What is orthotics?
What is pedorthics?
Who provides orthotic & prosthetic (O&P) care?
Who is served by the O&P market?
How do I choose a practitioner?
What insurance do you prefer?
What can you offer breast cancer patients?
What do I need to know about my new inserts /shoes?
What should I know about foot care if I’m diabetic?

What is orthotics?
Orthotics is an allied health profession that provides evaluation, fabrication and custom fitting of orthopedic braces. O&P professionals are specialists within the rehabilitation or care team for patients with disabling conditions.

What is pedorthics?
Pedorthics is the design, manufacture, modification and fit of footwear to alleviate problems caused by disease, overuse, congenital condition or injury.

Who provides orthopedic & pedorthic (O&P) care?
An O&P practitioner is an allied health professional who provides comprehensive orthotic care, including patient assessment, formulation of a treatment plan, implementation of the treatment plan, follow-up and practice management.

Who is served by the O&P market?
More than 35 million (1 in 8) have disabling conditions that interfere with life activities and 16% of those individuals reported an orthopedic impairment. In 1990, more than 3.5 million persons in the U.S. were using some kind of orthosis, more than a 100% increase since 1980. By 2020, research predicts the demand for provider services is expected to increase by 25% for orthotic care.

How do I choose a practitioner?
Many people understand and exercise their right to choose their doctor. You have the same right when you need an Orthotist (for orthopeic bracing). To help you make good decisions, here are a few things to consider and some recommendations from the field.
When you are in need of orthotics, having an experienced, knowledgeable practitioner will make the critical difference in your rehabilitation success and progress. Your Orthotist will be responsible for the overall fit and function of your orthotic devise. This makes your practitioner a key member of the rehabilitation team who should work closely with your surgeon, physician and others in the care team.
There are two critical considerations:
1: the practitioner’s knowledge and experience
2: your comfort with the practitioner
When considering a practitioner’s credentials, look for:
-completed formal education, structured residency program and clinical experience
-passage of a series of written and clinical examinations, and
-completion of ongoing continuing education courses.
Practitioners meeting these requirements generally are Certified Orthotists (CO) through the American Board for Orthotics (ABC). You should verify the certification, as this is an indication of qualifications. As a CO, practitioners are bound to standards of ethics, making them accountable to their patient/client, the physician and the profession.
Test you comfort:
We encourage you to visit and tour our facility, meet the staff and talk with the practitioners. Discuss possible treatment options and get a sense of how he/she will approach your situation.
Wasatch Orthotics complies with all aspects of Qualifications & Credentials.

What Insurance do you prefer?
Here is a list of some of the Insurances that we are preferred Providers for:
1st Choice of Midwest Network
Aetna
Altius
Bankers Life and Casualty
Beech Street
Blue Cross Blue Shields
Blue Cross Blue Shields Medicare Advantage
Cigna
Coventry Health Care
DMBA
Educators Mutual (advantage & select plans)
Great West / Linkia
The Hartford
Healthy U
HIP Utah
Humana
IHC Health Choice
Mailhandlers  / Home Link
Medicare
MSC
Mutual of Omaha
PEHP
Private Health Care Services
Select Health
SRS
Tall Tree
Tri-Care / Tri-West
Unicare
US Department of Labor
University of Utah Health Plans
VA
ValueCare
Wise Provider Networks
Workers Comp Fund of Utah
Wyoming Equality Care

What can you offer breast cancer patients?
Our mission is to help women regain a positive body image after breast cancer surgery. Our number one priority is your comfort. We offer post-surgery camisoles, bras and breast forms. Our fitter will offer a private area where you can discuss you options and try on bras and breast forms. Make sure to wear or bring a well-fitted, favorite garment so that you can see how the breast form will look under clothing.

What do I need to know about my new inserts /shoes?
Often in life, we are required to adapt to changes that are taking place around us. This is going to be the case for the next few weeks as your feet adjust to the new shoes/inserts that you received. As you wear the inserts, the aspect of your foot will change. This will not happen overnight. It will take some time to get used to. Your Pedorthist will explain proper wearing techniques of your new shoes/inserts. However, her are a few points for you to remember.
When you first begin wearing an insert, your feet have to adapt to having a supportive arch. This support will allow you to walk better in a normal walking pattern. You will more than likely feel pressure under your arch—this is normal. What is happening is the muscles in your foot are expanding and contracting trying to adapt to the insert. The nerves in your foot will feel pressure as well in areas that you are not accustomed to feeling pressure. Within a short period of time, usually 1-2 weeks, your feet will adapt to the changes and you will no longer notice your inserts.
The first day wearing your shoes/inserts, only wear them for an hour or two. Each day following, begin to wear them for a couple of hours longer than the day before. After a week to ten days, your feet will have adapted to the shoes/inserts and you should be able to wear them all the time without pain or discomfort.
Inserts are under warranty for 90 days. Any adjustments or modifications after 90 days will be subject to a service charge.
Do not hesitate to call us if you notice discoloration, callusing, tenderness, or continuous pain in your feet. We are here to help you. If you have any questions please 293-8777.


What should I know about foot care if I’m diabetic?
For people with diabetes, proper foot care is very important. Diabetics are often at risk of poor circulation and loss of sensation in their extremities. Improper footwear, poor foot care or injury can, in an extreme case, result in amputation. If you are a diabetic, please check with your physician for other important information on maintaining proper foot health. Here are some foot care tips:
Foot Care Do’s
-Inspect your feet every day for sores, swelling, discoloration, cuts or blisters. Use a mirror to inspect the bottom of the foot.
-Keep your feet clean. Wash with warm (never hot) water and mild soap. Dry carefully, especially between the toes. Use lotion or foot cream on dry skin but don’t use it between the toes. Foot powder can be used between the toes if desired.
-Cut toenails straight across and keep them trimmed. Contact your physician or podiatrist if you need help trimming your nails or need detailed instructions.
-Change socks every day. Seamless fitted socks are best. Avoid tight elastics.
-Check the insides of your shoes before putting them on.
-Wear appropriate shoes. Shoes should be the proper size, non-constriction and match the shape of the foot.
-Visit your podiatrist or physician regularly to have your feet examined. Have your certified pedorthist verify the appropriateness of your shoe fit because feet change over time.
Foot Care Don’t’s:
-Never soak your feet.
-Never walk barefoot anywhere.
-Never trim your own corns, calluses, ingrown toenails etc. These should be done by your podiatrist or doctor only.
-Never use chemical agents to treat corns or calluses on the feet.
-Never use hot water bottles or heating pads on your feet.
-Don’t smoke.
-Never wear shoes without socks or stockings
-Never wear sandals with thongs between the toes.
-Never use adhesive tape on the feet.
-Don’t sit with legs crossed or sleep with ankles crossed.