The first phase of correcting any biomechanical dysfunction is to carry out a detailed assessment to determine the main cause of the complaint. Additional information provided by the referring clinician will also help in determining the origins of the problem.

Assessments take approximately one hour and involve the following stages:

1. Anatomical Assessment - The foot is one of many links in the biomechanical kinetic chain. That is to say, complex movements in the joints of the foot influence movements further up the leg, including those at the knee, hip, pelvis and lower spine. The Clinician will carry out a number of physical tests looking at skeletal alignment, joint movement and muscle imbalances relating to the symptoms presented.

2. Pressures and Forces - Feet are subjected to constant forces and pressures during movement and it is, therefore, important to determine how they react with the ground during standing, walking and running. Using a ‘Pressure Analysis System’ the Clinician can accurately record and measure these pressures and forces to see what impact they have on the symptoms presented. Tests are performed with and without footwear; this helps the Clinician to determine what impact the footwear may be having on presented symptoms. Footwear is a key factor in the biomechanical kinetic chain, so the Clinician will advise and recommend the most appropriate footwear.

3. Motion - Feet play a key role during motion, they provide balance, shock absorption and propulsion. They also influence movement within the rest of the skeletal system. Everyone has their preferred movement pathway and over time this may be a factor in developing certain conditions. To analyse these pathways, the Clinician will record movement using a high-speed video camera, linked to specially designed computer software that will analyse each step in precise detail.

Once all data has been gathered and examined, the Clinician can determine the overall impact that the person’s foot biomechanics are having on the presented symptoms. If the Clinician concludes that these symptoms can be improved, a set of custom-made ‘Foot Orthotics’ will be prescribed.

Should it be concluded that ‘Foot Orthotics’ are unlikely to improve the presented symptoms, the Clinician will recommend an alternative course of action, such as referral to an Orthopaedic Surgeon or Physiotherapist, for other means of treatment.

• Running shorts and a t-shirt
• Trainers and a pair of your usual daily shoes
• Relevant medical records and reports

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