What Is Pedorthics—and What Does a Pedorthist Do?
Maybe you’ve heard the terms “pedorthics” or “pedorthist” and wondered what they actually mean.
Pedorthics (ped-OR-thics) is the field focused on the design, manufacture, fitting, and modification of footwear and foot orthotics to relieve pain and improve foot function.
It addresses problems caused by:
- Congenital conditions (conditions you’re born with)
- Disease
- Overuse
- Injury
- Biomechanical inefficiencies
The field began developing in the late 1950s, largely in response to foot injuries from World War II and the effects of polio. The term “pedorthics” itself came into use around 1980.
What Is a Certified Pedorthist?
A Certified Pedorthist (C.Ped.) is a healthcare professional who specializes in using footwear and orthotics to treat conditions affecting the feet and lower limbs.
Their role includes:
- Evaluating the patient
- Developing and implementing a treatment plan
- Providing follow-up care
Pedorthists work with a wide range of individuals, including:
- Athletes
- Adults of all ages
- Pediatrics
- People with Diabetes and other infirm conditions such as Arthritis, Parkinson’s, CMT, and other conditions causing difficulty walking.
Training and Education
To become certified, a pedorthist studies:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Pathology (how disease affects the body)
- Biomechanics (how the body moves)
- Gait analysis (how a person walks)
They also learn:
- Custom Orthotic and footwear design and fabrication
- Fabrication and modification of devices and footwear to enhance mobility
- Proper shoe fitting and supporting techniques
Before certification, they must complete 1,000 hours of hands-on experience and pass a certification exam, and complete an internship. Ongoing education is required to maintain their credentials.
What Does a Pedorthist Do?
At its core, pedorthic care is about improving movement and reducing pain.
A Certified Pedorthist:
- Evaluates how the foot functions
- Understands how the foot interacts within footwear
- Recommends and/or modifies shoes for best outcomes
- Designs and fits custom orthotics
The goal is to help patients:
- Improve mobility
- Reduce pain
- Maintain or regain function
Pedorthists often work alongside podiatrists, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals to support ones the overall mobility, health, and wellness.
Why Kathy Carandang, Founder of The WalkEZstore, Became a Certified Pedorthist
My Path into Pedorthics
My path into pedorthics started with my own foot pain.
In high school, I worked as a waitress, and in my early 20s, as a cashier. By the end of each shift, my feet were throbbing. Eventually, I went to a local shoe store and was fitted with what I thought were the ugliest shoes I had ever seen.
But inside those shoes was a custom orthotic—and it completely changed how my feet felt.
That experience stayed with me.
After wearing custom orthotics for over 20 years, I walked into a local pedorthic shoe store in 2002. The owner recognized my understanding of foot mechanics from my personal experience, offered me a job, and I started the next day.
About a year later, the pedorthist who had originally helped me—Jack Tovey—joined the store. He became my mentor. I learned more from him through hands-on experience than I ever could from textbooks alone. I became a Nationally Registered Board Certified Pedorthist in 2005.
My own foot issues gave me the insight and motivation to help others.
In 2008, the store closed. I loved the work so much that I opened my own store and began testing a biomechanical foot impression process I had learned through continuing education.
Within nine months, I saw my first case of real improvement. That pushed me to continue refining the process—even on my own feet. I made new orthotics for myself three times over a period of two years. For the first time in my life, I was able to walk barefoot without pain.
That’s when I knew I had to pursue this work fully—and help others achieve the same results.
Now, more than 18 years later, WalkEZstore serves customers from coast to coast, with clients in over 40 states and continuing to grow.
I truly believe this path was guided by the grace of God. Walking into that pedorthic shoe store all those years ago wasn’t by chance—it was exactly where I needed to be, even if I didn’t realize it at the time. Through His grace, I’ve been able to do work that not only changed my life but also helps improve others’ lives every day.
Why I Developed ezWalker® Orthotics
I created ezWalker® to help people manage foot pain without sacrificing the shoes they want to wear.
From both personal experience and customer feedback, I’ve learned:
- People want relief from pain
- But they don’t want to wear bulky or unattractive shoes
Most orthotics don’t fit into everyday or fashionable footwear.
The ezWalker® was designed to be different:
- Ultra-thin and ¾ length
- Fits into a wide variety of shoes—even dress shoes and sandals
What Makes ezWalker® Different
The effectiveness of any orthotic starts with the impression process.
For the ezWalker®, I use a 7-step casting method to create a biomechanically enhancing foot impression of your feet that allows:
- Accurate determination of your arch structure
- Better control of pronation (foot rolling inward) and supination (foot rolling outward)
- Improved alignment and function of muscles, ligaments, and tendons during walking
The goal is not just support, but to guide your foot toward a more efficient gait cycle.
Why Foot Mechanics Matter
Poor foot mechanics can contribute to conditions such as:
- Bunions
- Plantar fasciitis
- Metatarsalgia (pain in the ball of the foot)
- Morton’s neuroma (nerve irritation in the forefoot)
- Overall foot fatigue from overuse
With proper support and alignment, many of these issues can be reduced, eliminated, and managed more effectively.
The Bottom Line
Pedorthics is about more than shoes—it’s about improving how your body moves from the ground up.
With the right approach, footwear and custom orthotics can:
- Reduce pain
- Improve mobility
- Support long-term foot health
Since the ezWalker® Performance Insole can be purchased online, anyone – from anywhere – can own one. We also offer consultations and one-on-one fittings for local customers and video consultations for non-local customers. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
The ezWalker® custom orthotics come with a 90-day, money-back guarantee. So, you’ve got nothing to lose but your pain. Try it today!
Because … when your feet feel good, you feel good.
