Bio-mechanical Assessment & Gait Analysis

Biomechanics is the science of movement of a living body, including how muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments work together to produce movement.

Biomechanics of the feet can result in changes to ankle, leg, knee, hip and lower back. The body has kinetic chains from the feet to the head and vice versa.

As you can imagine – having weakened or tight muscles, poor technique, excessive force to bone or soft tissue structures can cause pain if the tissue cannot tolerate the load – resulting in tears, inflammation, swelling, breaks, fractures etc.

Abnormal foot biomechanics is a major contributing factor in the development of pain and injury in the feet, ankles, knees and legs. I am highly skilled to detect biomechanical abnormalities that may be the cause of your pain or may predispose you to injury.

Foot and leg biomechanics incorporates a comprehensive evaluation of the structure, alignment and function of the feet and legs while standing and during walking. The information gained from the biomechanical assessment and gait analysis helps to recommend the most effective treatment program for your specific problem.

This individualized approach to assessment and treatment provides effective, targeted and prompt recovery from injury and relief of painful symptoms.
 

A biomechanical assessment involves the following:

• Alignment of the foot, ankle, knee and leg
• Visual gait analysis – using slow motion video analysis
• Joint flexibility including screening for Joint Hyper mobility
• Foot and leg muscle strength testing – to detect muscle imbalances and weakness
• Balance and pelvic stability tests
• Screening for limb length discrepancy

 

By identifying and improving your biomechanics, I can help you to return to your chosen sport or exercise, maximize your athletic performance and, importantly, minimize the risk of injury your biomechanics in motion are then analyzed video recording utilizing a treadmill to watch your unique walking and running pattern.

I will analyze the degree of supination of the foot at contact, the degree of pronation during stance, the timing of pronation and the degree of re-supination at toe off. This information is critical in determining the causation factors in your particular injury.

These causes are usually a combination of factors, such as poor flexibility, strength and misalignment of the foot or lower leg. From the information gained during this session, I will be able to design a thorough treatment plan to solve your unique injury. This may involve the following:

• Orthotic therapy: Custom made insoles to correct abnormal foot and leg biomechanics to reduce strain and loading on affected areas and to correct posture.
• ESWT- Sound wave therapy designed to heal injured tissue very quickly and loosen chronically tight muscles.
• Flexibility exercises: various stretches for the gastrocnemius/calf muscle, soleus and any other leg, hip or back muscles which are found to be tight.
• Strength exercises: dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, eversion and inversion exercises using resistance bands and closed chain ankle plantar flexion exercises standing, with static inversion and eversion.
• Core stability exercises: abdominal hollowing to improve the lumbar control and posture, standing pelvic tilting to improve the gluteus’ ability to keep the pelvis level during the swing phase.

I can help you decide on the correct training shoes, recommending the shoes that suit your particular foot type and problem, and checking the effectiveness of the shoe using the digital camera.