WHAT is a PEDORTHIST?
A pedorthist is an individual who is trained in the manufacturing, fitting, and modification of foot appliances and footwear for the purpose of alleviating painful or debilitating conditions and providing assistance for abnormalities or limited actions of the lower limb.
The pedorthist provides devices and footwear to assist in:
- Accommodation of foot deformities
- Re-alignment of anatomical structures
- Redistribution of external and internal forces
- Improvement of balance
- Control of biomechanical function
- accommodation of circulatory special requirements
- Enhancement of the actions of limbs compromised as a result of accident, congenital deformity, neural condition, or disease
WHEN should I SEE a PEDORTHIST?
If you, or a member of your family are dealing with foot pain, are suffering from a disease process which can affect your feet, circulation or sensation, or have noticed abnormal wear pattern to your footwear, you may want to visit your local Pedorthic Practitioner. They will be able to help you deal with your foot and lower limb discomfort.
As one of the few medical professionals educated in the design, fit, manufacture, or modification of footwear and foot orthoses (orthotics), certified members of the Pedorthic Footwear Association are regularly called upon to fill prescriptions and make recommendations.
Certified Pedorthists are trained to deal with many complicated situations of the human foot. In many cases, internal or external modifications may be indicated to treat these deformities, and can come in the form of the sole lifts, rocker soles, balloon patches, and changes to the profile of a shoe’s upper. A custom made foot orthoses (orthotic) may also be required to deal with specific biomechanical (movement) problems, pressure distribution, or impact. Your Pedorthic Practitioner is qualified to assess and treat these and many other conditions of the foot and lower limb.
WHAT does Pedorthic TREATMENT involve?
Over the course of a lifetime, most people experience some type of foot problem. It may be as simple as a blister or callus, or something complicated enough to require hospitalization. But the majority of foot problems, although they can be serious in degree, are relatively routine in nature. Pedorthics uses footwear to help ease foot problems. A Certified Pedorthist (C.Ped) works as part of the allied health care team, dispensing footwear to keep people as mobile as possible.
Because no single type of footwear is appropriate to every activity, most people find that their footwear needs – including shoes, orthotics, and hose or socks – will vary according to their activities and performance levels. Shoes designed for office wear, for example, are probably not sufficient to support feet through a long afternoon at a shopping mall. Similarly, orthoses designed for a basketball player provide a different kind of support than orthoses for a golfer. Whatever their activities, people should have a minimum of two par of shoes for daily use, and should alternate wearing them. Wearing the same pair day after day without change can hasten the onset of foot problems, because over time a shoe’s features become distorted by use.
Several manufacturers make shoes suitable for use in Pedorthics. Some are specialized, such as “depth” shoes. Many can be customized or modified to fit an individual’s needs. Shoes can also be custom-made from a model of the patient’s own foot.
Shoe modifications may be external, internal, or both. External modifications frequently used to stabilize the foot include flares and wedges. In addition, ambulation can be improved with various types of rocker soles and elevations. Internal modifications are intended to adapt the interior surface of the shoe for the contours of the patient’s foot, relieving or accommodating conditions.
Foot orthotics is often used to address foot problems. Orthoses can be fabricated from a variety of materials and used in many types of shoes. Patients should discuss their activities with their Pedorthist so their C.Ped can provide the most effective materials for treatment based on the doctor’s prescription.
Because fit is a critical art of pedorthics, most pedorthics patients will need more than one appointment to ensure that their footwear fits and functions properly, particularly if the prescription includes an orthoses and shoe.
A footwear prescription, like a prescription for medicine or eyeglasses, is a matter of health. When you give a prescription to a certified pedorthist, you can rest assured you’re working with a qualified professional commited to a high level of care as a member of the allied health team
