Biomechanical Assessment
Biomechanical Assessment of your body means we assess the biomechanics; how your body, and the different parts, move in relation to each other and the ground they are supported by. At The Foot Clinic we use it to analyse how the various structures of your foot work together. This applies to activities and functions like standing, walking or running. If your biomechanics are normal, then you should be able to move freely without any pain. Often the pain or the symptom you experience, will be linked to something your podiatrist can flag as "abnormal", after your biomechanical assessment.
Why use a Biomechanical Assessment?
At The Foot Clinic we have a particular interest and expertise, in looking at the biomechanics, or the "bigger picture". How our hips, knees, legs, ankles and various structures of the foot work together when we move. This helps us build you a better body, from the feet up. Even when treating any superficial skin and nail problems you may have, your biomechanics have an important role in why those problems are occurring.
Postural Problems
Having posture weakness can impact the overall function of your body. Correcting your posture starts with correcting your feet.
Foot Mobilisation Techniques
Foot Mobilisation Techniques (FMT) is when your Podiatrist uses a range of techniques to manipulate by bending, stretching and extending parts of your foot to reset your bones and creating movement to the damaged area.
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If you suffer from any of these
common foot conditions,
come and see our friendly experts
at the Foot Clinic.
It could mean that the position of your feet influences the pressure you put on your toes, heels or soles. This can cause effects further up the chain such as knee pain or even hip pain. The biomechanical assessment often connects the dots, and gives us (and you as our patient), a deeper understanding of the underlying problem.
With a better understanding, we are able to provide a better recommendation for your treatment options. After all, it's not just about reducing acute pain and inflammation or discomfort.
What matters to us, is to provide you with an improved foot health, so you can enjoy your daily life, work, play or sports without restrictions.
What to expect
When your podiatrist at The Foot Clinic guides you through a biomechanical assessment, we are looking at a variety of measures:
Foot and leg alignment
Checking the alignment of your feet and legs when you are sitting and when you are standing. This includes
measuring your leg length and identifying any asymmetries, and testing any imbalances.
Flexibility of the joints
This is about measuring the range of motion of your joints (from the hip, down to the toes). Reduced range of motion, or poor flexibility, helps identify problems with joints, muscles or tendons.
Foot posture
Your biomechanical assessment also includes measuring foot posture or foot pronation. Your podiatrist will look at the height of your arch, and at how your feet are "rolling inwards" to distribute the weight when you stand or walk.
Gait Analysis
Your assessment includes an in-depth analysis at the way you walk and run. Using our treadmill set-up with 4 multi-angled cameras, we can identify what structures may be compensating, compromised or not functioning at the optimal level.
This is important for us to identify what is happening at a dynamic level, not just static, as we are constantly moving on our feet!
When you are scheduled in for a biomechanical assessment, we recommend you bring a pair of shorts or leggings, a well-fitted shirt, and if possible, examples of your everyday sports and footwear or the shoes you wear on a daily basis. If you have any relevant X-rays or scans, or pre-existing orthoses, then we ask you to bring them on the day, so we can assess them as well.
Why visit The Foot Clinic
Our Podiatrists have worked with many leading Australian athletes through to general fitness enthusiasts, mums and dads and kids of all ages. We have a personal passion and a particular expertise in collecting this information and using it to understand and improve your gait.
It then often leads to relief of injury (including superficial skin conditions) and also helps you enhance your performance, whatever the nature of your daily activities may be.