Frequently Asked Questions

Diabetic patients frequently develop an intermittent or permanent loss of sensation (neuropathy) in their feet. Uncontrolled diabetes can damage your nerves. If you have damaged nerves in your legs and feet, you might not feel heat, cold, or pain. Without the warning from discomfort or pain, pressures may develop, particularly on the soles of the foot and may result in an open ulcer. Such open wounds can allow direct entry of bacteria into the tissues resulting in infection and possible gangrene. 

The muscles of the foot may not function properly, because the nerves that make the muscles work are damaged. This could cause the foot to not align properly and create too much pressure in one area of the foot. It is estimated that up to 10% of people with diabetes will develop foot ulcers. 

Following an evaluation of your foot and ankle at ProStride, the mould taken of your foot by the Pedorthist will reflect the amount of support, correction and pressure accommodations to be built into your custom made orthotics. Your Pedorthist will closely monitor your progress and recovery with 3 free follow-up appointments included. 

Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis are the two most common types of arthritis found in the joints of the foot and ankle. Arthritic pain can be debilitating and often lead to a decline in activity or a change in gait. Pedorthic treatment is non-surgical, and can contribute to maintaining an active healthy lifestyle. 

Osteoarthritis is specific to one or several joints. It occurs when the joint surfaces of the bones wear down, possibly caused by a previous injury, long term mechanical stress on the joint, overuse, or by other factors. In many patients, It often starts intermittently but may progress to a chronic condition leading to a lifestyle with decreasing activity. Certian foot pathologies such as: Flat feet, weak ankles are misalignment's that can contribute to osteoarthritis in the arch, ankle and knee. 

Rheumatoid arthritis is a little different. It is a systemic disease that mainly targets the feet but can affect all joints. It may affect the tissues surrounding the joints as well as the joint itself. Patients generally have "good" days and "bad" days depending on how severe the "flare-up" is. This usually develops in joint deformity, especially in areas of high stress such as the toes and the balls of your feet. Patients often describe that walking on an inflamed joint, feels like walking on a pebble. 

ProStride is clinically trained on evaluating and providing a non-surgical treatment plan for the arthritic foot. 

Leg vein problems are also known as venous disorders. Problems arise when valves in the blood vessels no longer function optimally and do not close properly as blood passes through the vessels back up to the heart. A patient may complain of tired achy legs with swelling near the ankles and calves. Disorders of leg vein problems include: Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), swelling (edema), Varicose Veins, Venous Ulcers, and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). 

ProStride offers effective treatment through compression therapy, which increases circulation in your legs and helps prevent blood from pooling in your leg veins. By wearing appropriately sized and fitted socks or stockings blood circulation may increase and help direct blood back up to the heart. 

Medical gradient compression stockings come in four different compression levels as well as different stocking lengths depending on the location of the damage to your veins. There are even different colors to match all of your attire! Your Pedorthist can fit you with the compression level recommended by your doctor.