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Relief that’s Not Just for Your Feet

A foot orthosis (plural: orthoses) is a custom-made, external medical device designed to modify the structural and functional features of the human foot and overall musculoskeletal system. Commonly referred to as “orthotics,” foot orthoses help maintain proper alignment and force transfer within the 26 bones of the human foot structure.

Made full-length for optimal control, custom-made orthotic external devices are to be inserted inside orthotic-friendly shoes or sandals—replacing the removable insole—in order to provide up to a 50% improvement in foot support and alignment. Foot orthoses are to be worn 16 hours each day under the heel, arch, and ball of your foot.

Research shows that the majority of heel problems can be directly connected to skeletal imbalance. More and more people tend to have some amount of either overpronation (flexible/collapsing, flat foot type) or hypersupination (rigid, high-arch foot type). The presence of these conditions adds constant stress and can overload the network of muscles and bones in your lower legs. This can lead to pain in the feet, ankles, legs, knees, hips, and back. Orthotics can improve function by compensating for existing imbalances and, in most cases, can relieve or prevent the associated pains.

Orthotics are designed to realign your ankle and heel bones to promote a better force transfer down to your toes and up to your neck, in order to alleviate pain in your feet, legs, knees, hips, and spine. Added benefits include restoring balance, improving sports performance, and relieving foot fatigue at the end of the day.

Orthotic devices come in many shapes, sizes, and materials. They fall into three main categories:

Functional orthotics are designed to improve foot function and eradicate, alleviate, or outright prevent pain in the foot, knee, hip, and/or back.

Sport orthotics are tailored toward the functions and motions in a particular sport, providing control, protection from injuries, and balance for activities such as jogging, dancing, skiing, skating, etc.

Protective orthotics help guard against further damage from conditions such as fat pad atrophy or unresponsive, diabetic wounds on the feet. They do this by offloading force and weight from the problem area.

How do you know if orthotics are right for you?

If you have an obvious imbalance that causes such symptoms as flat feet or high arches, or if you have external misalignments such as “knock knees,” “bow knees,” in-toeing or out-toeing, then you are likely a good candidate for orthotics. They can also be beneficial if your work or activities place stress on your feet or require you to be on your feet for extended periods of time.

There is also no “right age” to begin using orthotics. They can be used to treat conditions in children as well as adults.

The best way to find out if orthotics can help you or your child is to make an appointment with us for a full clinical and radiological exam. That way, you can gain a clear understanding of your foot alignment and possible conditions that may benefit from the corrective guidance of orthotic devices. Call Ottawa Foot Clinic at (613) 595-9700 and let our team discuss with you your options for pain relief and better mobility.

It has become a daily dread: that thought of slipping your feet out from beneath the covers and setting them on the floor, knowing you will get a jolt of stabbing or shooting pain under your heel until your feet “limber up.” And those first steps after standing or sitting a while? You can expect them to be awful, too. Heel pain is not something you have to keep in your daily routine, however. There are both conservative and minimally invasive ways to treat plantar fasciitis, and the best option for you may depend on your specific situation.

In some cases, the use of a custom-made orthotic device can relieve the symptoms of plantar fasciitis by properly redistributing weight and realigning the abnormal shifting that can contribute to the problem.

In some cases, we may also recommend pain relief and recovery-assisting techniques such as pain laser therapy or extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT). Each treatment uses different methods to encourage the healing process by increasing blood flow and accelerating the cellular healing process.

Although these and other options are available, no plantar fasciitis treatment begins until we have a full understanding of your condition and its severity. There is no need to endure the pain of this condition anymore. Take the first steps toward comfort and relief by calling Ottawa Foot Practice toll-free at (844) 335-6208. You may also call us directly at (613) 595-9700.

Let us know if this happens to you: the alarm clock rings, you wake up, but you just don’t want to get out of bed. It’s not that you’re still sleepy, but you dread the feeling of your feet hitting the floor first thing in the morning. That stabbing or burning heel pain that accompanies your first steps and can plague you other times through the day is likely the fault of plantar fasciitis, and you are not alone.

This condition is the leading cause of heel pain. It involves an inflammation of the band of tissue that exists between the toes and the heel. This supportive band helps prevent the arch of the foot from collapsing, but too much stress on it can cause very small tears to develop within the tissue. These tears can grow worse and become inflamed as stress continues to be placed on the foot.

The pain under your heel is often worst in the morning, but begins to recede as the tissue limbers up. Becoming active again after a lengthened period of sitting or standing can also trigger the pain.

Too many people live their lives bearing their discomfort because they believe it’s a normal part of life. They are only lending themselves to unnecessary discomfort. No foot or heel pain is normal, and addressing the sources early can prevent plenty of misery in the future. Ottawa Foot Clinic can get to the source of the problem and recommend treatments to keep your feet happy and healthy.

Contact our office in Ottawa, ON at 613-627-2710 to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward fearless mornings again.

Diagnosing Pediatric Flatfoot

Most babies have flat feet when they are born, because the foot arch does not develop until about age five. Pediatric flatfoot refers to the congenital foot structure in which the arches never develop. They may appear when your child stands on tiptoe or lets the feet hang down when sitting, but as long as they put any weight on them, the feet look flat.

Expert foot specialists can usually diagnose the problem with a simple examination. We look at your child’s feet as he or she sits, stands, and walks to see how they appear in these situations. We may also have them stand on tiptoe to see if the arches reappear, and manipulate the feet to see how flexible they are. Some cases may warrant an exam of the legs and hips to see if there are other related issues that need to be addressed. Observing the wear patterns on the soles of their shoes can help identify the condition as well.

Are Flat Feet in Children a Problem?

Depending on the type of condition, your child’s low arches may or may not ever cause trouble for them. Flexible flat feet can be symptom-free for many children, and may never need any treatment. If foot structure is rigid, however, and does not accommodate the force of their steps, their feet may ache along the bottom, or they may have cramping in their legs.

Sometimes this condition causes the heel to tilt outward and the ankles to fall inward. This can put extra pressure on muscles, tendons and ligaments, resulting in pain while walking. Your child may develop a change in gait or stride to counteract the tilting or the pain. That may make them more reluctant to be active, and cause fatigue when they are.

Treating Pediatric Flatfoot

If your child has no symptoms, there is no need for treatment at all. We will just continue to monitor the situation and re-evaluate periodically to see if anything has changed. At some point, we may recommend custom foot orthotics if we feel it will prevent problems from occurring.

On the other hand, painful feet that make it hard to wear shoes or participate in normal activities or sports are not good for your child. Set up a visit at our office and we will see what can be done to make him or her comfortable and improve foot function. We may use one of several conservative treatment options, including:

• Reducing activity that causes pain until it has subsided
• Medications for a limited period of time to get over the worst of the pain
• Supervised stretches that will help alleviate pain and strengthen the feet
• Explaining the right kind of supportive shoes needed for your child’s foot
• Using over-the-counter or custom orthotics to counteract poor biomechanics

Don’t worry too much about pediatric flat foot if your child has no symptoms, but if they do hurt, don’t wait too long to get help. Pain is not normal and shouldn’t keep your child from being active if there is a solution available to take care of it. Call Ottawa Foot Practice at (613) 595-9700 and set up an appointment at our Deakin Street office in Ottawa, ON. You can also request one online, as well as keep in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest for the latest in foot care news and tips.

People typically associate arthritis as a condition that happens as individuals become older. The cartilage that protects joints can wear down over the course of time and result in stiffness, but there is also a form of arthritis that is affected by what you eat. Understanding gout, an arthritic condition that causes painful attacks, can help you to either manage the condition or even keep it from happening in the first place.

What is Gout?

This arthritic condition is usually marked by swelling, stiffness, and burning pain in the joint found at the base of your big toe – the first metatarsophalangeal (MP) joint. The first MP joint is the most common location for symptoms when the condition flares up. (Unlike other ailments, this form of arthritis only strikes periodically.) Flare-ups are mostly likely to happen at night and then the condition often goes back into a state of dormancy until its next attack. Periods between these gout attacks might extend as far as a couple of years or decades.

What Does It Happen?

A commonality between the various forms of arthritis is that they all cause stiffness and painful inflammation in joints. When it comes to gout, the stiffness and pain is in response to hyperuricemia, which is a matter of the blood containing excessive amounts of uric acid. This acid is the byproduct from the process of your body breaking down purines, which are substances found in a wide range of foods that are contained in a normal diet.

The uric acid itself is not an issue while it is floating in your blood stream. Once it crystalizes, though, problems can arise. Your pain, discomfort, and subsequent gout attacks are the result of hard uric acid crystals forming in your joints, particularly the big toe’s MP joints where the temperature is low thus favoring uric acid crystal formation and precipitation.

Which Foods Should be avoided with Gout?

An essential part of gout management is paying close attention to the foods you eat. Food products that have a high purine content will ultimately lead to uric acid, which can then lead to the onset of a painful attack. Given that this is the case, it is a wise idea to limit or avoid your intake of:

• Animal Protein – Limiting the quantity of meat consumed to 4 – 6 total ounces during the course of the day will decrease your risk, but it is even better to simply avoid meat altogether.
• Refined Carbohydrates – White breads, cake, and candy all increase uric acid levels and should be avoided.
• Alcohol – Beer, wine, and hard liquors ultimately interfere with the body’s natural ability to flush uric acid out through the kidneys.

These may seem like a lot of dietary restrictions, but a focus on healthy foods and the safe, delicious meals you can make from them, can help you realize that there are many options still available.

How can Gout Be Treated?

When it comes to treating and managing this condition, making healthy lifestyle decisions is the right place to start. Restrict or eliminate meat, refined carbohydrates, and alcohol, but also add more beans, legumes, whole grains, fruits, veggies, and low-fat or fat-free dairy into your daily diet. This kind of diet will help, but also incorporate regular exercise into your weekly schedule to keep your bodyweight down. Weight management, exercise, and smart dietary choices are key steps, but your family doctor may need to prescribe medication(s) to reduce your uric acid levels and your Doctor of Podiatric Medicine may inject local anesthetics and cortisone in your affected big toe joint to stop the excruciating pain associated with a sudden gout attack.

Can it Be Prevented?

The steps for treating this condition also are useful for decreasing your risk of ever having the problem in the first place. Simply start with your diet and make sure that you eat plenty of whole grains, legumes, and vegetables. As you do this, make sure that you avoid the common pitfall of not taking in enough calories. A diet that is overly low-calorie can potentially trigger a gout attack.

Effective Gout Care in Ottawa, ON

If you would like addition information, or are currently suffering with pain from gout, Ottawa Foot Practice is here for you. Contact our office by calling (613) 595-9700 or use our online form to schedule your appointment with us.

From all of us at OttawaFootClinic: Remember

It’s only one day out of the year, between the craziness of Hallowe’en and the bustle of the holiday season.

Yet it is one of the most important.

We are asked only one thing on November 11 each year.

That is: to remember.

We don’t have to sing songs, or write poetry, or essays, or perform on theatre stages.

We don’t have to search for old war movies, or read books written by major generals and great war strategists throughout the ages.

We just have to remember.

That’s all.

It is the one thing that binds us together as human beings and will last as long as we do.

For the one thing that has been there ever since we began is conflict.

Lord knows we still have many, and probably always will.

But doesn’t remembering make it a little more bearable?

I like to think that, somewhere up above, ones who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country are looking down on a mother somewhere, tucking in her child, and saying, “Today’s the day we remember Grandpa and Grandma and all they did to keep us safe.”

What a Simple Thing, Just to Remember.

It doesn’t ask much of us.

It’s really a very small thing.  After all, we asked so very much of those who gave so much.

We asked them to leave their homes, their families, their children, in frightening times of so much uncertainty.

We are still doing that.  And now we remember those presently overseas and peacekeeping here at home, who are in a very real way reliving the ordeals of their counterparts of past conflicts.

Each of our families has many stories to tell.  War has touched everyone in some way.  It is a great, sobering leveller.

We spare a moment today, to join with millions of others around the world: a giant unbreakable chain forged of respect, gratitude and love.

Let us never, ever forget our veterans and peacekeepers: the unselfish bravery, the professionalism, the will to succeed, the caring for others in other lands, the sense of humor never lost, the camaraderie among teams, the respect for human life.