Winter is on its way out and spring is almost upon us. With the warmer change in weather, we shake off our desire to hibernate and become more active, doing activities we haven’t done in months! However, we sometimes rush into things too quickly and can put too much pressure on our feet, leading to the development of various foot problems. Orthotics might be the answer for you as they can help change the way your foot makes contact with the ground and can take pressure off high-pressure areas in the foot.
What are Orthotics?
Orthotics are insoles that you use inside your shoes that help rectify biomechanical problems of the foot. They are usually made of a combination of rubber, metal, plastic, leather, or any other synthetic material. Our feet have so many muscles, bones, and joints that abnormal biomechanics of how they’re moving can result in numerous foot problems along with pain in your knee, lower back, hip or leg.
Also read, Physiotherapy Clinics in Mississuaga
How can Orthotics correct foot conditions?
- Orthotics help balance pressure placed on the feet by redistributing the weight appropriately
- They help stabilize the heel
- Support the arch of the feet
- Provides cushioning to delicate and inflamed areas of the feet that arise from too much walking, jogging, running, etc.
There are generally two options when it comes to selecting orthotics: over-the-counter orthotics and custom-made orthotics. Over-the-counter orthotics are available at your local pharmacy and big box store and they can be used with your regular shoes to correct trivial problems. However, because they are prefab, generalized products, there is a possibility that they might make your foot pain worse due to it not being the right kind of support that you need. Custom made orthotics work best because they are tailor-made to correct the problems specific to your feet. Check out our earlier blog on the most popular kinds of Orthotics for further detail.
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Here’s a tip
Orthotics can still benefit you even if you don’t suffer from any foot issues but are an active participant in sports. If your foot is dealing with stress and impact, or if you have recently gained weight, orthotics will help you walk better!
Put your best foot forward and in the right direction!
We at Triangle Physiotherapy will quite literally help you get back on your feet! Our Chiropodist can advise you on how to look after your feet and what type of shoes or orthotics to opt for. Book an appointment with our Chiropodist today at any of our 6 clinics located across the GTA: Etobicoke, Oakville, Mississauga, North York, Toronto (King Street West) and Yonge Street. If you have any questions regarding any kind of foot conditions, please call or email us and we will be happy to help you!
Who doesn’t want to stay flexible, especially as they age? Well, stretching is one very good way to stay flexible! According to the American College of Sports Medicine, it’s good to stretch all the major muscle groups at least two times a week. Stretching is an integral part of physiotherapy, and a physiotherapist is the perfect person to guide you on how to stretch. Physiotherapists recommend stretching regularly, as it keeps one’s hips and hamstrings flexible later in life, which is very important for easy movement in old age.
Apart from this stretching has many other benefits:
- It increases muscle flexibility
- It improves posture
- It also improves performance in sports & other activities
- It provides relief from stress
- It helps prevent injuries
- It prevents Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness or DOMS, which is the soreness and pain one suffers a few hours to a few days after hectic exercise.
Also read, Physiotherapy Etobicoke
The first question that many wonder about, is what body parts should one stretch.
In physiotherapy, stretching the following body parts is considered essential –
- Neck
- Jaw
- Upper Back
- Shoulders
- Triceps
- Biceps
- Wrists
- Quadriceps
- Calves
- Hamstrings
- Hips
- Groin
The next thing to take into consideration is if there is the right amount of time to stretch. While there is no particular amount of time that physiotherapists suggest you stretch, recent studies show that 3 sets of 30-second stretches, 5 days per week for 4 weeks help to strengthen hamstring muscles greatly.
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There are many kinds of Stretching that physiotherapists recommend.
Stretching a muscle to its full extent and holding it for 15 to 30 is known as the Static Stretch. You can exceed this time frame a bit but don’t stretch until it hurts, as you can end up doing more damage to your muscles than good by over stretching. However, don’t do Static Stretches before a run or sprint, as this can slow down your speed by tiring out the muscles.
Before warming up for a run or other sports, doing Dynamic Stretches is more suitable. Dynamic Stretches are stretches that you do, as you are moving, and hence are called dynamic.
Another effective way of stretching, often used in physiotherapy, is Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Stretching.
PNF stretching is an advanced type of stretching wherein the targeted muscle or muscle group, is stretched, contracted, and finally relaxed. This process is repeated at least 2 to 4 times before moving on to the next muscle group. PNF stretching helps to elongate one’s muscles and was first developed as a muscle therapy by athletes, but is now often used in physiotherapy as a means of increasing flexibility.
Stretching can be used as a preventative precaution, but also to help correct and recover from more serious issues. A physiotherapist can guide you more regarding the stretching exercises that will be best suited to your needs. So visit any of our locations in Etobicoke, Oakville, North York, Mississauga & Toronto, and find out how you can get the most out of stretching!
Wearing heels may be a fashion statement for some, but for others, it is a work necessity.
Studies have shown that:
- 72% of women wear high heels at some point or the other
- 50% of them wear them at parties
- 39% of them wear them every day
- And 31% of them wear them to work
But wearing heels for a prolonged period of time can lead to multiple issues. So what are the “heel issues” that affect most women? And how can you deal with them?
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Do your toes hurt and your feet feel numb?
You might have Morton’s Neuroma, commonly known as forefoot pain. People with this ailment most often complain of pain between the 3rd and the 4th toe. Pain between the 2nd and the 3rd toe is less common but also known to happen. This ailment occurs when the nerves between the toes get irritated and inflamed.
Another common issue with wearing high heels is back pain. Constantly wearing very high heels puts stress on the thighs and hip flexors, which in turn puts more pressure on the spine and causes it to curve. The curving of the spine then leads to back pain.
Pain in the knee joints is also an issue that occurs if you wear high heels too often. High heels put too much pressure on knee joints and can create an imbalance in your leg alignment, leading to pain and other issues of the knee joint.
Also read, Physiotherapy Treatment in Etobicoke
Ditching the heels completely will obviously be the best solution. But if you can’t do that, here are some things that you can do –
- Wear heels that are 2 inches or less in height, this will help take off the pressure from your spine and cause less curving.
- If you absolutely must wear very high heels (4 to 6 inches high) one day, wear low to moderate heels the next day. This way your knee joints, spine and thigh muscles will get a break from undue stress.
- If you have forefoot pain, try wearing shoes that are wider around the toes – a shoe with a round or square shape in front is a better choice than a pointy-toed shoe.
- Opt for shoes that have leather insoles so your feet have better grip. Slippery heels cause even more damage to your posture.
- Wear heels for shorter periods of time. The longer you wear high heels, the more damage you cause to your knees and spine.
- Ditch those heels if you are in too much pain. It is better to sit at your desk without your heels on, rather than cringe with pain for the entire day.
- And finally, visit a physiotherapist and do some simple exercises that he or she may suggest to relieve you of your feet, back or knee pain caused by high heels.
At Triangle Physiotherapy our professionals can help you figure out what will be the ideal solution for your ailment. So visit any of our 8 locations of Triangle Physiotherapy clinics – Etobicoke, Oakville, Mississauga, North York, Toronto to heal the issues caused by them heels!
How are custom orthotics made?
The process starts with the chiropodist, chiropractor, or physiotherapist conducting a Biomechanical Gait analysis on a tablet that records your gait pattern & explaining the results to you. The chiropodist, chiropractor, or physiotherapist may also take a 3D cast of your feet in a foam box. The orthotics are then custom-manufactured in the lab based on your foot impressions & scan. Once the orthotics are made & delivered to the clinic, the chiropodist, chiropractor or physiotherapist will have you come in for a fitting & explain to you the wear & care of the orthotics. Also read, Physiotherapy Clinic in EtobicokeWhy choose Triangle Physiotherapy for your custom orthotics?
- State-of-the-art technology
- Experienced chiropodists, chiropractors or physiotherapists trained in Biomechanical Assessments & Orthotic Prescription
- Lifetime warranty on the orthotics*
- Assistance with sending your claims to your insurance.
Click HERE to book an appointment with a chiropodist at one of our eight locations.
- Orthotics Etobicoke – Triangle Physiotherapy Etobicoke
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