Orthotics in Ottawa ON

Do your first few steps out of bed in the morning cause severe pain in your heel? Or does your heel hurt after jogging or playing tennis?

Most commonly, heel pain in Ottawa ON is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia - the tissue along the bottom of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes. The condition is called plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis causes stabbing or burning pain that's usually worse in the morning because the fascia tightens (contracts) overnight. Once your foot loosens up, the pain of plantar fasciitis normally decreases, but it may return after long periods of standing or after getting up from a seated position.

You're more likely to get the condition if you're a woman (usually due to high heels or pregnancy), if you're overweight, or if you have a job that requires a lot of walking or standing on hard surfaces. You're also at risk if you walk or run for exercise, especially if you have tight calf muscles that limit how far you can flex your ankles. People with very flat feet or very high arches are also more prone to plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis usually develops gradually, but it can come on suddenly and be severe. Although it can affect both feet, it more often occurs in only one foot at a time. You're more likely to feel it after (not during) exercise.

If you don't treat plantar fasciitis, it may become a chronic condition. You may not be able to keep up your level of activity and you may also develop symptoms of foot, knee, hip, and back problems because of the way plantar fasciitis changes the way you walk. Orthotics are extremely helpful in correcting your foot position, thus speeding up the recovery process.

Custom-made orthotics - Custom-moulded orthotics are foot supports that precisely align your feet and legs to help resolve pain arising from biomechanical misalignment. Custom orthotics are prescribed following a thorough examination which includes gait analysis and muscle/joint testing.

Conditions benefiting from Custom Orthotics in Ottawa ON include:

• Heel spur syndrome
• Arch pain/Flat feet or high arches
• Knee pain/ Patella mal-tracking
• Shin splints
• Ankle instability
• Forefoot pain - under the ball of the foot
• Lower back pain
• Leg length difference
• Illio-tibial Band Syndrome (ITB syndrome)
• Prevention of abnormal wear and tear of ankle, knee & hip joints
• Prevention of abnormal shoe wear
• For children - care of growing pains, to help correct abnormal foot posture

They are not a miracle cure-all, but a part of your pain management, and maintenance of your spinal alignment.

Do you need orthotics?

While the feet can be rehabilitated through various exercises, research has shown us that this can take quite a long time. If you're interested in finding out more information about the orthotics we offer or would like a Chiropractic assessment of your feet then feel free to contact us at 613-726-8830.