Orthopaedics and Orthotic services in Franschhoek
Kearns orthopaedics is offering services once a week at the Franschhoek Physiotherapy and Associates practice. Wayne Kearns, BSc Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics, has a passion to help all of his patients maintain and improve their quality of life. With 5 years of experience in the sports injury field, Wayne then gained experience through 4 years of practical instruction while studying and an additional 2 years of work experience in the orthotics and prosthetics area.
Kearns Orthopaedics’ goal is to provide all patients with exceptional assistive and/or enhancing devices for optimum benefit in a caring environment, at the most affordable prices.
Kearns Orthopaedics service offering includes orthotics, prosthetics, compression and mobility aids.
Learn a little more about what Kearns Orthopaedics offers:
Custom innersoles
Your feet lay the foundation for the rest of your body. If you have high arches, low arches, plantar fasciitis, neuromas, or other foot problems, the rest of your body could suffer from it. In fact, it is common for mysterious knee pain, hip pain, leg pain, or lower back pain to originate in the feet.
Orthotics are an option for providing the relief you need. But should you have custom orthotics made, or are off-the-shelf insoles just as good? Here are six reasons why custom orthotics are the better option.
Enhanced Foot Support
Your feet each have 26 bones and over 100 muscles. They are among the most complex parts of your body, and they deserve your attention. After all, your feet bear the weight of your entire body.
That is why the superior support you get from custom orthotics is so important. The full-contact, Sole Support orthotics we craft here at Kearns Orthopaedics support all three anatomical arches of the feet to give you a solid foundation.
Superior Comfort
In addition to being supportive, custom orthotics are much more comfortable than over-the-counter insoles. This is largely because custom orthotics are crafted to accommodate your unique foot structure. You will want to wear them all the time because they allow you to stand and walk comfortably, so you can get more done throughout the day.
Reduced Pain
Shoe inserts sold at retail stores add additional cushioning and support to ordinary shoes, but they are not made to address your specific foot issues. On the other hand, clinical studies show that prescription orthotics decrease foot pain and improve function.
For example, in one study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, researchers tested whether custom orthotics improved pain from patellofemoral, a common knee disorder. All 21 study participants experienced a significant decrease in pain, at both their two-week and four-week check-ups. For these patients, orthotics proved to be an effective, conservative treatment that made knee surgery unnecessary.
Corrected Pronation
Pronation is when collapsed arches allow the ankle to fall toward the midline of the body. This causes increased stress on the knees, hips, and lower back – not to mention the feet! Pronation also makes you more susceptible to a knee injury while playing sports. Wearing custom orthotics provides the arch support you need to relieve the other joints in your body.
Corrected Supination
Having very high arches can cause supination, which is when the ankles lean outward away from the midline of the body. Similar to pronation, this puts additional strain on your knees, hips, and lower back.
One foot may have a higher arch than the other, throwing your body off balance and making the problem even worse. Custom orthotics help to support your feet, so they maintain a more anatomically correct position. The same benefit is not possible with retail insoles because they cannot address specific problems with each foot.
Enhanced Athletic Performance
When your body is well-aligned, you can perform better while playing sports. Not only do custom orthotics lower your risk of injury, but research also shows that they help you jump higher and enjoy a better sense of balance and body position. According to research findings, foot orthotics reduced the risk of injuries by 28%, and reduced the risk of stress fractures by 41%.
Braces
The DJO Stabilizing Speed Pro ankle brace reduces the chance of ankle injury by
61%. Featuring a contoured design made with rugged ballistic nylon, reinforced eyelets, 3” circumferential compression strap and removable articulated stays. The Stabilizing Speed Pro brace give trainers confidence that the vulnerable ankles of their athletes are protected. In addition to all the benefits of the Stabilizing Pro, the new Stabilizing Speed Pro brace features a “speed-lacing” system that makes applying the brace exceptionally fast and easy.
Össur Formfit® Pro Wrist is a lightweight, compressive wrist sleeve for people suffering from chronic wrist pain, overuse injuries, sprains and strains, and Rheumatic Arthritis (RA).
Össur Formfit® Pro Knee is a lightweight, compressive knee sleeve for people suffering from knee pain. This knee support provides realignment of the patella, compression and support.
Visit Kearns Orthopaedics to learn more.
Kearns Orthopaedics services will be available at Franschhoek Physiotherapy and Associates every Thursday. Call us to make a booking, or contact Wayne Kearns; 0731427434.