, total contact is maintained and crucial blood circulation is not compromised. Also, if faced with forefoot or rearfoot problems, a Pedorthist can easily incorporate wedges or postings on the harder bottom layer of the orthotics. As long as the original mold for the orthotics was taken in the foot’s natural position, these orthotics can be corrected to address most foot misalignments.

Finally, there is also a benefit in providing multi-density foot orthotics to those diabetic clients that do not present foot ulcers. Provided they practice proper foot care, many diabetics show improvement in skin appearance and a decrease in callusing by their 8-week check-up appointment.

Quality Comfortable Shoes

2005-01-09T16:27:00.000-04:00

Quality Comfortable Shoes Focus of the Shoe Tree and Thera-Ped Orthotic Clinic Shoe Store, Highfield Square, Moncton

Fitting quality comfortable shoes to consumers seeking fashionable, athletic footwear or corrective inserts for enhancing foot care health, is the customer service mission of the Shoe Tree and Thera-Ped Shoe Store, located in Moncton's Highfield SquareShopping Center.

My name is Jon Andrews and I want to welcome you to our footwear and foot care information resource center on the web and to visit us at our Downtown Moncton store location."I launched the Shoe Tree Shoe Tree in 1989 to provide the best quality in shoes with the most careful fitting of each shoe possible. I wanted everyone that came into my shoe store to enjoy a comfortable feeling shoe. Happy feet make happy people," says Jon Andrews.

The Shoe Tree carries major shoe manufacturers and brands including Clarks, Rockport, and Bostonian among a dozen major shoe brands that provide the quality of construction that insures comfortable, fitted footwear for any occasion."With my eldest daughter Alison, as Manager, in 2002 we launched Thera-Ped Corrective to offer our customers the most comfortable and highest quality, custom fitted footwear inserts possible for those requiring corrective foot care products," says Andrews.

Moncton's Thera-Ped corrective footwear location, adjoining our Shoe Tree store location, features Canadian Certified Pedorthist, Joseph Deny Pierre Dallaire. Alison and Deny offer a specialist service for consumers needing foot care assistance with corrective inserts and selection of appropriate footwear products.

Now, in 2005, we are adding an online component as a virtual store promoting our current specials, sales and clearance sales, but more importantly, we are developing a web site that adds information resources that you may need to find exactly the shoe style and design that you are looking for, or the medical information that you desire to understand what you need to know and do to maintain your foot care health regime.Promoting quality comfortable shoes is not a slogan or web address with us. It is what we believe is the core value in making a decision about your personal footwear choice.

Our personal fashion and fit staff at The Shoe Tree, as well as the medical specialization we have available in our professional staff at Thera-Ped, is how we choose to deliver our message about our customers being healthy, as well as happy, with a properly fitting shoe, sneaker, sandal, boot, or corrective insert.

Quality comfortable shoes says it all.

Quality Comfortable Shoes

2005-01-09T14:21:00.000-04:00

Quality Comfortable Shoes Focus of the Shoe Tree and Thera-Ped Orthotic Clinic

The Shoetree, Highfield Square, Moncton, fitting quality comfortable shoes to consumers seeking fashionable, athletic footwear or corrective inserts for enhancing foot care health, is the customer service mission of the Shoe Tree and Thera-Ped Shoe Store, located in Moncton's Highfield SquareShopping Center.

My name is Jon Andrews and I want to welcome you to our footwear and foot care information resource center on the web and to visit us at our Downtown Moncton store location.
"I launched the Shoe Tree Shoe Tree in 1989 to provide the best quality in shoes with the most careful fitting of each shoe possible. I wanted everyone that came into my shoe store to enjoy a comfortable feeling shoe. Happy feet make happy people," says Jon Andrews.

The Shoe Tree carries major shoe manufacturers and brands including Clarks, Rockport, and Bostonian among a dozen major shoe brands that provide the quality of construction that insures comfortable, fitted footwear for any occasion.

Left to Right ??? "With my eldest daughter Alison, as Manager, in 2002, we launched Thera-Ped Corrective to offer our customers the most comfortable and highest quality, custom fitted footwear inserts possible for those requiring corrective foot care products," says Andrews.
Moncton's Thera-Ped corrective footwear location, adjoining our Shoe Tree store location, features Canadian Certified Pedorthist, Joseph Deny Pierre Dallaire. Alison and Deny offer a specialist service for consumers needing foot care assistance with corrective inserts and selection of appropriate footwear products.

Now, in 2005, we are adding an online component as a virtual store promoting our current specials, sales and clearance sales, but more importantly, we are developing a web site that adds information resources that you may need to find exactly the shoe style and design that you are looking for, or the medical information that you desire to understand what you need to know and do to maintain your foot care health regime.

Promoting quality comfortable shoes is not a slogan or web address with us. It is what we believe is the core value in making a decision about your personal footwear choice.
Our personal fashion and fit staff at The Shoe Tree, as well as the medical specialization we have available in our professional staff at Thera-Ped, is how we choose to deliver our message about our customers being healthy, as well as happy, with a properly fitting shoe, sneaker, sandal, boot, or corrective insert.

Quality comfortable shoes says it all.

Footcare Health Moncton Launches

2005-01-09T09:59:00.000-04:00

Thera-Ped Orthotic Clinic in Highfield Square is launching Footcare Health Moncton to help you take care of your feet.

Moncton's Thera-Ped Orthotic Clinic location, adjoins the Shoe Tree shoe store location and features Canadian Certified Pedorthist, Joseph Deny Pierre Dallaire.

Thera-Ped Clinic manager Alison Smith and pedorthist Deny Dallaire offer a specialist service for consumers requiring foot care health products, fitting and selection assistance regarding corrective custom created sole inserts and selection of appropriate medical footwear products.

If you have a question regarding health care feel free to ask your question at the end of any article or contact us directly.