Foot drop is a general term for difficulty lifting the front part of the foot.

If you have foot drop, the front of your foot might drag on the ground when you walk.

Foot drop isn’t a disease; rather it is a sign of an underlying neurological, muscular or anatomical problem.

Foot drop also puts extra stress on the hips and knees by forcing
them to bend early in the gait cycle so that the toes clear the ground to avoid tripping over them.

Thankfully there is new technology with foot drop braces to help with walking and mobility.

Please call today for a full assessment to see if you would benefit!

​Katia Langton presents at the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists 47th Annual General Meeting & Scientific Symposium Virtually 04-07 May 2021. This presentation is An overview of the burden and impact of the Diabetes pandemic and Peripheral Neuropathy leading to the preventable loss of limbs and lives.  We have a critical need; globally, for a paradigm shift in the area of prevention through comprehensive assessments and Diabetic foot screenings to prevent foot complications.  

Health care practitioners need to fully understand the breakdown of the Diabetic foot in order to understand the protection of the Diabetic foot through early intervention with a sense of urgency in the ‘Window of Presentation’ in Risk Category 1 and 2.  The goal is to prevent progression to Risk Category 3; ulcers, amputations and the most disastrous complication; the Charcot foot.

If you have not responded well to other forms of therapy for chronic low back pain; the answer may lie in the firing patterns of the musculature involved in the gait cycle.  

​Arthritis in your big toe: Hallux Rigidus and limited ankle range of motion; Equinus Syndrome do not allow for the proper 15 degrees extension of the hip during the gait cycle.  

Without this range of motion of the hip backwards; gravity is unable to swing the leg forward in the swing phase and the Psoas hip flexor must engage and become overworked causing an overuse injury.  The Psoas hip flexor muscle attaches to the low back and as this occurs over and over again with walking; mechanical low back pain will develop.  

An Orthotic that assists in increasing the hip movement into extension will allow the hip flexor to relax and will decrease low back pain.

Painful Peripheral Neuropathy can be frustrating and impair quality of life due to the progressing symptoms of burning, tingling, numbness and pain which disrupt sleep.

An alternative to masking with medical therapies is Cold Laser Therapy.

The treatment involves light therapy to stimulate microcirculation around the nerve fibers to increase blood flow to the nerves, and enhance both nerve regeneration and cellular oxygen consumption.

The latest trial research has shown a significant reduction of pain with Cold Laser Therapy treatment for painful
Neuropathy.

Please give us a call today at Oceanwalk Pedorthic Clinic in Nanaimo to assess whether you are a candidate for conservative care; call: 250.585.5859 or email any questions to
oceanwalkfootcare@gmail.com.

Hallux rigidus is a disorder at the base of the
big toe. It causes pain and stiffness and with
time it gets increasingly harder to bend the toe.

“Hallux” refers to the big toe, while “rigidus” indicates that the toe
is rigid and cannot move - this is a form of degenerative arthritis
that limits movement and is progressive as time goes on leading to
a “frozen joint”.

Our in office modality Shockwave Therapy can break up stiffness
and the scar tissue conservatively without invasive treatments.
Additionally, altering the biomechanics with Custom Foot Orthotics
can decrease the stress through the big toe causing the degeneration
in the first place. Give us a call today with any questions - we are
here to keep you active, walking and mobile.