About Us
Chiropody is the field of healthcare specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the foot and ankle and aspects of the lower limbs.
When the foot hits the ground, each component of the foot and ankle and lower limbs is affected by this motion. Podiatrists and chiropodists are experts in this interaction of body joints, which is known as biomechanics.
Chiropodists are registered with the College of Chiropody which regulates qualified medical foot care in Ontario. The foot specialists at The Foot Clinic work in partnership with our team of consultant physicians, orthopaedic surgeons, diabetes specialists and others to ensure each patient is thoroughly assessed, diagnosed and optimum treatment is selected.
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Chiropody
Chiropody is the field of healthcare specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the foot and ankle and aspects of the lower limbs.
When the foot hits the ground, each component of the foot and ankle and lower limbs is affected by this motion. Podiatrists and chiropodists are experts in this interaction of body joints, which is known as biomechanics.
Chiropodists are registered with the College of Chiropody which regulates qualified medical foot care in Ontario. The foot specialists at The Foot Clinic work in partnership with our team of consultant physicians, orthopaedic surgeons, diabetes specialists and others to ensure each patient is thoroughly assessed, diagnosed and optimum treatment is selected.
An assessment by one of our chiropodists is undertaken in clinic and may include a gait analysis. In most cases, conservative treatment by our experts may be effective without surgery.
Many foot and ankle problems are stress injuries, caused by inappropriate footwear and poor gait when running or walking. These injuries can often be treated by Chiropody, using a combination of orthotics, appropriate footwear and activity modification.
Our specialists provide advice on appropriate footwear, core stability and stretching exercises, as well as prescribing orthotics.
Biomechanics
A biomechanical assessment involves an examination of the lower limbs, looking at their structure, alignment, strengths and weaknesses.
The foot is a complex structure of 28 different bones, 214 ligaments and 38 muscles, bearing our body weight as we walk every day.
The examination is not focused simply upon the foot but includes the pelvis, legs and knees, assessing the relationship between them. It is important to examine the lower limbs as a whole because they are closely connected and pain in one area can be due to a weakness or structural problem in another area.
A biomechanical assessment is very beneficial if you are experiencing pain in your feet or lower limbs but no cause has been established. A biomechanical assessment is the starting point for understanding the cause of your problem, what treatment is needed or whether further investigations are necessary.
What are the benefits of a biomechanical assessment?
A biomechanical assessment is very beneficial if you are experiencing pain in your feet or lower limbs but no cause has been established. A biomechanical assessment is the starting point for understanding the cause of your problem, what treatment is needed or whether further investigations are necessary.
What happens during a biomechanical assessment?
Our treatments start by taking a full medical history. Then the Chiropodist / foot specialist will examine the joint range of motion of your hips, knees and feet. Your muscle strength and weakness will also be assessed and the expert will look for any signs of leg length discrepancy. We examine the structure of your feet, looking at the relationship between the forefoot and rearfoot.
While you stand in a relaxed stance, the alignment of your feet and relationship to the lower legs will be assessed.
Our team can video gait analysis as part of a biomechanical assessment if needed. You will be asked to walk and run in order to complete the examination.
The gait analysis enables the Chiropodist to see whether there is any rotation in the pelvis during running, any alignment problems and excessive foot movement.
How long does a biomechanical assessment take?
It takes one appointment to complete all the tests necessary, discuss the results and advise on the recommended treatment.
What sort of treatment will I need after a biomechanical assessment?
There are many different types of recommended treatments following a biomechanical assessment, depending upon your results. For people who have good structural foot mechanics, the specialist will advise on the best footwear in order to reduce the risk of foot problems. Simple changes such as wearing trainers designed for your gait or wearing insoles can be very effective.
If the Chiropodist believes that your mechanics could be contributing to your injury or pain, insoles or custom made orthotics will be prescribed. Referrals may also be made to an osteopath, sports doctor and rheumatologist. Patient may also be referred for imaging such as X-rays.
Gait Analysis
Gait analysis is used to discover abnormal movements, which can produce high levels of stress in joints and muscles resulting in injury. Orthotics (foot supports) are able to minimize these abnormal movements and associated stresses.
The key to better health might be correcting the structural problems in your feet!
What your feet have to do with it
Your feet have a direct impact on the rest of your body. Like the foundation of a house, your feet support the weight of everything above them. When a small problem develops in your feet, the subtle change in the way you walk will cause a chain reaction of adjustments in your posture and walking mechanics. These adjustments can put stress on joints higher up your body, and lead to more serious problems.
Using our computerized metascan system we are be able to provide a solution to your pain. By testing your foot pressure when walking we can provide accurate solutions to help alleviate your problems producing customized orthotics (foot supports) specifically for your feet.
Gait analysis is a computerized scan which is performed with the help of a 0.5 metre rigid electronic pressure plate that gets placed on the floor and is used to gather information as you walk across it. Contact us now for more information at 905-684-5953.
We have invested in the very latest equipment and software that can analyse your gait (walking pattern). Our unique footscan plates give accurate gait analysis and pressure readings every time.
Using our foot pressure gait analysis system can help to diagnose many faults in foot function, which can lead to problems in the lower back, hip and through the leg.
Once any problem area has been identified, the data form our foot scanning systems can be applied in many versatile ways from helping a patient recover from an injury to helping maintain a sports person to perform at peak levels or to advise of where they can improve their gait efficiency.
Our orthotics can make corrections that will save you from pains in your feet, legs and back. Our specialist scanning equipment and knowledge means we can swiftly return you to a pain-free lifestyle.
Foot pressure and force distribution
The plate consists of thousands of pressure sensors that ‘take pictures’ at a rate of more than 300 images per second and so determine the pressure and force distribution on the surface of the foot.
A picture of how your feet work together
Once this information has been saved into the computer we can look at various aspects of your gait in 2D, 3D and in synchronization to get a bigger overall picture of how your feet work together when walking.
This information is often very useful in correlation with a consultation to determine what kind of support is needed in the making of specialized orthotics or shoes. Your orthotics can be tested by walking over the plates with the orthotics inside your shoes to verify the correction in your movement.
Orthotics
An orthotic device (or orthoses) is a shoe insert which you may be recommended following a biomechanical assessment / gait analysis with one of our specialists. These can be either pre-fabricated devices (not unique to an individual but a shorter-term cheaper option) or custom made devices which are manufactured from a cast of the feet and a custom prescription.
Orthoses can benefit individuals in many ways:
- Improve shock absorption
- Improve stability (proprioception)
- Alter problematic foot mechanics
- Change moments around joints (e.g. decrease pronation at the sub-talar joint)
- Reduce force within injured tissue
Orthoses will usually feel very strange at first and a period of slow and gradual introduction is often advised. You can often play sports on an orthotic device within 2 weeks of its issue, although everyone is different with respect to how they adapt to this change in position and movement of the foot. Orthoses have been shown to be of benefit in many lower limb conditions such as:
- Big Toe Problems
- Metatarsalgia
- Foot Tendon Problem
- Rigid Foot Types
- ‘Flat Feet’
- Heel Pain and Plantar fasciitis
- Shin Pain (’Shin splints’)
- Knee Pain
- Back Pain
Custom made orthoses may require some maintenance to prolong their life, whereas pre-fabricated orthoses can often only a few months. Our specialtists can advise you of the expected life span of a particular device depending on its structure and the activities being performed upon it.
Running Shoe Advice
Running shoe technology has come on leaps and bounds since the early days of shoes designed for competitive runners and with this has come a bewildering choice of shoes aimed at specific types of feet or running styles.
A good shoe needs to combine efficient shock absorption as the foot strikes the ground and then provide a stable platform on which to allow the body to pass over it for efficient forward movement. Some shoe manufacturers have identified commonly seen variations in the human foot type and designed different running shoes to help assist normal running mechanics. Reputable running shoe stores usually stock these brands.
A pronated foot type tends to be one which has a flattened arch appearance and usually, but not always, gives rise to torsion through the shin bone affecting the position and control of the knee and hip joints.
A more highly arched foot tends to be more stable and adept at keeping the lower limb aligned well but is generally not such a good shock absorber. This foot type can be associated with impact type injuries and even stress fractures. Amongst other things it is advisable to look at a shoe with very good cushioning in this instance.
Sports Injuries
The dramatic increase in sporting activity over the last 30 years has brought with it a wide range of injuries. Although some of these injuries can be quite serious and require surgery, the majority of our more low-grade but can prevent or inhibit exercise. There is nothing more frustrating to anyone who enjoys sports to have to stop participating and lose fitness.
Unfortunately, many people take up sport without appropriate training or equipment (including shoes). In addition, it is common for people to ignore discomfort in the belief that this will settle only to find it becomes far worse and more chronic. This generally means that recovery and treatment will take longer. There is usually a loss of function, quite often more than pre-exercise, which means that careful attention to appropriate rehabilitation is necessary.
Whilst we treat large numbers of sports patients at The Foot Clinic we liaise with a wide range of professionals all of whom are committed to high-quality treatment.
Whilst a high percentage of our patients are recreational sports men and women, we work with the professional and elite. A selection of the sports is:
- Soccer
- Rugby
- Baseball
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Tennis
- Triathlon
- Hockey
- Golf
- Dancing
What is therapeutic ultrasound?
Therapeutic ultrasound as a treatment modality that has been used by therapists over the last 50 years to treat soft tissue injuries. Ultrasonic waves (sound waves of a high frequency) are produced by means of mechanical vibration of the metal treatment head of the ultrasound machine. This treatment head is then moved over the surface of the skin in the region of the injury. When sound waves come into contact with air it causes a dissipation of the waves, and so a special ultrasound gel is placed on the skin to ensure maximal contact between the treatment head and the surface of the skin.
Compression stockings and socks
Compression stockings (also called graduated compression stockings) can be used for a number of conditions.
– DVT is a condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the leg. If the blood clot breaks loose, it can travel to your lungs and block an artery (this is known as a pulmonary embolism).
– Varicose veins are swollen superficial veins (veins that lie under your skin) that look lumpy and dark blue or purple through your skin. They usually affect your legs, particularly your calf and sometimes your thigh, and are caused by damaged valves in your veins. This means that blood can’t travel up your veins as easily and tends to pool (collect) in your veins causing them to enlarge.
– Venous leg ulcers are areas of skin loss (lesions) usually near your ankle. They are caused by problems with the valves in your leg veins.
– Fluid build-up in your legs (edema) can be caused by heart failure and problems with the veins in your legs. Fluid can also build up in your legs during long airplane flights.
How do compression stockings work?
Compression stockings work by putting pressure on the veins in your leg. They are called graduated compression stockings because the pressure they exert is greatest at the ankle and reduces further up your leg. When you walk or exercise your legs they help the natural pump mechanism of the muscles in your leg to improve your circulation.
Compression stockings are available in several sizes and lengths. They are also available with different strengths of compression; Different gradients are available with varying strengths. Your foot specialist/Chiropodist will advise you which strength is appropriate for you.