What is a Biomechanical Assessment?
A biomechanical analysis examines the effect of forces acting on the structural components of the foot and lower extremity. Understanding the nature of these forces helps us determine the most appropriate management plan and how to design an orthotic.
When we perform a biomechanical assessment we assess three main areas:
- Detailed physical exam
- Walking and/or running analysis
- In-shoe pressure measurement
Physical exam
This assessment analyses the foot and lower limb from the hip down. In particular, we assess:
- Joint range of motion
- Joint stiffness
- Muscle power
- How forces might be acting on and within the structural components of the foot and lower limb
Zebris Instrumented Treadmill Analysis
We assess the forces that are occuring during walking and running and also how you move using a combination of pressure measurement and video analysis. This helps take out the guess work and also allows us to determine the loads that the foot and lower limb is being exposed to during walking and running.
Our Zebris Instrumented Treadmill is a specialised treadmill that we use as an assessment tool when assessing foot and leg pain. It allows us to quickly and reliably capture force and pressure data which helps guide our clinical decision making.
During the analysis we will assess:
- How you walk
- Running form
- Force
- Pressure
- Timing
- Foot strike
- Stride length
- Balance
Daniel Bagnall
Founder & Senior Podiatrist