We all know that staying active is an important part of staying healthy, but what if we are experiencing pain and discomfort in our feet and lower limbs?
For many people, foot issues keep them from living an active life.
Luckily, individuals like Josée Gingras C. Ped. (C), President and Lead Pedorthist of The Stride Clinic (formerly Walking Mobility Clinic) along with her team are passionate about helping people to get back on their feet. Josée was happy to share more about her clinic’s work.
“My number one goal, and our clinic's goal with our clients, is to improve their quality of life. We focus strongly on patient centered care, which is understanding the patient's experience as the 1st step to any treatment plan,” says Josée.
“I wholeheartedly believe - and have the privilege of seeing it daily - that client outcomes are significantly improved when you focus on the person's experience first because that is truly the best way to make their problems better. They know their pain, they need someone to listen, understand and develop a treatment plan that works within their life parameters, sometimes with modifications.”
Importance of Foot Care
According to Josée, taking care of our feet is essential to our overall wellness. “Our feet are the base of support for our whole body. How the foot moves affects the whole kinetic chain moving up the body. Choosing proper footwear can be integral in preventing injuries. Over time, the materials of the shoe compress and break down which makes replacing footwear important as well,” she explains.
Josée continues, “If you are experiencing foot, knee, hip, or back pain, it is worth doing a pedorthic assessment to see what biomechanical factors may be contributing to your pain and what footwear solutions may be beneficial. The solution might be choosing the right shoes, custom or off-the-shelf orthotics, footwear modifications, bracing, or compression socks.
“Some cases like diabetes, strong family history of foot issues, prolonged walking on concrete, in-toeing for children, toe deformities, and heavy callusing often benefit from pedorthic treatment even without pain,” she says. “The bottom line is if things aren't functioning ideally, why not come see if we can make things better?
Bringing Cutting Edge Technology to the Community
At The Stride Clinic, patients not only are cared for by exceptional foot care specialists, but they also can take advantage of some of the most cutting-edge technology available. The Stride Clinic uses a university caliber 3D Gait Lab to get a better look into each client’s individual issues.
“The 3D Gait Lab has been great for looking into cases where the naked eye cannot give us enough data. For example, we had a case of a known one-sided neurological condition causing overuse and injury of the opposite side. The 3D Gait Lab allowed us to capture how each joint and bone was moving at a high frame rate, so we were able to exactly analyze what they needed to strengthen in order to accommodate their condition without future injuries,” says Josée.
Custom Orthotics Made In-House
For clients that require custom orthotics to help solve their foot and lower limb issues, the team at The Stride Clinic crafts each one in-house. This reduces wait time and allows for a much more personalized final product.
“We hand cast and hand make our own orthotics so you can guarantee that the treatment you are receiving is custom to your foot and your needs. Our pedorthists are continuously learning about new techniques for design and fabrication and always working on improving their craft. We can make any orthotic for any footwear, any foot! We love a challenge,” says Josée.
For more information or to make an appointment for a personalized assessment, visit The Stride Clinic online or call the Barrie clinic at (705) 735-1013 or their clinic in Orillia at (705) 326-5808.