What is a Pedorthist?

The certified pedorthist (Cped) is an individual who is trained in the manufacturing, fitting and modification of foot appliances and footwear for the purposes of alleviating painful or debilitating conditions and providing assistance for abnormalities or limited actions of the lower limb.

A Certified pedorthist designs foot orthoses and shoes for patients requiring protective support or correction due to muscle/bone impairment, disease, or deformity. Utilizing training in biomechanics, gait analysis/patho mechanics, kinesiology, pathology, materials science, research methods, and diagnostic-imaging techniques, the pedorthist works to restore mobility and to prevent or limit disability.

Certified Pedorthist Provide:

• Assessment through observation of surface anatomy and palpation of the limb,
  gait analyses, range-of-motion testing, footwear analysis and review of potentially complicated health factors;
• Casting, manufacturing, fitting and adjusting foot orthoses and subtalar-control foot orthoses (SCFO);
• Fitting and modifying standard and orthopedic footwear;
• Accommodating/incorporating inlay devices; and,
• Casting and measuring for custom footwear.

Why should I see a Certified pedorthist?

As one of the few medical professionals educated in the design, fit, manufacture, and modification of footwear and foot orthoses (Orthotics), American Board Certified Pedorthists are regularly called upon to fill prescriptions and make recommendations.

Every foot requires special attention. Variables such as overall length, heel to ball length, and width are assessed in both a seated and standing position. Other variables may include bony deformities of the greater and lesser toes, instep height, amputations, ulceration, and biomechanical anomalies such as over-pronation or over-supination, in-toeing or out-toeing.

Certified Pedorthists are trained to deal with these and many more complicated situations of the human foot. In many cases, internal or external modifications may be indicated to treat these deformities, and can come in the form of sole lifts, rocker soles, balloon patches, and changes to the profile of a shoe's upper.  A custom made foot orthosis (Orthotic) may also be required to deal with specific biomechanical (movement) problems, pressure distribution, or impact.  Your Pedorthic Practitioner is qualified to assess and treat these and many other conditions of the foot and lower leg.

Standard Clinical Assessment

A 30 minutes to an hour appointment focusing on a foot exam, biomechanical assessment and gait analysis. This analysis allows the Pedorthist to examine your foot and leg biomechanics. Whether, you are an athlete or a diabetic patient we can determine the best possible solution for your specific needs.

Educating you about your injury or condition is a very important part of your health. We use a variety of casting techniques to gain three-dimensional images of your feet. From this point, fabrication of the orthotics begins with our technical team with close attention and direction from the assessing pedorthist.