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fee l s good These Shoes Were Made For Walking Orthotics Provide Peace Of Mind

Falling is a normal part of childhood development. In fact, most kids stumble, trip and bump their way across the playground for years – slowly and steadily improving their bal- ance and coordination over time. But for those with Charcot- Marie-Tooth disease ( CMT), that improve- ment may never be fully realized.

One of the most common inherited neurologi- cal disorders, CMT is thought to affect nearly 1 in 2500 or an estimated 2.7 million people worldwide. It is a peripheral nerve disorder – one that results in problems with movement and sensa- tion. The earliest symptoms involve muscle weakness in the feet that can cause foot abnormalities like high arches and curled (hammer) toes. It may also become difficult to flex the foot or to walk on the heel of the foot, increasing the chance of tripping. Symptoms of the disease can vary in severity, even among members of the same family. Take Judy Whalen, for example, who inherited the condition from her maternal grandfather. She was able to keep her CMT at bay until she was nearly 50. Yet her older brother and sister had such complex issues, they could never participate in sports when they were growing up. Says Judy, “I knew my feet were different from every-

experiencing a burning sensa- tion in the ball of her foot.” After a thorough foot assess- ment, Danielle reconstructed the original orthotic. She also built up the side of Judy’s Finn Comfort walking shoe to give her added stability. “ CMT takes a physical toll,” Danielle continues, “but it also takes an emotional one. Judy was afraid of falling, so she was limiting herself to avoid injury. Pairing the right shoe with the right orthotic will help keep her safe, thus giving her peace mind.”

body else. I could see so when looking at my footprints in the sand. I also had poor balance. But because I was active, I didn’t associate my issues with Charcot-Marie- Tooth – especially because of my siblings.” A bad fall in front of a cement truck eventually drove Judy to seek an official diagnosis from a neurologist. Says Danielle Molnar, C. Ped (C) BioPed Waterloo, who first met Judy in late 2011, “Judy had actually been a BioPed client for years. She had an orthotic, but the CMT had pro- gressed. Her foot was rolling to the outside. She was also

A very satisfied Judy Whalen concurs.

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