A Chiropodist (pronounced : ‘ker-ro-po-dist’) is a primary health care provider, described as a foot specialist, who provides a variety of medical services ranging from nail and skin care to orthotics and in-office surgeries. Chiropodists are key members of your foot health care team representing the largest number of premier foot specialists in Ontario.
Chiropody is a field of medicine that focuses on preventing, assessing and treating various foot conditions.
Foot Care Nurses are Registered Practical Nurses who have experience in basic foot care treatments. They most commonly deal with cutting nails, callus reduction, minor ingrown toenails, and some diabetes-related foot care.
We wrote a great article about this. You can read it HERE
Your first mobile chiropody or foot care appointment is split up into two parts: assessment and treatment. First, your Chiropodist will review your medical history with you, discuss any challenges, complications, and goals then work with you to develop a treatment plan that suits you as a person and that fits your individual lifestyle.
The treatment portion of your appointment varies based on the above and can range from a variety of specific foot care treatments to a biomechanical assessment, gait analysis and casting of your feet for custom made orthotics.
Most health insurance plans cover mobile chiropody and foot care appointments, so take advantage of your benefits to maintain optimal health, .in the safety and comfort of your own home.
Every receipt includes the practitioner's provincial registration number, so you can confidently submit a claim through your private insurance plan for your appointments.
That said, every insurance plan is different and we encourage you to check with your insurance company about your plan specifics.
For orthotics, your insurance company requires several documents and pieces of information, including the dispense date (the day you receive your finished orthotics). Your orthotics documents will be emailed to you on that day as your insurance company uses that dispense date as the date of claim.
All our foot care nurses are Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) so if your insurance covers RPNs, your foot care appointment may be covered.Many insurance plans cover foot care nursing services. That said, every insurance plan is different so we encourage you to speak to your insurance provider to confirm coverage.
Chiropodists and foot care nurses can treat many foot conditions including: routine nail care, ingrown toenails, corns, calluses, plantars warts, foot fungus, nail fungus, flat feet, foot pain, heel pain, ankle pain, over-pronation, plantar fasciitis, foot/ankle instability,diabetes foot care, and more.
Absolutely. We see kids of all ages for in-home chiropody appointments, although orthotics are not usually indicated for children younger than 5 years old, except in some special cases.
Generally speaking, Chiropody and orthotics are covered under most insurance plans. That said, every insurance plan is different and we encourage you to check with your insurance company about your plan specifics.
All you need is your feet and somewhere to walk back and forth while the Chiropodist watches how your feet move. It’s also helpful to have a few pairs of shoes readily available which you wear most often as the wear pattern on the soles can provide additional insight into how you walk.
When you book your appointment, we’ll create a patient profile for you and call you to add a credit card to your profile. We don’t charge your card until AFTER your appointment. You can submit your claim for your chiropody appointment right away.
Orthotics are charged at the same time as the appointment, however you cannot submit your claim until you RECEIVE your finished orthotics since your insurance company will require proof of manufacture and the date of your dispensing appointment (when you receive your orthotics)
Absolutely. Just let us know when booking, where you want to have the appointment, and any other information and we’ll make it happen.
Yes. But, before booking, it’s important to speak to the hospital staff to find out what specific protocols, requirements and/or forms that for external healthcare practitioners.
Chiropody and foot care appointments are not covered by OHIP
Absolutely. There is no limit on how many pairs of orthotics you can purchase. Depending on your foot condition, lifestyle, and current footwear, we can help ensure that you have orthotics in all of your shoes.
Any additional pairs of orthotics purchased at the same time as your first pair are discounted by 50% to $250.
Most custom orthotics will fit in multiple shoes. You do not need to buy new shoes for your orthotics.
During your initial chiropody appointment, you can discuss different options based on your foot condition, lifestyle, and current footwear.
It typically takes 1-2 weeks to get fully accustomed to wearing new orthotics, but sometimes longer. Remember, they’re changing the way your feet move so that can be different for every person.
We strongly recommend that you follow our provided break-in instructions to allow your body to get used to your new orthotics gradually.
Your new orthotics come with break-in instructions.
The break-in instructions for new orthotics are as follows:
1- *NOTE* If after the 3rd day you are still experiencing any discomfort, please re-start the break-in period again.
2- If you are experiencing any pain with your new orthotics, please contact us at info@healthcasa.com immediately, so we can have a technician come adjust them for you.
Orthotics last for different lengths of time based on the following criteria:
We recommend that you book an appointment with your Chiropodist once a year to assess your orthotics and to discuss any changes in your foot condition or lifestyle.
There is a lifetime warranty on the shell and a 6 month warranty on the top cover. We will continue to provide you with any necessary modifications to your orthotics within 6 months of your initial assessment.
We are committed to working with you to ensure that you have the best possible experience.
Wipe clean with a damp cloth with soap and water and allow to air dry. Do not soak or saturate with water and refrain from using hot water or placing orthotics near a heat source. Do not put your orthotics in the washer/dryer. We recommend removing your orthotics from your shoes at least once a week to allow them to air dry and to reduce the bacterial load.
Since our bodies are constantly changing, we suggest that you have an annual appointment with your practitioner to assess your orthotics. The frequency of foot care treatments varies according to your condition, and will be discussed with you by your practitioner.
We can make custom orthotics for almost any type of shoes and sport-specific footwear. From running shoes and high heels to golf shoes and ski boots, we’ve done it all. And because you’re busy, getting orthotics at home
Our sport orthotics provide ample control & support, correction and shock absorption to help keep you pain-free during all of your sport activitiessome text
This is for you if: You are active and participate in a variety of sports and athletic activities.
Our casual orthotics provide ample control, support and correction, while ensuring a proper fit in casual shoes for everyday use either at home, at work or walking around townsome text
This is for you if: You wear a variety of shoes, do a lot of walking and occasionally play sports.
Our dress orthotics can be made thin and flat enough to fit into almost all dress shoes … including flats and heels!some text
This is for you if: You often wear dress shoes that have limited space, but want to put them in your sneakers for the occasional workout.
Our kids’ orthotics are designed with a deep heel cup to control kids’ feet and while providing ample control & support.some text
This is for you if: You’re a kid
Our diabetic orthotics are specifically designed to avoid all pressure points using a high-density EVA shellsome text
This is for you if: You have diabetes or hyper-sensitive feet and require more gentle correction.
Our running orthotics provide the ideal amount of control, shock absorption and support while allowing your foot the way it naturally should.
This is for you if: You go running and want an orthotic that complements your advanced running shoes but doesn’t impede their shock absorption qualities.
Our golf orthotics provide both control and support while providing comfort for all 18-holes.some text
This is for you if: You’re an avid golfer looking for added comfort and improved balance & alignment in your golf swing.
Our court orthotics provide ample control & support while ensuring there’s plenty of lateral (side-to-side) stabilitysome text
This is for you if: You play any sort of court sports because they provide necessary lateral (side-to-side) support.
Our soccer orthotic is specially designed to fit nicely into your soccer cleats. They provide sufficient control and support without taking up much space in your cleats.some text
This is for you if: You play soccer (indoor or outdoor) and need additional control and support in your soccer cleats which have limited space
Our basketball orthotics provide ample control and stability while ensuring there’s plenty of shock absorption for all that court timesome text
This is for you if: You play a lot of basketball or other high-impact sports that also have a lot of lateral (side-to-side) movement.
Our ski orthotics are specially designed for the avid skier to provide just enough control & support while taking up minimal space in your ski bootssome text
This is for you if: You typically wear orthotics in your shoes and want added support and control in your ski boots. BONUS: If you tend to sit too far back on your skis, we can help with that too!
Our skate orthotics are designed with skaters and hockey players in mind. They provide ample control & support while taking up minimal space in your skatessome text
This is for you if: You’re an avid hockey player, figure skater or just skate a lot and want added support, comfort and efficiency to your stride.