Orthopaedic Footwear Modifications

Here at Gordon's we use various orthopaedic modification techniques that enable us to meet your specific needs. We are able to modify your existing footwear so that they provide the fit, support, and gait correction that you require.

And if you are looking for footwear to have modified, we can offer a range of comfortable, stylish yet practical ‘off the shelf ‘ footwear suitable for modification. While our greatest focus is on improving the function of your footwear, we also pay great attention to detail thus minimising the visual effect of modifications on your choice of footwear.

If you have had previous modifications that have worked for you, then we can replicate them on your new footwear. Or if you are inquiring about whether footwear modifications are suitable for you we can advise you as to whether they are. If so we will then determine what will work best for you whether determined by us or referred specialist.

PERSONAL RECORDS
All modifications are undertaken with all relevant information / worksheets.  By doing this we can guarantee to repeat any future modifications exactly as previously, time and time again unless changes are necessary. Therefore no matter what footwear that you are wearing from one day to the next you can be sure that the modification is the same, thus eliminating the chance of problems arising from inconsistently modified footwear. 

DO YOU SUFFER FROM:

- Diabetic foot
- Arthritic foot
- Accident damage ( post surgery )
- swelling of the foot ( oedema)
- foot / ankle pain
- gout
- ankle instability
- leg length discrepancy
- achilles tendon injury
- equino foot ( club foot)
- rigid foot and ankle joints
- fused ankle joint ( post surgery)
- pain associated with ankle movement
- rigid metatarsal joints
- metatarsal pain
- extreme pronation ( inward roll )
- extreme supination ( outward roll)
- hammer toe – claw toe
- bunions
- or any other congenital conditions
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Then orthopaedic footwear modifications to your footwear can help.

WHAT EXACTLY ARE ORTHOPAEDIC FOOTWEAR MODIFICATIONS?
They are an alteration to your footwear so as to improve there performance for your specific needs. Typically modifications are used to improve and or restore you to a normal walking gait, as well as reducing and or eliminating the symptoms of your conditions/s.

Modifications can also be used to improve
- The fit of your footwear
- Support that the footwear provide
- Extend the life of your footwear

Modifications can be implemented
- Temporarily as with a heel only raise for an injured achilles tendon
- Permanently as with a sole raise for a leg length discrepancy

LIFE OF THE FOOTWEAR / MODIFICATION
The Faster the wear rate of your footwear (besides quality) is normally associated with your walking habits, frequency and conditions that you expose your footwear too. As well, certain Orthopaedic conditions can also accelerate the wear rate of your footwear.

Here at Gordon's once we have achieved your optimum footwear modification we then ensure that the modification must remain consistent throughout the life of the shoe. Ie your orthopaedic modification is not compromised through excessive wear. We can achieve this in varying ways on a case by case basis.

FOOTWEAR ALTERATIONS
Here at Gordons we can make a variety of alterations to your footwear to suit your needs . Typically these alterations are done so as to improve the fit, comfort or look of your footwear .

Typical examples are :

- Calf - Knee high boots:
- sometimes getting the perfect fitting boot can be difficult. Usually it is the leg of the boot that is the problem.Whether the leg of the boot is to tight or to loose we can alter your boots to accomodate your individual measurements. We can increase the width of the leg by a simple elastic gusset or if needed we can add an extra panel of leather so as to keep the original look of the boot intact. (pending us having a matching leather ) Or in the case of a slim leg we can recut the leg of the boot thereby tapering it to fit your individual calf measurements.

- your boots keeps slipping down to your ankles and you keep having to pull them back up . We can make an alteration to your boots that will ensure that your boot will stay upright and no longer slip down again .

- Heel height alterations - you may have found the perfect pair of shoes except it's to high or to low .
We can assess the height change that your are after and if it is practicle we can undertake this alteration.
Depending on the ammount of height change this can often be an involved process as it can involve us to dismantle the shoe back to the upper and then remake the shoe again as the shoe will need to be re-pitched to the new heel height .

Stretching - targeting specific areas such as bunions or an all over shoe stretching .

- comfort inserts - cushioning insoles can be inserted so as to help make a shoe that is to large become a more firmer fit .

- heel grips -  so as to prevent your slip on becoming a  slip off .

- Velcro®  brand hook and loop strap - buckle strap - lengthening to accomodate foot swelling or shortening for the slim foot.