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 can 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?

• 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

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 can reduce fatigue and promote efficient muscle function to enhance performance.

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.

Orthotics can help...

• Foot complaints, such as plantar fasciitis and heel spur
• Lower leg pathology - 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

Computer Analysis of the Moving Foot

GaitScan is the combination of state of the art computer hardware and software that helps assess and analyse foot function. The pressure-sensitive platform is capable of assessing and showing in full colour 2-D, 3-D and graphical detail the pressure distribution and timings of each foot as you walk.

Digital gait scanning technology allows us for the first time to truly understand how forces and the timing of those forces occur across the foot as we walk. By comparing the results of these scans against the ideal foot function, in addition to having an in-depth understanding of biomechanics, common misalignments of the foot, postural assessment and other health and lifestyle factors that are relevant to the patient, effective treatment can be delivered.

How Gaitscan works?

1. Scans the foot - As you walk across the pressure plate, thousands of tiny sensors capture the distribution of pressure of your foot over time.
2. Maps Foot Pressure - From your step, the computer displays 2D and 3D visual representations of the pressure under your foot. You can see where you have too much or too little pressure.
3. Prints a Report - The information is then summarized in a report that can be printed. The report findings will help your practitioner evaluate your foot function and determine if the pain you are experiencing is related to faulty foot function.
4. Determines the need for Orthotic Therapy - The information from this report will assist your health care practitioner to determine if you need orthotic therapy.
5. Data is sent to the Lab -When it is determined that you will benefit from orthotic therapy your information is then sent securely to The Orthotic Group laboratory. From there, your custom made orthotics are manufactured specifically for you and your feet.

SPECIALISED PRESCRIPTION ORTHOTICS

BUY ONE PAIR, GET A 2ND PAIR FREE - $395