Orthotics in Waterloo
Custom Foot Orthotics, Sandals & Shoes at Martin Chiropractic Clinic
Orthotics are custom-designed insoles that correct foot imbalances, gait changes, and structural deficiencies in the legs, pelvis and spine. Chiropractic is the only profession that can accurately realign bones in the foot and ankle, and that makes a difference in orthotic outcome.
At Martin Chiropractic Clinic, we discovered decades ago that correcting the feet before taking impressions for orthotics resulted in orthotics that helped maintain proper alignment in the feet, ankles, knees, hips and lower back. This allows us to provide better results for our patients than orthotics obtained from other types of practitioners.
Why Dr. Martin Orthotics?
- Experience – Dr. Martin has extensive training and has been working with orthotics since 1986, resulting in thousands of successful orthotic fittings!
- Centrally located in Uptown Waterloo
- Competitive pricing
- We are one of the few orthotics providers in the area that can realign the bones and joints of the feet and take this feature and build it into the orthotic.
- We provide follow-up visits (adjustments/modifications) until the patient is satisfied, and this is included in the price.
Some conditions treated with orthotics in our practice include:
- Achilles tendonitis
- Ankle joint instability
- Bunions
- Calluses
- Fallen arches (over-pronation)
- Foot and calf cramps
- Hammer toes
- Heel spurs
- High arches (supination)
- Iliotibial band syndrome
- Low back pain
- Metatarsalgia (ball of the foot pain)
- Nerve entrapment
- Neuroma
- Osteoarthritis
- Patellar malalignment
- Plantar fasciitis
- Sacroiliac joint pain
- Sciatica
- Shin splints
- Tendonitis
If custom orthotics have been recommended and you have extended health care insurance, you need to check the following information with your insurance provider first.
Questions to look into:
- How much coverage and how often are you allowed custom orthotics? Typically coverage ranges from $300-500 per benefit year. Our custom orthotic inserts cost $500 per pair and footwear with custom orthotics is $550 or boots $600. If you require orthotic footwear rather than an insert, please let us know at your first orthotic assessment.
- Do you need a prescription? Some plans will require a prescription from a medical doctor, some will take a chiropractor’s prescription and some won’t require one at all.
- Can a chiropractor “dispense” the orthotics? Almost all plans allow a chiropractor to do this however we do have a pedorthist that we work with who can dispense orthotics in those rare plans that have this limitation.
- What kind of documentation do you need from us for your claim submission? This varies between insurance companies but we always provide documentation for diagnosis, gait analysis, materials used & manufacturing process, method of casting technique, invoice showing paid and proof of manufacturer.
- Do you need a pre-approved quote? We can provide this for you.
Typically patients getting orthotics for the first time benefit the most from orthotic inserts that can be used in a variety of footwear. If your plan is generous and allows for two pairs of orthotics order one pair of inserts and one pair of footwear with built in inserts can be ordered. The key is maximizing orthotic support whenever you are weight bearing so for example if a person stands at an assembly line all day, then a work boot/shoe would be a good choice after getting an orthotic insert first.
Want a detailed look at what happens at a an orthotic assessment? Watch our video under the “What to Expect” tab.
Once you know what your insurance company requires for reimbursement, an orthotic assessment appointment can be booked with our Waterloo practice. Your appointment will take approximately 30 minutes and will involve:
- First, the feet and ankles are examined for range of motion, joint movement and alignment. If bone movement and/or alignment problems are found, these bone(s) and joint(s) can be painlessly corrected by gently impulsing the affected area(s).
- Biomechanical assessment, gait analysis and footwear inspection are then done before the feet are placed in a foam mold and an impression taken. The foam impression is then sent to an orthotic laboratory where the orthotic is made.
After the assessment appointment it takes 2-3 weeks until delivery of the custom orthotics/footwear. When they arrive you will be contacted and an orthotic fitting appointment will be scheduled. The fitting takes about 15 minutes and Dr. Martin will check the alignment of your feet making any adjustments needed and then make sure the orthotic/footwear fits and supports properly. The foot assessment, orthotics/footwear and fitting are all included in the price.
Orthotics can be designed to fit comfortably in a variety of footwear or built into shoes or sandals for convenience. Annual check-ups of the orthotics will be done to ensure the orthotics are not breaking down and continuing to function optimally. Average life span of custom orthotics is 3-5 years.
Who can benefit from orthotics?
People with pain in the foot, ankle, knee or low back, or with leg length discrepancies, an uneven gait or arthritis, are good candidates for orthotics. Our screening process may show low or high arches, which can benefit from orthotics as a preventative measure to avoid future problems in the knees, hips and lower back.
We analyze the biomechanics and alignment of the feet and ankles, and correct them before taking impressions for the orthotics. This ensures your orthotic is designed to support your feet in their proper alignment. Podiatrists, pedorthists and chiropodists do not realign the foot and ankle bones before making orthotics.
It typically takes 2-3 weeks to receive your custom orthotics.
Yes, the lab that makes our custom orthotics uses thin durable thermoplastic shells that aren’t bulky and doesn’t take up a lot of space in the shoe, so you can wear your orthotics in many styles of shoe. You can also choose a sandal or shoe with a custom orthotic built in.
Our orthotics last 3-5 years, and we recommend coming in once a year to get them checked.
Typically, yes. See our Insurance Information tab for more details.
Schedule Your Custom Orthotics Appointment
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