The Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle care center continues to serve as one of the most innovative providers of foot and ankle care in the Northern Virginia and Mid-Atlantic regions through its new in-house custom orthotics program. Traditional orthotics are done by molding the feet in office and then sending the mold to an outside lab, but this process can take up to three weeks to create. This method also requires patients to schedule a follow-up appointment for fitting and modifications. However, at the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle care center, orthotics are made in under 30 minutes, eliminating the need for a follow-up fitting appointment and allowing patients to seek the treatment they need faster than ever before.

Marcia Graddon, ATC, BOCPD, serves as the care center’s licensed and certified Athletic Trainer and Pedorthist. She has been with the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle care center for 10 years, and previously created custom orthotics the traditional way, sending a mold of the patient’s feet away. In the year since the care center launched the in-office orthotics, she has seen patient compliance and outcomes increase as a result.

Marcia has observed that patients trust a product that is made in-office because they see that it is custom-made for them, and they are involved in the creation process. They’re also more likely to be compliant in using orthotics because the recommended treatment is fresh in their minds as they leave the office with orthotics in hand and they have greater confidence in the product. Marcia noted that previously, many patients would never schedule their follow-up fitting appointment and would continue walking without orthotics despite having them created. Eliminating this time-consuming follow-up appointment not only ensures that patients follow through with their course of treatment, but it allows the practice to treat more patients while offering greater convenience.

Custom orthotics are created to treat a variety of common foot and ankle conditions including plantar fasciitis, bunions, hammertoes, flatfoot, balance issues and more. For more information about the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Center’s custom orthotics offerings, visit their website at www.footankledc.com.