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With hundreds of ligaments and bony structures in each foot working together to support, balance and bear the weight of the entire body, many people experience foot pain and problems at some point during their lifetime. Unlike over-the-counter shoe inserts, custom-made orthotics are built from molds of your feet in order to meet your unique needs. Orthotics are used to help to restore balance, walk comfortably in high heels, and reduce or, better yet, eliminate foot, back and leg pain. They are custom-made inserts that fit inside a patient's shoe to decrease abnormal foot motion while walking, running or performing other activities. With a 3-dimensional laser casting, your podiatrist can create custom molded orthotics with a more precise and superior imprint of the foot than traditional methods. What is 3-Dimensional Laser Casting? There are several methods that can be used to obtain an image of the foot to make custom foot orthotics. The 3-dimensional laser casting method has been shown to be the most effective in producing quality functional custom foot orthotics for those suffering from foot and pain. In this technique the foot is held in a precise position - essentially the position in which it should function properly. The image of the foot can be taken using plaster, fiberglass, or a laser scan. Laser casting gives a data sampling every fourth hundredths of an inch and as such, has been found to be more accurate than plaster. With laser casting, your chiropodist can check the scan to see if it corresponds with the biomechanical examination. If discrepancies are apparent, another scan can be quickly taken with very little effort. Three-dimensional laser casting for custom-made orthotics offers improved speed and accuracy and allows patients to walk easy. Orthotics are Made for Your Individual Needs Based on a patient's specific problem or needs, the chiropodist/podiatrist can recommend whether orthotics would help reduce the pain and foot deformity, or if a different treatment would produce better results. Each custom orthotic is designed differently depending on your foot shape, size, body weight, and activity level. Orthotics deliver biomechanical support to: * Improve foot functionality
* Reduce the risk of foot injury
* Absorb and distribute shock
* Provide relief from pain and daily stress
* Benefit total body alignment and posture Poor foot function and biomechanics may be affecting other parts of your body, including the lower back. Fortunately with orthotics designed for your specific foot issues, you can increase stability, prevent additional pain and ultimately improve your quality of life. Why do I Need Orthotics? Custom-made orthotics can relieve an array of foot pain including heel pain, plantar fasciitis, arch pain, pain caused by running, walking and other athletics, and many other foot pain disorders. If you are an active runner or athlete, custom-made orthotics can be used to keep the foot in its most efficient alignment, allowing the bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments to work to their highest potential. Additionally, orthotics protect the heel, arch and forefoot from the unnatural and increased stress that prolonged running and sports activity produce. Whether it is to prevent problems, relieve pain, or increase efficiency, runners and other athletes will benefit greatly from the use of custom-made orthotics from your Scarborough chiropodist. If you are experiencing foot pain or instability, a consultation with your podiatrist will be needed in order to provide you with accurate foot care.
Vincent Ku, DPodM, Scarborough podiatrist/chiropodist, of Morningside Foot & Ankle Clinic is a solo practitioner dedicated to providing comfort and balance for his patients feet. Vincent Ku, DPodM, chiropodist/podiatrist in Scarborough, completed his graduate studies in Podiatric Medicine at the Michener Institute.
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