Biomechanical Assessment
A biomechanical assessment is an important part of a patient’s foot health. It is essential because it helps find and fix the underlying cause of your problem, not just treat the symptom. It will help prevent future problems as well.
The South Perth Podiatrist offers biomechanical assessment for many different conditions, including bunions, hammertoes, heel pain, metatarsalgia, and plantar fasciitis. Our biomechanical assessment includes a complete examination of your feet from head to toe with x-rays if needed!
What is Biomechanical Assessment?
A biomechanical assessment is an analysis of the body’s movement when walking or standing. It involves a standard examination of joints and muscles to help identify abnormalities and possible causes of your pain. It’s an in-depth process that considers your medical history and physical exam findings as well as the results of diagnostics tests like x-rays, MRIs or CT scans.
The goal is to find out what might be causing your discomfort to provide you with the best treatment plan for your specific needs. We’ll work with you to create custom orthotics to address any biomechanical problems found during the assessment and alleviate symptoms related to those issues.
The orthotics we provide are custom made for each patient’s needs, so they fit perfectly in their shoes. They are designed to support the foot’s arch, reduce pronation (foot rolling inward) and supination (foot rolling outward). It will help prevent future injuries from occurring while also decreasing any existing symptoms.
Contact us today for more information on our biomechanical assessments!
What are the benefits of
Biomechanical Assessment?
The benefits of podiatry biomechanical assessment lie in identifying the root and causes of your foot pain and other joint problems such as the ankle, knee, or hip pain. It is a great way to address any biomechanical problems found during the assessment and plan the proper treatment according to the problem.
The other benefits that accrue from biomechanics assessments are a reduction in pain due to the impact of an injury, an improvement in the function of the leg and foot, better gait, improved posture, injury prevention, improved muscle strength, increased joint range of motion and reduced muscle tightness caused by high impact activities.
Why Choose Stephen Zucal South Perth Podiatrist for Biomechanical Assessment?
We always begin with a thorough evaluation, giving us an in-depth overview of the problems within your lower extremities and enabling our podiatrists to determine what type of treatment is required. We’ll also be able to tell if further investigations are necessary.
FAQs
FAQ's About Biomechanical Assesment
What happens at a biomechanical assessment?
During the biomechanical assessment, your podiatrist will interview you about your lifestyle to identify which areas of your daily activities may be related to the causes of your symptoms.
Dynamic assessment
It involves gait analysis, which involves the dynamic coordination and posture during the movement of your feet and lower legs. It assesses your way of walking or running to identify structural abnormalities in the lower limbs. Pronation and supination are apparent in this stage.
Joint assessment
It is an examination of the joint’s range of motion located in the lower extremities, including your feet.
Muscle strength
-observing the muscle tone, tightness, and strength throughout your lower extremities (hips, upper and lower legs, and feet)
Static assessment
-is evaluating your feet’ posture in a neutral position when standing where the joints and ligaments are aligned.
Leg length measurement
It is the measurement of your leg length (from your crotch to your feet on the ground) to check if there’s a difference in your limb length.
What are the areas covered in biomechanical assessment?
A biomechanical assessment is done through a series of tests that assess the mobility and range of motion throughout all joints in the foot, ankle, knee and leg.
The Podiatrist will conduct a visual gait analysis using slow-motion video analysis to identify any potential abnormalities in walking at a normal pace or after running on a treadmill. Joint flexibility can be assessed with screening for joint Hypermobility, screening of the foot and leg muscles’ strength to distinguish muscle imbalances or weakness and the alignment of your foot, ankle, knee and leg. Gait analysis observes the stance and swing phase.
The Podiatrist will then ask the specifics of your symptoms and give you initial treatment to improve the condition. It may include exercises or stretches, few changes in footwear or lifestyle, and medication if necessary.
What preparation do I need to do before coming for the biomechanical assessment?
You will be assessed for about 30 minutes. You should wear clothing that may easily accommodate the biomechanical assessment, such as shorts or loose clothing. Bring in two to three pairs of footwear you have used most often over the last six months, along with a pair of comfortable shoes that can accommodate an insole if needed.
What does a biomechanical assessment in podiatry involve?
Biomechanics is the science of analysing how your muscles, joints and nerves are working together. A biomechanical assessment identifies what areas need to be worked on for your lower limbs to function normally, and it can offer a detailed explanation of how your joints and muscles work when you exercise.
A podiatrist will ask her patients to look back on and describe how their body relates or is affected by the movement of their legs and feet. Problems with the hips, back, poor posture, headaches, and neck pain can all be traced to problems with the lower limbs.
What is a biomechanical evaluation?
A biomechanical assessment is the first step in understanding any underlying problems in the lower limbs and should be performed before any other treatment. It is a standard examination to examine how your lower limbs work, which can help identify abnormalities and possible causes of foot pain, back pain, or ankle pain.
What is biomechanical gait analysis?
The gait analysis in biomechanics is a study in which we use the most advanced technology to investigate your foot position both statically and while in motion, and the way your knees, hips, and spine behave. It allows us to identify biomechanical causes of alterations so that we can treat them.
What is biomechanical therapy?
A Podiatrist conducts a biomechanical assessment; it is a thorough evaluation of your lower limbs, their function, range of motion, and movement, while discussing in detail your symptoms. It is done to have an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan for the patient’s injury and specific needs.
What does a biomechanical do?
During the biomechanical assessment, your podiatrist will interview you about your lifestyle to identify which areas of your daily activities may be related to the causes of your symptoms. The doctor will watch how you walk and stand and review what footwear you’re wearing in the past few weeks. Then discuss the physical elements that impact your legs and feet: your body composition, structure, balance, and flexibility of your muscles and strength.
The Podiatrist will then ask the specifics of your symptoms and give you initial treatment to improve the condition. It may include exercises or stretches, few changes in footwear or lifestyle, and medication if necessary.
What are the biomechanical principles?
It is vital to know the principles and terms of biomechanical.
Forces
A force is a push or pull– it changes the motion of an object. Motion can be created by our muscular forces and external factors and elements from the environment, like gravity!
Balance
Balance can keep your centre of gravity between your feet and maintain it over any obstacle. Static balance involves maintaining equilibrium in one position, while dynamic balance can control the body during motion, maintaining postural stability and orientation.
Motion
Understanding the laws of Inertia, Acceleration, and Reaction is also vital in conducting biomechanical.
Centre of Gravity
The centre of gravity (COG) is a hypothetical point around which body weight is equally distributed. The centre of gravity among the human body changes because people don’t usually stay in just one pose, and the body segments can move with joint rotations.
Momentum
Momentum is the quantity of motion an object possesses. Momentum can be transferred from one thing to another.
How do you know your biomechanics is out of order?
You would need a consultation with your doctor if you engage in a high impact activity that causes painful symptoms and when you notice signs of foot conditions such as bunions, plantar fasciitis, flat feet, or high-arched feet.
The common symptoms of these foot deformities are lower back or heel pain, noticeable calluses around your toes, and poor posture, which may cause hip pain and a laboured gait.
Other medical conditions that may contribute to developing foot deformities are arthritis, diabetes and gout. Podiatry may recommend biomechanics to examine your lower limbs and gait cycle further.
What happens after the biomechanical assessment?
After foot biomechanics, the Podiatrist may advise you to change your footwear to accommodate your feet better. It is likely to inform you what shoes you must avoid to prevent chronic pain and worsen the symptoms.
If the podiatrist believes that your mechanics could be contributing to your injury or pain, they will prescribe a custom made orthotic.
What is a biomechanical specialist?
In podiatry, a biomechanical assessment is conducted by a trained podiatrist. It is a thorough evaluation of your lower limbs, their function, range of motion, and movement, and it discusses in detail your symptoms. Podiatrists specialising in biomechanics can diagnose and treat conditions or injuries of the ankle joints, feet, and toes.
Why is biomechanics important in physical therapy?
Biomechanical methods contribute to a comprehensive approach to the effects of rehabilitative interventions. It is essential in physical therapy to understand the patient’s condition and body motion to develop a proper treatment to reduce the symptoms.
What is foot biomechanics?
Podiatry is a medical specialty concerned with diagnosing and treating conditions that affect people’s everyday movement. Those who practise in this field focus on investigating how the foot functions, diagnosing problems involving the ankle, toes, and foot movement, and can treat these conditions effectively.
How do you do a gait assessment?
With a standard gait analysis, you will be asked to walk at your normal pace and in different places on a treadmill or regular floor. You may also be filmed from different angles if necessary while walking to be reviewed for further observation. After the assessment, appropriate treatments or exercises for your specific issue can be prescribed. It is vital to look from a different angle, such as in the front, back, and sides, to observe the feet, knees, hips, and even the movement of your arm swing. The gait analysis is done through:
Video gait analysis
This procedure involves using cameras to record your gait movement. It allows us to closely assess the movement and function of your leg and foot when running or walking. For this reason, it can help identify “excessive” or “injuring” motions such as unusual stress on a joint that could be causing pain in your feet, knees, or ankle.
There are two phases that your Podiatrist will observe in the gait cycle, which are the Stance and Swing Phase.
Stance Phase
It is 60% of the full gait cycle; during this phase, the right foot is always in contact with the floor.
Swing Phase
– in an account of 40% of the gait cycle, the right foot in this phase is swinging.