Orthopedic Footwear

At the Canadian Foot Clinic & Orthotic Centre, we offer several makes of orthopedic footwear, sandals and slippers which are geared towards accommodating your specific foot problem for maximum comfort, stability and performance. 

Your feet are measured by our shoe fitters, styles chosen, ordered and then dispensed to ensure proper fit and patient satisfaction.  Your insurance company many cover modified orthopedic footwear.  Please check with your provider to determine eligibility.  Custom orthotics are designed to fit ideally into our orthopedic footwear because they are typically deeper than an off-the-shelf shoe.  Custom orthotics can be built into sandals such as Birkenstocks and Naots. 

Our footwear providers are chosen for their commitment to stylish and comfortable footwear that is light, well constructed and available in many fashionable styles.

 

 

· General Shoe Buying Tips for:

Womans

Children

Men

Athletics

 

  

 · American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine Specific Shoe Recommendations for: 

Running, Walking, Toning 

 

·  Barefoot / Minimalist Footwear Advice

 

 

Shoe Buying Tips

· Have your feet measured while you’re standing.

· Always try on both shoes, and walk around the store.

· Always buy for the larger foot; feet are seldom precisely the same size.

· Don’t buy shoes that need a “break-in” period; shoes should be comfortable  immediately.

· Don’t rely on the size of your last pair of shoes. Your feet do get larger, and lasts (shoemakers’ sizing molds) also vary.

· Shop for shoes later in the day; feet tend to swell during the day, and it’s best to be fitted while they are in that state.

· Be sure that shoes fit well—front, back, and sides—to distribute weight. It sounds elementary, but be sure the widest part of your foot corresponds to the widest part of the shoe.

· There should be a half inch distance (or a thumb width) between the tips of your toes and the end of the shoe.

· Select a shoe with a leather upper, stiff heel counter, appropriate cushioning, and flexibility at the ball of the foot.  Don’t buy a shoe that bends in the middle near the arch.

· Buy shoes that don’t pinch your toes, either at the tips, or across the toe box.

· Try on shoes while you’re wearing the same type of socks or stockings you  expect to wear with the shoes.

· If you wear prescription orthotics—biomechanical inserts prescribed by a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine—you should take them along to shoe fittings.

· See your Doctor of Podiatric Medicine for advice on particular shoes. Particularly difficult to fit feet often benefit from custom molded shoes that are specific to your feet. 

 

Women’s Shoes

 

· Although stylish, certain shoe types can cause unnecessary foot problems. Some of the problems result from high-heeled shoes (pumps with heels of more than two inches). Doctors of Podiatric Medicine believe such heels are medically unsound, and attribute postural and even safety problems to their use.

· If you must wear high heels, limit the time they are worn, alternating with good quality sneakers or flats for part of the day.

· There are comfortable and attractive “walking” pumps (also called “comfort” or “performance” pumps) for blending fashion with more toe room and comfort. These pumps have lower heel heights.

· The ideal shoes are low-heeled lace-up oxford type casual shoes

· Wear the correct shoe for a particular activity. The best shoe for women is a walking shoe with laces (not a slip-on), a polymerized composition sole, and a relatively wider heel with a rigid and padded heel counter, no more than three-quarters of an inch in height.

· Open heeled shoes and sandals provide little support to aching feet and should be avoided.  In fact, they permit the heel to move excessively which can cause callous build up.

· Purchase shoes with removable liners so you can fit custom orthotics in them. 

· Ask your Doctor of Podiatric Medicine about ultra-thin orthotics that can fit into almost any style shoe to provide the support you need.

· Your podiatrist or chiropodist can recommend specific brands of shoes which will meet your comfort and style needs.

Children’s Shoe Buying Tips

 

· When a child begins to walk, shoes generally are not necessary, allowing an infant to go barefooted in doors, or to wear only a pair of socks, helps the foot grow normally and develop its muscles and strength, as well as the grasping ability of toes.

· Look for a firm heel counter (stiff material on either side of the heel), adequate cushioning of the insole, and a built-in arch. It should be flexible enough to bend where the foot bends—at the ball of the foot, not in the middle of the shoe.

· The child’s foot should be sized while he or she is standing up with full weight-bearing.

· There should be about one-half inch of space (or a thumb’s width) between the tip of the toes and the end of the shoe. The child should be able to comfortably wiggle his or her toes in the shoe.

· Have the child walk around the store for more than just a few minutes wearing the shoe with a normal sock. Ask the child if he or she feels any pressure spots in the shoe. Feel the inside of the shoe for any staples or irregularities in the glue that could cause irritation. Examine where the inside stitching hits the foot. Look for signs of irritation on the foot after the shoe is worn.

· Shoes should not slip off at the heels. Children who tend to sprain their ankles will do better with high-top shoes or boots.

· Both feet should be measured, and if two different sizes, shoes should be chosen that fit the larger foot best.

 

Men’s Shoes

 

 

· The best shoes for men are good quality leather lace-up oxford styles. Buy shoes for work, leisure, and special activities, matching the shoe to the activity.

· Cushioned-sole shoes that give good support are essential for those who spend most of their working days on their feet.

· Those in heavy industry require safety shoes and boots—those that are waterproof or water-resistant, with insulated steel toe caps and soles of non-conducting materials—help prevent injuries to the feet, and  reduce the severity of injuries if they do occur.

 

 

 

Shoes for Athletics

· Different sports activities call for specific footwear to protect feet and ankles.  Shoes should be sports- specific. Regularly check the condition of the shoe—don’t wear any sport or other shoes beyond their useful life.

· A running shoe is built to accommodate impact, while a tennis shoe is made to give relatively more support, and permit sudden stops and turns. For sports, “cross trainers” are fine for a general athletic shoe, such as for physical education classes.