“When you work with me I hope it feels like talking to a friend over coffee; working with someone who sees your child as remarkable and worth celebrating.”

About Me

Hi, I’m Heather Willets, the face behind Kinder Strides. I’m a board-certified prosthetist-orthotist and a gait analyst with a passion for improving the way children walk.

Solving gait “puzzles” is my passion project, and something I have been doing full-time in my community for nearly a decade. I am thrilled to now bring this service to other families who would benefit from expert pediatric gait analysis, feedback, and strategies that they can start putting into place immediately.

I hope we’ll have the opportunity to work together soon!

My qualifications

Education

  • Masters of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, 2017.

  • Bachelors of Exercise Science, Concordia University, 2014.

Publications

  • Casting Considerations for the Pediatric Patient (2020), O&P Edge.

  • Sensory Processing Sensitivities: Pediatric Orthotic Considerations (2019), O&P Edge.

  • Efficacy of Bracing in Overweight Individuals for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (2018), AAOP.

  • How Do Runners Who Utilize Running-Specific Prostheses Compare to Able-Bodied Runners in Stride, Step, and Velocity? (2017), The Academy Today.

Speaking

  • Ambulatory Considerations and Lower Extremity Orthotic Interventions for Children with Autism (2024), Association of Children’s Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinics Annual Meeting.

  • Optimizing Patient Care: An Interdisciplinary Approach (2022), Hanger Clinic Pediatric Symposium.

  • Optimizing Clinical Residencies: Creating Outstanding Clinicians (2019), Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.

Additional Qualifications

  • Current dual-certified Prosthetist-Orthotist (American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics)

  • Previous Gait Society Chair (American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists)

  • Guest speaker at Northwestern University, Regis University, University of Colorado, and Colorado State University

  • Approved Clinical Mentor (The National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education)

  • DMO (Dynamic Movement Orthosis) Specialist

  • Cranial Asymmetry Remolding Expert

  • Scoliosis Specialist

  • Certified Theratogs Provider

  • Surestep Certified Provider

  • Piro Certified Provider

  • Biomedical Research Certified

  • Advanced Medical Terminology Certified

Work With Me

What families and providers are saying…

  • “Heather is the first person to recognize the signs that my son is probably hypermobile and shows some early signs of scoliosis. I have both of these things so I thought I would recognize them in my son, but with him some of the signs were different. Instantly so many things started making sense once we had this information! Even his pediatrician was impressed at how quickly Heather picked up on the subtle differences in how he walks and the struggles he has with certain activities. We’re now working with an local orthotist to get orthotic supports for him, and have a referral to see an orthopedist about his spinal curves.”

    - Client family

  • “My daughter has worn AFOs since she could walk, but certain things have always been a struggle, like going up and down hills, and knee pain when hiking. Heather was able to help us determine that while some parts of her AFOs were working really well for her, there were some adjustments our local orthotist could make that would improve her efficiency and decrease her pain. The very first time she walked downhill after these changes she told me “Mom, my knees don’t hurt anymore.” We would have done this YEARS ago if we had known this was an option!”

    - Client family