PAC Blog
Footcare for the Great Canadian Winter
Now that summer is over and the cooler months are here, it can be tempting to neglect your feet over the winter because they are more out of sight. Out of sight shouldn’t be out of mind; doing this is not the best decision for the feet or the rest of the body! It’s easy to forget about going out to exercise when the winter weather arrives as it is easier to stay inside where it’s warm and cozy! The problem is that sitting around all day can lead to [...]
Meet a Pedorthist – Dan Steffens
Dan Steffens, C. Ped (C) Dan Steffens, a clinic owner and Canadian Certified Pedorthist in Barrie, ON, started his career renting out a walk-in clinic and using his parents’ 200 square-foot basement as a lab. As time went on his client base grew, resulting in an abundance of positive casts in the already cramped basement. When he outgrew that space, Dan moved to a healthcare complex and shared an office with his father. He remained there for about seven months and built up enough clients and referral sources to expand [...]
October: A Focus on all things Pedorthics
This month we'll be focusing on all things pedorthics. Still not clear on what a Canadian Certified Pedorthist does or what pedorthic treatment involves? We'll be covering all of this and more. Here are some answers to some commonly asked questions to get you started! What is Pedorthics? The word pedorthics (ped-or-thics) comes from the Latin word for ‘foot’ (ped or pes) and Greek word for ‘straight’ or ‘correct’ (ortho). The first known use of the word pedorthics was in 1974 when it was defined as “the art and practice of [...]
Managing Arthritis Day-to-Day: How Canadian Certified Pedorthists can help you improve your quality of life
Canadian Certified Pedorthists across the country see people every day that struggle with foot and lower limb pain as a result of their arthritis. Arthritis is a collection of conditions affecting the body’s joints and other tissues. It can cause pain and inflammation in joints, restrict mobility and diminish one’s quality of life. There are more than 100 different forms of arthritis, many of which affect the foot and ankle. Did you know that 1 in 5 Canadians have arthritis and experience pain every day as a result of [...]
Meet a Pedorthist – Christy Shantz
Christy Shantz, C. Ped Tech (C), C. Ped (C) Christy Shantz always thought she would be a chiropractor – but when she took a job in a pedorthic clinic to make money after school, she knew the pedorthic profession was for her. “After a year of working in the clinic, I realized that I really enjoyed working with the patients in a hands-on setting and helping to make a difference in their lives,” says Christy, who has now been in the profession for more than 16 years. She earned a [...]
September: A Focus on Arthritis
September is Arthritis Awareness Month and Canadian Certified Pedorthists - C. Ped (C) - across Canada are ready to deliver top tips and advice on what you can do to prevent arthritis from slowing you down. Here are some facts about arthritis and footcare to start off the month: Arthritis is a condition that can create chronic pain and cause problems with walking, standing and balance. The term Arthritis is an umbrella term for more than 100 related diseases affecting joints, tissues, or even the entire body. Although arthritis is [...]
Kickstart Your Child’s School Year with Comfortable Feet
As a parent of a ten-year-old stepson, the most recent topic of discussion in our house has surrounded the idea of him wanting a certain pair of shoes for back to school. These are shoes that I, as a Pedorthist, know won’t do his feet much good when it comes to providing him with proper support. But as many of you can relate, a child this age typically doesn’t care about the function of the shoe, but rather what’s in with the latest trends. I struggle with his request [...]
Meet a Pedorthist – Vince DeVito
Vince DeVito, C. Ped Tech (C), C. Ped (C) When Vince DeVito’s grandfather emigrated from Italy in 1916, he opened up a shoe repair shop in British Columbia. Now, more than a century later, Vince is continuing to build on the family business. After hearing requests from his footwear customers for help with their foot pain, Vince decided to pursue certification as a pedorthist. Once certified, he first had a small foot clinic in his retail shoe store, and later opened a larger clinic two doors down. “Starting as just [...]
On the Beaten Path: Preparing your Feet for the El Camino Trek
Have you heard of El Camino? No, not the car. The word camino is Spanish and simply translates to path. Technically, there are so-called caminos or paths all over the world. However, I’ve especially noticed a significant increase in the number of patients I see who are preparing for the Camino de Santiago. Here’s a quick look at what it is and how a Canadian Certified Pedorthist can help you to prepare for taking on the challenge. What is the Camino de Santiago? Camino de Santiago, the Way of Saint [...]
Foot Care and Self Care Go Hand-in-Hand
Summer is well underway and amidst all the outings, events and social gatherings you are likely attending, you may be finding it hard to find time for yourself. It is important in any season to take time to focus on self care, which includes caring for your feet as well. Taking a little extra time to ensure your feet are well taken care of will get you through this season and the ones to come! Foot care is an important part of overall health care. If not done right, foot [...]
Meet a Pedorthist – Jennifer Gould Andrew
Jennifer Gould Andrew, C. Ped Tech (C), C. Ped (C) Growing up in Terrace Bay, ON, Jennifer Gould Andrew was an active soccer player, but she suffered from patellofemoral pain syndrome throughout high school and into university. Physiotherapy helped relieve some symptoms, but her world changed when she was referred to Kim Rau and introduced to pedorthics in her first year of university. Her symptoms were completely resolved – and she had discovered her career path. “I was a kinesiology student at the time, trying to figure out what I [...]
The Importance of Choosing a Canadian Certified Pedorthist – C. Ped (C)
July is here and if you’re like me, you have just celebrated this great country of ours on Canada Day! As Canadians, I think we can all agree that Canada is a great place to live; it has some amazing things to offer all of us at any time of the year. Summer in particular is a coveted season for many of us: a time to get outside and enjoy the warm weather and take part in more physical activity than usual. Being more active means that you need to [...]