Orthotic Frequently Asked Questions
- From start to finish your foot issues will be assessed by a foot specialist to address your concerns.
- An extensive biomechanical examination will be performed.
- Proper Non-Weight bearing casts will be taken of your feet (as oppose to foam box or mat-scan casts).
- Your casts will be sent to one of leading labs in the United States to be made.
- All follow-up visits regarding your orthotics are free of charge.
- We stand behind our orthotics!
Yes, we do. We encourage parents to bring in their children for assessment as soon as they notice any abnormalities in their feet or the way they walk. Situations such as in-toeing can only be corrected between ages 4-9, thus we encourage parents to bring in their children as soon as possible. Pediatric orthotics, however, will not work in toddlers who do not have proper heel-to-toe gait, thus we will educate patients on any treatments/exercises that can be done till they are able to walk properly. Book your children as soon as possible if you think there is an abnormality with your children’s feet or the way they walk.
If you previously got orthotics from us, we will always recast your feet every 2 years as a rule of thumb since your foot may have changed. If you would like to be re-casted, feel free to let us know even if it’s only been a year since your last pair as we are happy to re-cast.
Most orthotics are designed to last anywhere from 2-4 years. However, the lifespan is dependent on the activity that they are used for (i.e. orthotics used day to day will last longer than orthotics used for sports). Your feet will also change as you age, thus, you will need new orthotics if there is a change in foot shape (i.e. bunions getting worse).
No, all follow-up appointments regarding the orthotic after your orthotics has been dispensed to you are free of charge. We stand behind our product and if you have any questions or concerns about the orthotics, please feel free to book an appointment.
Most orthotics have a 6 months warranty with the orthotic. The shell of the orthotic has a lifetime guarantee. We will book a 1 month checkup after your orthotics are fitted and if any adjustments are needed will be sent back to the lab to professionally adjusted.
Currently, we use a lab in the United States. We ship all of our casts across the border because we wanted to use a quality lab that provided the best orthotics to our patients. We pride ourselves in quality and customer satisfaction and thus will strive to deliver the most superior product. The lab we use has a repair/distribution office in Markham, adjustments if needed will be done in Markham.
Most insurance policies has coverage for orthotics and foot care. Generally Foot care and orthotic coverage are in separate categories (i.e $600 for footcare and $500 for orthotics). Please check with your insurance provider to see what your coverage is. A list of questions to ask your insurance company can be found here.
For the most part no, Chiropodists are foot specialists and can write their own prescriptions. All major insurance companies will accepts a chiropodist’s prescription for orthotics. We encourage patients to call their insurance provider to clarify their coverage before coming in. A list of questions to ask your insurance company can be found here.
Because we use a lab in the United States, turnaround time takes on average 2-3 weeks. A rush order option is available for an additional fee.
If you take out your current pair of orthotics and you can flex the arch of the orthotic with your hand, then we would consider that to be a bad pair of orthotics. The only instance when an orthotic is supposed to be flexible is in cases when we are trying to accommodate for foot deformities such as advance arthritis. The majority of our orthotics are made of a semi-rigid shell which are not flexible and thus will give the proper support which will relieve your foot pain.
No, we do not use foam box to casts for orthotics because your foot changes when your foot is pushed into the foam to get the impression. This is particularly important for patients who over-pronate or have flat feet or fallen arches because the pressure applied to the foot will flatten the arch and thus not providing a proper cast. If the cast was done non-weight bearing (foot off the ground), the orthotic will be properly designed to support your natural foot without any weight on it. Many patients who previously have had orthotics done by the foam box method will notice a difference in their new orthotics.
A lot of patients come to our clinic stating the orthotics they got from another clinic did not work or provide the relief they needed. Part of the reason why patients find orthotics do not work is due to the casting technique. If the orthotics were casted by standing on a foam box or sitting and having their foot pushed into a foam box, the patient’s arch may have stretched and flattened. If the impression of your arch is flattened out in the casting process, there will be less/no support in the orthotic. When we cast your feet in non-weight bearing (feet off the ground) position, we capture your natural foot, thus providing the best outcome for the orthotic. During the casting process, we will ask you to lay on your stomach and we will manually hold your foot in a neutral position till the casting is complete. Chiropodists and Podiatrists are always taught non-weight bearing position as the gold standard for a well made/supportive orthotic.
Plaster Cast and/or 3-dimensional Laser
Your feet will be casted in a Non-Weight Bearing Position (foot off the ground) and will be casted using Plaster of Paris or with a laser to create a 3-dimensional mold of your foot. The lab gathers the data from the 3-D cast and your foot is milled out onto a block of wood (essentially having your foot there). The mold will be turned upside down and plastic will be heat molded onto your positive foot mold. Proper padding and accommodations specific to your foot problem will be added to the orthotic. Your custom orthotics are handmade aside from the milling process.
A biomechanical and gait analysis includes a full assessment of the foot/leg. Proper ranges of motion will be assessed from the foot all the way up to the hip. You will be assessed non-weight bearing, weight bearing, and dynamically while walking. Special attention will be placed on areas where you feel the most discomfort and pain. The orthotic will be modified and customized to your foot type and will be adjusted by the lab to our specifications.