HALIFAX, Canada -- Whether you have an arthritic knee, been in an injury or trying to correct the position of your foot, your podiatrist will likely be advising you to start wearing custom orthotics. These shoe inserts, are made to help correct any misalignments in the foot, improve a person's posture, or alleviate any pain in the foot or leg. Unlike the gel like inserts you buy at WalMart, custom orthotics is specifically cut to your own foot’s size, width and corrective purposes. They are either inserted in a shoe or integrated into the shoe's design so that they become a part of the shoe's sole.

In getting your own custom orthodontics, doctors and other health care professionals order custom orthotics after they have obtained a cast of a person's foot. The cast is created by taking an impression of the feet, one at a time. There are different kinds of casts, but a common one looks like a box that has enough room for only one foot. A person places his or her bare foot into the box, making the malleable surface conform. After the foot is lifted out of the box, the unique shape of the person's foot becomes evident. Usually the impression is either scanned with a 3-dimensional laser or filled with plaster. When an impression is scanned, a virtual image of the foot is created. This image is more then likely corrected and balanced using virtual software. After correction has taken place the image is then milled out by a machine. This creates a positive out of wood. The other method of correction or balancing is with traditional plaster.

The foam impression is essentially copied by pouring plaster inside. When the plaster hardens you have what is called the "positive". This positive made of plaster has more plaster added or taken away depending upon what changes are needed for the foot. The molds are sent to a company where a laboratory uses techniques that will help stabilize the foot and correct any problems. Within weeks, the completed custom orthotics are delivered. They are usually made out of rubber materials that are quite stable.

Compared to over the counter orthotics, getting your own customized ones can be a bit pricey. Orthotics are, on the face of it, much more expensive. But looking a bit deeper, you may find that the cost may even out over time. If you are replacing $40 inserts every 3 months that adds up to be $160 per year. Custom orthotics cost about $400. They are in durable so you will not likely change a pair every year. Also, some insurance companies will pay some or all of the cost for orthotics but not OTC inserts.

It is advisable that you wear your new shoes or custom orthotic devices no more than one hour at a time, two times a day the first two days. If you feel comfortable, increase to two hours, for the next two days. Continue this one-hour increase every other day for the next seven to ten days. Changes in your foot can happen gradually. Custom orthotics can be created for almost any type of shoe, whether high-heeled or flat, as long as they can fit inside


Vist Custom Orthotics site for more details at http://www.arthritisandinjurycare.ca/custom-orthotics


Contact
Dr. Christopher Johnston
902.442.5199