Orthotics

Orthotics are inserts for shoes that allow the muscles, tendons and bones of the feet and lower legs to function at their highest potential. When appropriately prescribed, orthotics can decrease pain, not only in the foot, but in other parts of the body such as the knee, hip and lower back. Orthotics may also increase stability in unstable joints, prevent a deformed foot from developing additional problems, and improve quality of life overall.

 

Who Can Benefit from Orthotics?

  • Athletes (for most sports; i.e. golf, tennis, running) excluding swimming.
  • People who must walk or stand excessively on the job.
  • Overweight individuals to counteract the extra stress on the feet.
  • Older adults, who may have developed arthritis in their feet
  • Children who have a foot deformity

Sports Medicine.

In athletic individuals, sports activities produce a great deal of movement and pressure on the foot. Slight imbalances that are not harmful or even detectable under usual circumstances may make the foot more vulnerable to injury with the extra stress of sports activity. By eliminating the need for the muscles to compensate for imperceptible imbalances, orthotics may reduce fatigue and promote efficient muscle function to enhance performance and prevent injury or pain.

Flat Feet and Over-Pronation. 

Over-pronation is a common biomechanical problem assisted by orthotics. Over-pronation occurs in the walking process when a person's foot arch collapses upon weight bearing. Over-pronation is very prominent in people who have flexible, flat feet. The framework of the foot begins to collapse, causing the foot to flatten and adding stress to other parts of the foot. There are many causes of flat feet. Obesity, pregnancy or repetitive pounding on a hard surface can weaken the arch leading to over-pronation. Often people with flat feet do not experience discomfort immediately, and some never suffer from any discomfort at all. However, when symptoms develop and become painful, walking becomes awkward and causes increased strain on the feet and calves.

Over-Pronation Problems that Orthotics can Help

  •  Foot complaints, such as plantar fasciitis and heel spur
  •  Lower leg - shin splints, tibial stress fractures,
  •  Knee injuries medial knee meniscus and joint capsule sprain, pes anserine bursitis, iliotibial band friction      syndrome and retropatella pain,
  •  Hip pain - gluteus maximus tendon strain and trochanteric bursitis
  •  Low back pain and sacral pain

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TOG GaitScan™                                          

Why Gaitscan?

Our GaitScan™ System is a revolutionary diagnostic tool for assessing your patient's biomechanics. GaitScan™ has an industry high 4096 sensors and scans at an industry high 300Hz (scans per second).  These measurements provide today's Healthcare Professionals with a sophisticated explanation of foot mechanics and assists them with orthotic and/or shoe solutions. 

TOG GaitScan™ is the most technologically advanced gait analysis system available and it has been designed to move you to the forefront of orthotic therapy and patient education.

Computer Analysis with Dynamic, Objective Data

Gaitscan is the combination of state of the art computer hardware and software that helps your physiotherapist assess and analyze foot function.  The pressure-sensitive platform with powerful software is capable of assessing and showing in full color 2-D, 3-D and graphical detail the weight and pressure distribution of each foot that stood or walked over the mat.

Digital gait scanning technology allows us, for the first time to truly understand how pressure and timing distribution across the foot happens as we walk. By comparing the results of scans against "ideal" foot function examples, in addition to having an in-depth understanding of biomechanics, common bony misalignments of the foot, postural assessment and other health and lifestyle factors that are relevant to the patient. It is now possible to prescribe a high quality, semi-rigid thermoplastic 100% memory orthotic that gently and consistently places the foot in a more neutral alignment with every single step.

Indeed, where bony misalignments within the foot are the cause of abnormal foot function (as is considered to be the case for around 70% of the population), a gait scan assessment is able to pick up problems even before resultant pain and dysfunction develop. By controlling and optimising foot function even without existing pain and dysfunction, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing some of the many related health problems later in life.

Could Gaitscan Help You?

If you agree with any of the statements below, a Gaitscan could be of great value to you

  • Feet are sore on a regular basis.
  • A good portion of the day is spent standing or walking on hard surfaces.
  • I play sport regularly.
  • Standing, walking or running causes joint pain (ankles, knees, hip or back).
  • Over 40 years old.
  • Visible foot problems (bunions, fallen arches, corns, etc).
  • One leg is shorter than the other.
  • Knock-knees or bow-legs.
  • Shoes wear out quickly or unevenly.
  • Parents had foot related symptoms.