Footmaxx Orthotics: Put Your Best Foot Forward
Orthotics are customized insoles that can be worn in any type of shoe that will correct the way that you walk. A simple five-minute gait and pressure analysis test at High Performance Foot + Ankle will reveal if you are a candidate for orthotics.
If you are walking incorrectly, your entire body can be out of alignment, which can cause all types of problems, such as foot, ankle, leg, hip and lower back pain. Foot problems can contribute to stress or pain in other parts of your body, even if your feet seem to be relatively pain-free.
Flat Feet
Pronation Syndrome – or flat arches – is the most common foot problem. This is when some of the bones of the foot drop to a less stable position because the foot arches are too weak to keep them in proper alignment. The arches themselves may be unnaturally stretched and stress on the entire foot increases.
Pronated feet often flare outward during standing or movement, so the Achilles tendons and kneecaps may be rotated inward from the midline of the legs. Over time this imbalance can cause stress or pain in the knees, hips, pelvis, low back or neck – even if the affected foot may not hurt at all.
Stepping Out: The Footmaxx System
The Footmaxx system measures the weight distribution along the plantar surface through the gait cycle, providing a dynamic measurement that takes into account the influence of the leg. The system also measures the function of the subtalar and the midtarsal joints.
Gait Scan
Eight steps to correction: How your custom orthotics are made
Step 1: You will walk across the Footmaxx force plate, which contains 960 capacitance points. Your walk is scanned by a computer 30 times per second, allowing for 3/100 second interval analysis of each footstep.
Step 2: Dr Paukovitz will review your preliminary test results with you, taking the time to explain the gait line and the 2D and 3D images. For more severe conditions, additional examinations will be recommended.
Step 3: Dr Paukovitz will send your details to Footmaxx and request a gait and pressure analysis report and/or prescription orthotics.
Step 4: Once at the Footmaxx lab, your file will be fully analysed by the Footmaxx diagnostic software, which uses advanced algorithms to analyse your details and compare them to normal gait patterns.
Step 5: A semi-rigid orthotic module is intrinsically posted, forming and molding the angle and height of the arch of the orthotic module based on the prescription needed to correct your abnormal bio-mechanics.
Step 6: Footmaxx materials are carefully selected to offer wearability and durability.
Step 7: The orthotics are sent to the Footmaxx quality control department where they are carefully checked against Dr Paukovitz’s instructions and test results.
Step 8: When your orthotics are approved by quality control, they are shipped to Dr Paukovitz. Your digital patient data is permanently stored at Footmaxx, which will make your progress easy to track.
Step into style and comfort
High Performance Foot + Ankle offers custom orthotics for a fantastic array of sport, casual and dress shoes. Please click here to view the complete Footmaxx product line.
*As with all medical treatments, results vary from patient to patient.
What Are Orthotics?
Orthotics are customized insoles worn in any type of shoe and they correct the way a patient walks. If a patient is walking incorrectly, their entire body can be out of alignment causing all types of problems including foot, ankle, leg, hip, and lower back pain. A 5-minute gait and pressure analysis test will tell you if you are a candidate for orthotics. Orthotics are covered by most insurance plans because insurance companies know the value of orthotic therapy in the prevention and treatment of many conditions that can lead to short-term or even long-term disability claims.
Foot problems may contribute to stress or pain in other parts of your body, even if your feet don’t.
What is Pronation Syndrome (Flat Arches)?
Pronation Syndrome is considered the most common foot problem.
In pronation, some of the bones of the foot drop to a less stable position because the foot arches are too weak to keep them in proper alignment. The arches themselves may be unnaturally stretched (“flat feet”), and stress on the entire foot increases.
Pronated feet often “flare outward” during standing or movement; the Achilles tendons and kneecaps may be rotated inward from the midline of the legs; and shoes may have heel wear on the outside and look “run over”. Over time, this imbalance can cause stress or pain in the knees, hips, pelvis, low back, or neck. What’s especially interesting is that the affected foot itself may not hurt at all, even though it can be the principal cause of stress/pain somewhere else in the body.
Do You need orthotics?
Take this self test to see if you need custom-made orthotics.
1. Do you have obvious foot problems (bunions, corns, flat feet, etc.)?
2. Do you have pain while standing, walking or running?
3. Have you had a prior injury to your foot/ankle, knee, back or neck?
4. Is one of your legs shorter than the other?
5. Do you stand or walk on hard surfaces for more than 4 hours daily?
6. Do your feet “toe out” when you’re walking?
7. Do your shoe heels wear unevenly?
8. Do you have knock knees or bow legs?
9. Do you participate regularly in any physical sport
(basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, etc.)?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, custom-made orthotics may help you!