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What is Pedorthics?
Definition
Pedorthics is the design, manufacture, modification, and fit of footwear, including foot orthoses, to alleviate foot problems caused by disease, overuse, congenital defect, or injury. It is footwear, carefully fitted, to relieve or accommodate temporary or permanent foot problems.
Your Foot
During the course of one’s life, most people will experience some form of foot discomfort. It may be as simple as a callus or corns, or as serious a condition as to require hospitalization. But most foot-related issues are normally caused by simple musculoskeletal malalignment.
As we look at the human foot, we see a marvel of engineering. It is the foundation of everything we do while mobile. It functions as our interface between the ground and the greatest deforming force on the human body, gravity. With each step, it handles huge forces upon 26 tiny bones. The average person takes in excess of 10,000 steps per day and places a force of 3.5 times their body weight upon their feet with each step.
As current statistics tell us, people are living longer, staying in good physical condition, and attempting to lead-out a normal life style into these later years. However, as we age, the musculoskeletal makeup of our bodies seems to loose its abilities to maintain this life style. As this begins to occur, the pedorthic solution is to rebalance the foot and stabilize the limb for improved mobility.
What a Pedorthist Does!
The pedorthist takes his experience and knowledge of lower limb musculoskeletal biomechanics and applies it to either the doctor’s diagnosis or to his own assessment of the patient’s symptoms. His goal is to balance both sides of the lower extremities: from foot and ankle through knees to hips. As the pedorthist assesses the biomechanics, he gives the physician or the patient many conservative, or non-surgical, treatment options. These can range from shoes professionally fitted, shoe modifications to assist in the control or realignment of the foot deformity, to over-the-counter or custom-made foot orthoses for improved support.
Education
As pedorthists, we perform extensive studies of foot and lower limb anatomy; pathology; biomechanics, which involves human locomotion; gait analysis; footwear fitting; lower extremity orthotic design, fabrication and materials; shoe construction and modification; and patient management. After studying and being mentored, we attend specific pedorthics courses which are prerequisites for the certification examination. Certified pedorthists maintain their certification by following continuing education and renewal requirements.
Cost of Pedorthics!
The cost of pedorthic care will depend on the type of treatment and the extent of work done. However costly this may seem, the alternative to pedorthic care can be 100 times more costly, if not debilitating, based on the severity of the problem. Relying on the pedorthist’s ability to provide, fit, and maintain the appropriate footwear and to fabricate and manage the proper foot orthosis design can make a profound difference in the quality of an individual’s daily life.
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