Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) – a type of brace or splint used for injury or disease of the foot and/or ankle to help support, align or correct position of the foot and/or ankle to help improve function.  An AFO may be flexible, providing support for foot drop; rigid, providing support for foot drop and increased [...]

Charcot Joint – also called neuropathic arthropathy; a progressive neuromuscular  process usually caused by complications of Diabetes Mellitus characterized by deformity, joint dislocation, fractures and inflammation.  The joint usually appears hot, red and swollen and is without pain.  Diagnosis and treatment of the Charcot Joint should be preformed by a physician and may include casting, [...]

Diabetic Neuropathy – disease of the nervous system caused by complication of diabetes mellitus.  The loss or damage of the nerves may cause altered sensations such as nerve pain with a burning or prickling or dull achy pain.  The sensory nerve damage may cause reduced sensation with numbness sometimes a complete loss of feeling.  The [...]

Foot drop describes the inability to lift the foot properly during gait due to muscle weakness or paralysis and may be a result of several different diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis or injuries such as a Stroke or head injury. When walking, the front part of the foot drops down and causes a shuffling of [...]

Metatarsalgia is the term used to describe pain and inflammation that occurs under the ball of the foot.  Metatarsals are the five long bones in the foot that end at the ball.  When the metatarsals drop or are subject to excess pressure (such as when one wears high heeled or ill-fitting  shoes) they can become sore and [...]

One of the most common causes of knee pain in which the underside of the knee cap is damaged resulting in pain about the knee. The kneecap (patella) should glide smoothly over the lower end of the thigh bone (femur) when the knee bends. In some cases the knee cap does not track properly and [...]

Plantar Fasciitis is a painful inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick fibrous tissue that starts at the heel and spreads to the toes.  Usually the pain is concentrated at the heel and is most intense in the morning or when getting up after rest.  There are many things that can contribute to plantar fasciitis [...]

Pronation is a normal motion of the foot in which the arch drops down and the ankle and leg turn in. Pronation is important for the body to accommodate to uneven ground and provide shock absoption when the heel hits the ground. When excessive pronation occurs, the arch stretches out too much and the leg [...]

Stroke or Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) are terms that are used to describe the injury or damage to the brain caused by a loss of blood supply.  A stroke can occur when there is a blockage in the blood vesseland blood cannot flow through to the brain (ischaemic) or if the blood vessel leaks or breaks [...]