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Orthotics can help improve your athletic performance. Whether you’re a recreational or high-level athlete, adding custom orthotics or a good over-the-counter (OTC) insert to your routine can really up your game! In fact, there are very few active adults and children who would not benefit from either a well-made custom orthotic or a good quality over-the-counter insert.

Orthotics: The basics

Orthotics relieve pain and enhance performance by aligning muscles, ligaments and bones in the lower body. Active children, teens and adults such as runners, walkers, basketball players, skiers, skaters, cyclists and golfers wear orthotics to accommodate the demands of their specific sport and help improve performance.

Orthotics made at BioPed are available in many shapes and sizes.  They are made from a variety of different materials and provide varying levels of support. What’s right for you will depend on your activity level and your specific needs. To learn more about custom orthotics, click here!

The right shoe for the right activity

In order to play or perform at your best, your shoes must match your foot type and suit your specific activities and lifestyle.  There are many shoes on the market today, let one of BioPed’s lower limb clinicians help you make the right choice.

Orthotics: A winning strategy

Both custom orthotics and over-the-counter inserts can help improve your athletic performance for a wide range of sports and activities. Here’s how custom orthotics and OTC inserts work to up your game, whatever your chosen sport may be.

Runners

Walking and running shoes are designed to fit everyone’s feet…but not one person’s feet in particular. Prolonged walking and running puts stress on the feet, ankles, knees, legs, hips and lower back. BioPed treats numerous walkers and runners who suffer from heel pain, flat feet, weak ankles, shin splints, knee pain, hip pain and low back discomfort.

Cyclists

The huge technical demands of cycling mean that even the most minor advantage can help win a race. Just as a lighter bike frame or more powerful shocks can give a cyclist the edge needed to win a race, quality orthotics improve performance by providing more efficient delivery of power to the pedal, maximizing the transfer of energy to the pedal and minimizing leg fatigue. Cyclists often suffer from forefoot pain, “hot foot”, and knee pain. The knee pain in particular is often a result of excessive arch collapse.

Golfers

Orthotics help golfers distribute their weight more evenly, stabilize your feet when swinging and lessen fatigue of the lower body.  Orthotics also correct posture, which is key to maintaining a consistent golf swing.  Walking 18 holes will never feel better!

Racquet Sport Players

The high-speed cutting movements associated with racquet sports can most commonly cause foot, ankle and knee pain. Orthotics provide not only foot protection, but also shock absorption and motion control – all of which combine to improve foot and leg function and reduce muscular fatigue.

Socker, Baseball & Football Players

If you play field sports, you usually wear some sort of cleated footwear.  Cleats are generally very slim fitting and do not offer the foot much support.  Athletes who wear cleats usually have discomfort in the feet, ankles, shins, and knees.  The most common cause of pain in this sport is from flat feet.  An assessment by a Certified BioPed Pedorthist can determine if this discomfort can be helped with the use of orthotics.

Basketball

 

Basketball puts an enormous strain on the feet. Jumping, running, turning, cutting, and reversing puts pressure on your joints and muscles which can cause pain and weakness. Orthotic devices align the muscles, ligaments and joints and provide cushioning. This allow you to play longer and harder on the court.

BioPed and athletic performance: The final score

Our Certified Pedorthists have been helping active adults, teens and children achieve improved performance, comfort, and protection from injury for more than 30 years.  We pride ourselves by helping people move through life with greater stability, comfort and peace of mind.  Whether you are involved in a recreational or high-level activity, we measure our success by the number of people whose quality of life we improve.

Visit one of 75 locations to meet with one of our Canadian Certified Pedorthists to help you find the best fit for your athletic activity.