Align Pedorthics
7-105 Queen St. W. N1M 1S6 Fergus, ON, Canada

Beginner runner or have some nagging injuries? Check this out... (and don’t mind the background noise ) I’ll start by saying this the perfect textbook running pattern is a beautiful forefoot strike. However, if you are not dealing with any sort of injury and you feel great while running, keep doing what you’re doing! Whether that is a rearfoot, midfoot or forefoot strike. However, if you are struggling with constant nagging injuries or if as our mileage is increasing the ...same old pains are coming back, it might be time to look at changing up your striking pattern. Think about this: Running is basically putting your body into a forward leaning position and then keeping that momentum going but moving your legs. If you are in a forward lean, your torso is actually slightly ahead of your legs and feet. Your foot is automatically in a position to PUSH you forward from the ball of your foot. On the flip side, if you are completely upright or even leaning backwards, your legs and feet are under you or even in front of you. From this position you are now having to PULL your body weight forward when you strike with your midfoot or your heel. Additionally, every time your foot extends in front of your body we are now essentially breaking and slowing down the momentum that we’ve developed.

Week 1 was awesome and it’s not too late to join us! Here’s our week 2 schedule. We’re focusing on BREATH this week. Aimee Young, personal trainer and owner of Living 2B Awesome shared some helpful tips on focusing on our breathing while running and other forms of exercise. TONS of #sweatyselfies coming in as entries to win a pair of New Balance shoes from Shoetopia Footwear. We’ve created an inspiring and supportive little community for all levels of runners... come join us!!!

First week back in the clinic in the books (it was a short one, just testing the waters!) I’m appreciative of the College of Pedorthics leaders and the clinic owners that have made this a smooth and safe transition back to work! Looking forward to seeing more of you in person in the near future!

I had a lot of people express interest in my running post from yesterday so I've created a group to help keep each other accountable! Join here: Beginner & Seasonal Runner Accountability Group by Align Pedorthics BONUS.... there will be prizes! Peter from Shoetopia Footwear has graciously donated the first prize up for grabs: a FREE pair of New Balance running shoes to be won! Stay tuned how to enter....... I will be posting every Sunday a "running agenda" for the week. Feel free to take part or do your own thing.. We just want to keep each other motivated and encouraged whether we're new to running or returning after a long hiatus. I'd love to have you!!!

Beginner runner or have some nagging injuries? Check this out... (and dont mind the background noise ) Ill start by saying this the perfect textbook running pattern is a beautiful forefoot strike. However, if you are not dealing with any sort of injury and you feel great while running, keep doing what youre doing! Whether that is a rearfoot, midfoot or forefoot strike. However, if you are struggling with constant nagging injuries or if as our mileage is increasing the ...same old pains are coming back, it might be time to look at changing up your striking pattern. Think about this: Running is basically putting your body into a forward leaning position and then keeping that momentum going but moving your legs. If you are in a forward lean, your torso is actually slightly ahead of your legs and feet. Your foot is automatically in a position to PUSH you forward from the ball of your foot. On the flip side, if you are completely upright or even leaning backwards, your legs and feet are under you or even in front of you. From this position you are now having to PULL your body weight forward when you strike with your midfoot or your heel. Additionally, every time your foot extends in front of your body we are now essentially breaking and slowing down the momentum that weve developed.

Week 1 was awesome and its not too late to join us! Heres our week 2 schedule. Were focusing on BREATH this week. Aimee Young, personal trainer and owner of Living 2B Awesome shared some helpful tips on focusing on our breathing while running and other forms of exercise. TONS of #sweatyselfies coming in as entries to win a pair of New Balance shoes from Shoetopia Footwear. Weve created an inspiring and supportive little community for all levels of runners... come join us!!!

First week back in the clinic in the books (it was a short one, just testing the waters!) Im appreciative of the College of Pedorthics leaders and the clinic owners that have made this a smooth and safe transition back to work! Looking forward to seeing more of you in person in the near future!

Looking to learn to run or return to running and want a supportive group that will encourage you and help keep you accountable? Join us over at Beginner & Seasonal Runner Accountability Group by Align Pedorthics I will post every Sunday the next week in the running program. This is to give you some ideas and help you get back to running, but feel free to do your own thing! We have a group of 20 runners, all types of backgrounds and experience. Come join us! Oh... and did I mention, you can win a pair of New Balance running shoes donated by Shoetopia Footwear?? Every time you post a sweaty post-run selfie to the group youll be entered into the draw. Enter as many times as you like between now and June 28th.

I had a lot of people express interest in my running post from yesterday so Ive created a group to help keep each other accountable! Join here: Beginner & Seasonal Runner Accountability Group by Align Pedorthics BONUS.... there will be prizes! Peter from Shoetopia Footwear has graciously donated the first prize up for grabs: a FREE pair of New Balance running shoes to be won! Stay tuned how to enter....... I will be posting every Sunday a "running agenda" for the week. Feel free to take part or do your own thing.. We just want to keep each other motivated and encouraged whether were new to running or returning after a long hiatus. Id love to have you!!!

CALLING ALL WANNA-BE RUNNERS!!! Who wants to join me (from a different location) in a running club to keep each other motivated and accountable? Ill warn you - Im not a fast runner, I dont run terribly far and Im often thinking while Im running "why did I think this was a good idea?" If this sounds like youre kind of group, comment below!!... After not running since last spring (shoutout Kylies running club of Forge Team Inc.),Im easing into things. This is what this week has looked like for me so far... - Pick a 1km loop - Complete the runners warm up (Ill post later!) - Run 1 km .... short rest/drink break .... repeat I started with 3 kilometers total to ease my body into running again and avoid running injuries like shin splints, plantar fasciitis and knee pain. Listen to your body! Finish with a cool down and dont forget to stretch. Im aiming to get in 3 runs a week and will slowly increase over time - stay tuned!

Unfortunately we were not part of Phase 1 reopening... however Im remaining hopeful that well be in Phase 2! So I am putting all of my energy into planning and preparing what that is going to look like in the clinic for each of my locations. That being said.... I am putting together a list of people that would like to be contacted as soon as we get the go ahead. Would you like to be on that list? Email me directly at [email protected] (commenting or direct messagin...g on social media will NOT get you on the list ... simply because I may miss it). ***If you had an appointment that was cancelled due to the coronavirus shut down, you are already at the top of the list and theres no need to contact me*** ***If you have contacted me at some point during the shut down, you are also near the top of the list, so no need to contact me again*** Im so looking forward to being back in the clinic and seeing your smiling faces (smiling eyes?) and will be posting details about how we will be doing our part to keep the virus at bay. See you SOON!

10am tomorrow morning! And of course someone had to make a surprise visit Let me know how the exercises go for you!

If you missed it yesterday I had a great convo about knee pain with my colleagues Danielle and Zach. Hoping to do it again soon so let us know if theres any other topics youd like to hear about!

Im going LIVE tomorrow morning over at @Maple Shores Health Centre to discuss ALL THINGS KNEE PAIN with 2 of my colleagues in Port Elgin - Danielle Henry (osteopath and RMT) and Zach Bolton (RMT who also specializes in acupuncture). You dont want to miss this.... we all have very different approaches to this topic so come ask your questions LIVE or post them below to make sure we dont miss them!

TOE-YOGA! Check it out below and let me know what you think!!

Going live in 5 minutes over at Shoetopia Footwear - were talking about footwear for inside the house and some proper posture positions for your home office and binge watching Netflix. Come say hi! Any questions post them below and well get to them on the segment!

Did you miss us LIVE this morning? Check it out here! Talking about safety working out at home and starting your walking/running routine in this early spring weather. Anything youd like to hear about next week? Post below!

Tune in tomorrow morning at 9am for the first ever episode of Feel Good Feet LIVE over at Shoetopia Footwear. Were talking about how to safely keep moving during these tough times at home and how to stay active while avoiding injury. See you there!

As per recommendations from The College of Pedorthics I will be temporarily closing my doors. Anyone with an appointment booked for the remainder of the week will be contacted directly by phone and we will reschedule as soon as we are able to. Apologies for the inconvenience but we must do our part to "flatten the curve". Here is the status of my locations:... Proactive Physio Plus closed until April 6th Maple Shores Health Centre closed for the remainder of this week and will reassess accordingly Shift: A Family Health Centre remains open but is modifying appointments depending on the practitioner (contact clinic directly) Georgian Bay Physiotherapy Inc remains open but will reassess accordingly Were all in this together, if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me directly. I will be answering emails regularly.

New month, new display! Proud to share the pegboard with @naturopathicnicole in March. Stop by to learn about all things pedorthics and naturopathic medicine at @shift_familyhealthcentre

I know I might be a little early on this topic but in the last couple weeks I have seen a lot of people about to go south or just returning (Im not jealous at all!) and of course people are going to be in their sandals and bare feet in the warmer weather. Often times when I see someone just returning from a week in their sandals or in the sand they are a little sore and wondering why. Here are some tips and tricks if youre headed to the sunshine to make sure this doesnt h...appen you: Try wearing your sandals around the house for a few weeks before heading on vacation. Youll have a lot more freedom to break them in slowly at home. Often sandals dont fit very well and were forced to "clench" on to them with our toes to keep them on our feet. Look for something with a back strap or at the very least that doesnt up snugly on your midfoot to hold it on properly. Dont walk miles and miles in the sandals. If you know youre going out for a 10km walk around the streets of Cuba or Antigua make sure to put on your walking shoes. There are some sandals that can be used for walking longer distances - let me know if youd like to know what they are. If your pain persists upon returning do not hesitate to give me a call at my nearest location. Visit www.alignpedorthics.com for more information.

I have people say to me all the time.... "the last person I got orthotics from didnt even look at my feet". WHAT!? That is crazy! If you are having foot pain/leg pain/hip pain/back pain etc. and youve come in for an assessment.. and Im supposed to be a foot and ankle specialist.... WHAT ELSE WOULD I BE LOOKING AT!?... Of course I look at your feet! The amount of time I spend during the day crawling around on the floor and kneeling down to see how your lower body moves probably exceeds the amount of time I spend in my chair. In fact if youve ever had an assessment from me youll probably catch me talking to your feet instead of your face (sorry!) Do yourself a favour and find the best person for the job. Just because someone offers orthotics and footwear doesnt mean they are fully qualified. Come see me, or send me a quick email and I can probably recommend someone in your area. Visit www.alignpedorthics.com for more information.

Does your orthotic provider take the time to fine tune and adjust your orthotics for you so they fit and feel just right? . . If not, they should. As a pedorthist this is a very large part of my training and the biggest thing that sets us apart from other orthotic professionals. .... . Take the time to find someone that takes their time and treats you as an individual! . . . . . #customorthotics #pedorthist #pedorthics #orthotics #feet #footpain #footinjury #cpedc #fergus #elora #centrewellington #meaford #owensound #portelgin See more

I had fun this morning running around to share and celebrate the community spirit today! Ive made my nominations.... have you? The deadline was extended so you have one more week... go to www.cwchamber.ca to make your nominations for your favourite businesses!

So happy to have my Biotime slippers from @shoetopia_footwear on these cold winter nights... and even better, I can put my orthotics in them! Im always being asked for footwear options to wear around the house so slippers with a removable footbed are a great option. A few stores to visit: @shoetopia_footwear in Fergus and Mount Forest, @becker_shoes in Port Elgin and Owen Sound and @the.shoe.tree in Meaford! #slippers #biotime #coldfeet #winternights #orthotics #pedorthics #pedorthist #foothealth #footpain #foot #feet #fergus #elora #centrewellington #meaford #georgianbay #owensound #greybruce #portelgin #saugeenshores

Its a New Year and its the official 1st day back to work (for most) people. I have some exciting things coming down the line for 2020 and am excited to share them with you! Looking forward to another year hard to believe its year 6 for me! In the meantime heres a list of TWENTY things that I do as a self employed pedorthist. (Hint: its more than just orthotics!) If youd like more information about any of these items contact your nearest clinic or send me a message! 1.... Custom orthotics 2. Compression stockings 3. Foot and ankle exercises prescriptions 4. Special orders on orthopedic footwear 5. Bookkeeping 6. Toe spacers off the shelf AND custom! 7. Orthopedic footwear modifications lifts, buttresses, etc. 8. Paying bills 9. Gait analysis 10. ROM testing 11. Footwear analysis 12. Insurance paperwork 13. Off the shelf insoles 14. Toe splints for bunions, hammer toes, etc. 15. Footwear recommendations 16. CW Chamber of Commerce Committee member 17. Foot Nerd Program student 18. Grinding so. much. grinding.. 19. Equipment maintenance 20. Healthy Living with Laura host on Wightman TV ..and the list goes on and on..

Ill be out and about this week dropping off a little thank you item to this years top referrers and supporters. A small one-woman business like myself depends on these referrals and word of mouth to be successful so I cant tell you how much this support means to me. Im grateful for a successful 2019 and I have this group of doctors, patients, colleagues and other small business owners to thank! Also thanks to Greg & Julie Pierce of Pecks Creations for making these cute little snowman tree ornaments!

Im sure you all know the holidays are coming fast and furiously and as of today I have just over TWO WEEKS left in the clinic until I take some time off over Christmas and New Years. Heres my schedule over the next few weeks, call your nearest clinic to book an appointment! Monday December 9th - Port Elgin (1 appointment left!)... Tuesday December 10th - Fergus Thursday December 12th - Fergus Tuesday December 17th - Fergus Wednesday December 18th - Owen Sound & Meaford Thursday December 19th - Fergus Monday December 23rd - Port Elgin Tuesday December 24th - Fergus (Morning only) Fergus 519-787-8111 Owen Sound 519-371-7125 Meaford 519-538-4500 Port Elgin 519-832-4500 #pedorthics #pedorthist #orthotics #customorthotics #foot #feet #foothealth #footpain #cpedc #fergus #elora #centrewellington #meaford #georgianbay #owensound #greybrucecounty #portelgin #saugeenshores

Toe spacers are a GREAT tool that almost everyone can benefit from. The purpose of these weird little silicone things are to spread out those toes and allow the tissues to return to their natural shape. Get this.. The everyday shoe doesnt allow our feet to SPREAD like they should be able to. By spending time daily in a pair of spacers we can work to minimize the long term effects of ill-fitting footwear.... These are especially beneficial for anyone wearing dress shoes (mens are just as bad a womens!) or work boots (zero stretch to them) or if youre suffering from neuromas and pinched nerves in the feet. Bunions can see relief from these as well! These are a full set of spacers but they also come in singles (to sit between the 1st and the 2nd toes) and custom options as well (i.e. toe amputations). Interested? Find your nearest clinic above. #pedorthist #pedorthics #orthotics #foot #feet #footcare #footpain #cpedc #fergus #ontario #portelgin #owensound #meaford #healthcare #footspecialist #orthotist #podiatrist #chiropodist #toespacers #spacers #footstrength #narrowshoes #bunions #neuroma #dressshoes

Simple put Mobility = the ability to move freely and easily Stability = the ability to control that movement Some joints should be mobile (think hip and ankle) while other joints should be stable (think the knee and midfoot).... In order to create an optimal gait pattern you need to find the perfect blend of both! Take a look at the second visual from @gaithappens. It shows the ideal situation in order for us to PROTECT ourselves from injury. Think about this situation. a teenage girl plays soccer 3 times a week. Shes suddenly having knee pain. She has a history of ankle sprains AND a strained groin but she hasnt had an injury all season. Why? Well I would first consider whats happening above and below the knee joint. We need to work on midfoot STABILITY and hip MOBILITY in order to protect the knee joint in between. Another example.. an older man is having pain on the inside of his ankle but when I check his range of motion his big toe doesnt bend very far. Since his big toe doesnt have appropriate MOBILITY the foot has to turn outwards when he walks putting more strain on the inside of his ankle. Interested in a pedorthic assessment? Find your nearest clinic on the website above.

Normal shoe wear This is a good visual that shows where you should typically see your shoe wear. Of course some variation from this is okay but once it becomes excessive or you start to experience pain in that area we would walk to look at little closer. During gait you should first touch the ground on the outside of your heel, move more towards the middle of your foot (where youll spend the most time) and then end by moving straight through your big toe.... Do you see this when you look at the bottom of your shoes? Book in with me to get your footwear assessed by a pedorthist. #footwear #gaitanalysis #footwearanalysis #foot #gaitpattern #feet #pedorthist #pedorthics #orthotics #cpedc

During my initial assessments I look at the following: HISTORY - Well chat about any previous injuries, activities youre doing, occupational demands, current footwear, allergies, underlying conditions, etc. etc. This helps me put together the bigger picture. GAIT ANALYSIS - I watch you walk up and down the hallway and take note of whats happening during different phases of the gait cycle (Ill do this both barefoot and in your footwear).... NON-WEIGHTBEARING RANGE OF MOTION TESTING - Ill have you down to your barefeet and start looking at how all little joints of your feet are moving. Ill look at both sides even if the problem is only showing up in one. STANDING ALIGNMENT - You will then stand for me and Ill take a look at how youre natural comfortable stance is from the top down in every direction. TESTING - I may have you do a few exercises to see how youre body responds and how well. FOOTWEAR ANALYSIS - Ill look at your current footwear to assess the wear pattern both inside and out of the shoe. EDUCATION - I like to go over my findings so that you have a better understanding of what is going on with your body and how it may be causing you pain. TREATMENT PLAN - Then well discuss options! This can include: pain management (ice, heat, rest, etc.), exercises to mobilize or strengthen certain areas, custom orthotics, orthopedic footwear, kinesiology taping, spacers, compression socks, shoe modifications, change of footwear, etc. etc. etc.! Then well decide together how to move forward.

I get asked a lot what is the best kind of shoe to buy? Although I am happy to give specific models and options to look for, I most often recommend specific features to look for depending on the situation. Factors influencing these features include: ... Range of motion found in the ankle and foot Gait analysis findings Activities and occupation requirements Personal style! Would you like some help finding appropriate footwear for your situation? Book in with me at your nearest location! #footwear #orthotics #orthotic #feet #foot #pedorthics #pedorthist #foothealth #fergus #elora #centrewellington #saugeenshores #portelgin #owensound #brucecounty #meaford #georgianbay #cpedc

NO! And you dont get free socks and you dont get free physio and you dont get a gas card and you dont get a puppy or a bike or a big piece of cake. Sorry (not sorry) to be so abrupt but at my clinics if your benefits coverage is for custom orthotics that is what it will be used for! Any other incentives being offered are either: A. Taking advantage of your employee benefits package OR... B. Giving you an off the shelf insole (and calling it custom) and throwing in something shiny to distract you from it. There is TONS of insurance fraud that takes place in the orthotic industry, and its up to you to make sure youre going to someone reliable. This is also the reason it may seem like theres a lot of hoops to jump through (and paperwork to complete) to get your legitimate custom orthotics covered. Here are 2 major scams that have happened recently which have resulted in employees being fired and some even doing jail time. https://torontosun.com//ttc-gets-rid-of-223-cheating-worke https://nationalpost.com//torontos-baycrest-hospital-fires #insurancefraud #insurance #employeebenefits #pedorthist #pedorthics #orthotics #foot #feet #footcare #footpain #cpedc #fergus #ontario #portelgin #owensound #meaford #healthcare #footspecialist #orthotist #podiatrist #chiropodist