Clubfoot Orthotic
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Clubfoot used to be treated with surgery, but now doctors use a series of casts to realign the bones of the affected foot. After this initial stage, the child is fit with a custom orthotic, or brace, commonly known as Boots and Bar. We provide a number of different styles to accommodate your specialist's request. This treatment is called the Ponsetti Method, and all our orthotics conform to this therapy.
The Brace/Boots and Bar maintain optimal alignment of the soft tissues with regular stretching, 6 to 8 times daily, which is performed by the parents following the instructions of the healthcare professionals involved the child's care. What is clubfoot?
Clubfoot is a common type of birth defect that affects the muscles and bones in one or both feet. The affected foot looks rotated, inverted, and pointing upwards. The arch is accentuated and the heel turns inwards; in severe cases the foot may look as if it is upside-down. What are the treatment goals?
We book an hour for your first appointment at which time Eric Bapty, our Certified Orthotist, will measure and fit the brace/boots according to foot measurements and size the bar to match your child's sholder width. Often the brace/boots will need to be re-ordered and the bar resized, all to accommodate your child's growth, as the Ponsetti method is usually recommended until the age of three to four years. Treatment goals:
How to use the boots and bar
Our Certified Orthotist will show you the correct method of putting on the boots and then attaching them to the bar. It is important to ensure that the child's feet are positioned correctly in the boots:
What funding is there?
The Ontario Assistive Devices Program (ADP) will fund up to 75% of the cost of the AFO provided that:
Private Insurance may pay for all or a portion of the cost not covered by ADP. It is important to consult your insurance company to determine what coverage you may have. Most companies require a physician's prescription in order to access funding. There may also be coverage by:
For more information, visit our Funding Page. |