Whether you're involved in professional sports or just on your feet a lot at work, the way your feet function can lead to excessive stress and strain on muscles and ligaments throughout your body.
Podiatrists are able by examining the feet to assess the cause of poor foot function and the treatment needed to improve it.
The Podiatric biomechanical assessment involves a thorough examination of the mobility, range of motion and alignment of the joints in the feet and legs, when resting, standing and walking.
Various diagnostic tools are used to aid the diagnosis such as the Quintic Digital Video Gait Analysis System, whereby the subject is videoed walking on a treadmill which can then be analysed through a specific computor program.
Image: Excessive pronation
The Podiatrist tries to establish whether there is any imbalance in your feet causing them to overpronate (roll in) or over supinate (roll out) and if there is, what is causing it.
Image:
Sometimes simple stretching exercises may be all that is required.
If more treatment is needed functional control can be achieved with foot orthotics. They are hard insoles that are moulded to the shape of your feet when they are appropriately aligned with your leg. Posting may also be applied to improve the alignment further by tilting the heel or forefoot.
They need to be rigid to control the mobility of the foot which is why they need to be moulded to make them comfortable to wear. Off the shelf orthotics are softer and more flexible sacrificing functional control.
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