What Is Chiropody?
Chiropody is a form of medical science involving the assessment and treatment of the foot and lower limb. The average person walks the equivalent of 5 times the distance around the earth in their lifetime. Additionally, each step taken will exert a force equal to 1.5 times the person’s body weight on the foot. Together, this creates a variety of problems that may manifest not only in the foot, but also in joints higher up such as the ankle, knee, hip, and spine. The role of a chiropodist is to manage these conditions using therapeutic, orthotic, surgical, and palliative means.
Common conditions treated by Chiropodists:
- Calluses
- Corns
- Bunions
- Heel or arch pain
- Flat feet
- Ingrown toenails
- Warts
- Fungal infections
- Diabetic foot care
- Wounds
- Sports injuries
- Pediatric foot care
Chiropody Services
Your first Chiropody appointment at Woodbridge Avenue Chiropractic & Wellness Centre will last one hour, as the chiropodist will take a comprehensive medical history as well as perform physical assessments before making a diagnosis and treatment plan. Subsequent appointments, if necessary, will last 20 to 30 minutes. Please be prepared to remove your shoes at every appointment, and to wear pants that can be rolled up to the knees if possible.
Chiropody services are not covered by OHIP; however, they are covered by most health insurance plans. Please check with your insurance provider regarding coverage.
Custom Orthotics
If you are experiencing foot pain or fatigue, Chiropodists/podiatrists can provide a complete biomechanical examination & gait analysis to determine whether orthotic therapy is beneficial for you. Orthotics are custom made foot inserts placed inside your footwear.
Your chiropodist, chiropractor or your doctor may recommend custom orthotics for foot pathologies or to alleviate pain/discomfort from abnormal foot function. Orthotics are not covered by OHIP. Private insurance companies require a prescription from a doctor or a chiropodist/podiatrist, and a biomechanical assessment & gait analysis, foot casting and dispensing of orthoses by a chiropodist/podiatrist or a chiropractor.
Our custom orthotics are designed for each individual, with special attention to the degree of abnormal foot function, one’s activity level and type of footwear in which the orthotics are worn. At Woodbridge Avenue Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, the chiropodist will assess your foot function in order to determine if you require foot orthotics, and what type of orthotic will benefit you most. The next step is making a 3D cast of your foot or a plaster of paris mold of your foot, and sending the cast to an orthotic laboratory that will make the custom device for you. This process takes about 2-4 weeks. When the orthotics arrive at the clinic, an appointment is made to ensure proper fit.
A few of the indications for custom orthotics include: flat feet, over pronation, high arch, rigid foot, arch pain, plantar fasciitis, calcaneal spurs, posterior tibial tendon disorder, limb length discrepancies, shin splints, callus, corns, complications of diabetes, arthritis and inflammatory diseases affecting the feet, bunions, hammertoes, foot deformities, etc.
Types of Orthotics – Functional or Accommodative Orthoses
The objective for functional orthoses is to control and/or improve foot function to alleviate foot and lower extremity symptoms and to prevent or reduce the development of abnormal tissue stress and deformities by controlling the foot
The objective for accommodative orthoses is to alleviate foot and lower extremity symptoms and to prevent or reduce the progression of foot deformities by controlling the foot by deflecting pressure away from boney prominences of the foot, deflect pressure away from ulcers, hyperkeratosis and areas of excessive pressure. The objective is to redistribute pressure evenly throughout the plantar surface of the foot.
“Prescription custom foot orthoses are an important part of patient care in the management of foot pathologies and are used to improve gait and to alleviate pain and discomfort from abnormal foot function or structure.” – College of Chiropodists of Ontario
Compression Hosiery
Compression hosiery helps to improve venous blood return to the heart/circulation. They are designed to deliver a graduated controlled amount of pressure, which promotes better blood flow and helps to alleviate, manage or prevent swelling, varicose veins, telangiectasias/spider veins, improve lactic acid and waste removal, leg fatigue, blood clots, venous ulcers, deep vein thrombosis and other lower limb pathologies related to impaired venous return.
A chiropodist or certified compression stocking fitter can assess whether compression stockings are appropriate for you.
Brands supplied at Woodbridge Avenue Chiropractic & Wellness Centre : Medi.
Chiropody Hours:
Wednesday 10am-7pm
Friday 10am-6pm