What is a biomechanical assessment?

Your foot is a highly complex set of muscles, ligaments, bones and nerves. It has its own natural shape and alignment and works mechanically to adapt to any surface you walk on. Sometimes, however, these surfaces are not the most helpful to long term foot function - even flat surfaces!

A biomechanical assessment is a means of assessing how well the mechanics of your feet and legs are working. We check that muscles, ligaments, joints and nerve sensation are appropriate and explain where their function may not be.

Your foot has its own natural shape and alignment working mechanically to adapt to any surface you walk on. Sometimes, however, these surfaces, our footwear types and even our activities are not the most helpful to long term foot and leg function.

The alignment of your feet is checked to observe if they allow for sufficient movement of the joints while you walk. These assessments are done in two ways: while you are lying on the clinic couch and by watching how your feet, legs and posture function as you walk. These assessments are undertaken by our experienced Podiatrist and occasionally includes computerised measurements of the pressures that occur in the foot.

Occassionally, foot pain is a result of the joints and muscles of the foot not being able to withstand some of the stresses placed upon it. A biomechanical assessment examines the joints, muscles and nerves to see if the cause could be mechanical. If so the foot may still get better with mobilisations and rest but sometimes it needs support in the form of an orthotic device (inserts).

Your Podiatrist will discuss the options for devices with you. These may include custom made devices, or, premoulded types that may be lend to being adjusted.

Please Note:
We consider orthoses to be part of a treatment. At Podia-Clinic we want to ensure those muscles and ligaments are working as well and so as part of a treatment approach we include mobilising of joints, release of ligaments and exercise of muscles where appropriate. All part of our rehabilitation approach