There are many reasons a person may start looking for Foot Orthotics. You may be experiencing foot pain. Perhaps you have flat feet? Maybe your chiropractor or some other health practitioner has explained how important proper support of your feet is.

Perhaps you have seen the benefits through muscle testing or applied Kinesiology? One common test that really sheds light on this problem is the muscle test with and without proper foot support. Here try this: with no shoes on, standing flat on the ground, extend both your arms straight out in front of you. Have a friend / partner / family member push down on your arms while you try with all your might to hold them up. Then try standing on proper arch support (this could be an insole from a shoe, or a pair of shoes that have great support, or even a ball of socks under each arch). Then repeat the test, having your assistant apply the same pressure they did before. The results are usually pretty eye-opening.

The theory is simple. Like a building that can stand the test of time, you need a proper foundation. Without that foundation, you're likely leaning a little, more like the tower of Pisa than the Washington Monument. Jokes aside, without the proper support for the specific shape of your feet, the rest of your body is likely to suffer. Your posture, your strength, and likely the longevity on your feet every day is suffering. It's no wonder then that people who get custom foot orthotics often report improved energy through the day and a general feeling of greater strength.

Other reasons you may be wondering "who does Orthotics" may include that you've recently been diagnosed with Diabetes. A reduction on the quality of circulation is common with Type I Diabetes (childhood Diabetes) and Type II Diabetes (adult onset). And with a reduction in circulation, comes a reduction of vital oxygen and fresh blood getting to your extremities including your feet. While foot orthotics are no miracle cure for Diabetes, they will promote proper circulation and an improvement in feeling in your feet. Additionally, as noted above, proper support from your feet up reduces the amount of energy your body is taking to try and compensate for a lack of support without them. As "reduced energy" is commonly reported with Diabetes, it's no wonder then that many Diabetics seek custom foot orthotics.

To get to our question about who does orthotics - you may be inclined to think you need to see a Podiatrist. Podiatrists are foot and ankle doctors that diagnose, prevent, and treat painful, debilitating, and embarrassing foot and ankle problems. There are many good reasons why you should consider seeing a podiatrist if your feet or ankles hurt, however they are specialists, and as specialists you may require a referral from your family doctor to get in to see one. Additionally they often have long wait times, and as a specialist, their fees tend to be higher, and as such your extended medical coverage may not cover all of their fees, so you could be out of pocket for the difference. Podiatrists do great work, and for advanced or complicated cases, there is no question a Podiatrist may be your best bet.

However, in most scenarios, the custom foot orthotics from your local Chiropractor (forgive the shameless plug, but in Downtown Vancouver that would be Dr. Raminder Badyal at the Downtown Wellness Centre), are equally as good. As Doctors, Chiropractors receive specialized training in the entire Musculoskeletal System, which your feet form an important part of - and specifically how the different parts of your Musculoskeletal System work together to support each other. This means your Chiropractor may be uniquely qualified and trained to help you with your need for foot orthotics. This is especially true if they use a six-step-foot-orthotic-evaluation-process. You can read more about it at the link, but in short here are the 6 steps:

Step 1: Clinical History

Step 2: Foot Examination

Step 3: Weight-Bearing Gait Assessment

Step 4: OH1 - 3D Casting - WalkingDigital Gait Scan

Step 5: Integration

Step 6: Fitting and Reassessment

If you would like to learn more about how your feet (and by extension: the rest of you) can start feeling better and stronger today, get in touch with the Custom Foot Orthotics expert - Dr. Raminder Badyal at the Downtown Wellness Centre today.