It was Leonardo da vinci who said “The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art”. Its complex structure allows it to carry out the conflicting roles of stability and mobility. When painful foot conditions arise, it is therefore important to understand what exactly is causing the problem. Structural and functional imbalances in the foot can lead to a number of foot complaints. In such cases a biomechanical assessment can be conducted in order to identify and treat functional abnormalities of the foot. The assessment involves taking a series of measurements of the feet and legs whilst standing, walking and lying down.




 

Gait Analysis

The walking part of the assessment is called gait analysis and involves walking for a few minutes on a treadmill while a video is made of the feet. The recording is then slowed down and analysed in detail by your clinician who will explain the findings.

Diagnosis

The combined biomechanical and gait analysis can be used to discover the underlying cause of common complaints such as recurring corns, calluses, pain in the ball of the foot and heel. In addition it can be used to find the underlying cause of ankle pain, knee, hip and lower back pain. This is because functional and structural imbalances in the feet can cause problems in other joints of the body.
The information gathered, along with the patients reporting of painful symptoms, will then form the basis of a rehabilitative program or can be used to prescribe orthotics.






 

Orthotics


Orthotics are special shoe inserts that are designed to correct foot posture and functioning by realigning the foot and ankle to their neutral position. This will alleviate problems not only in the feet, but also in the ankles, knees, hips and back. Furthermore, the resulting even weight distribution in the feet, will help to take pressure off painful areas of the foot such as corns and bunions. Although orthotics can be bought already made over the counter, they are best produced in clinic where they will be custom made from a cast of your own feet.
The production of custom designed orthotics is a very technical process and requires an accurate biomechanical assessment and gait analysis.





 

Rehabilitation

For those who do require rehabilitation because of painful joint or muscles conditions caused by their faulty foot biomechanics, the clinic is able to provide osteopathic services, so you can get all of your treatment under one roof.

Some of the conditions treated

  • Back, Hip and knee pain
  • Achilles tendonitis
  • Heel pain
  • Arch pain
  • Flat Feet
  • Pain in the ball of the foot
  • Sports injuries
  • Mortons Neuroma