Gait Analysis & Biomechanical Assessment by a Podiatrist

What is Gait Analysis & Biomechanical Assessment?

Gait analysis is a detailed and systematic approach to understanding the way you walk or run. It evaluates your body's mechanics, including joint motion, muscle strength, and overall movement patterns. Biomechanical assessment, on the other hand, focuses on the alignment of your musculoskeletal system, including your feet, legs, pelvis, and shoulders, and how these alignments influence the way you move.

At Flawless Feet, our gait analysis involves both a musculoskeletal evaluation and video gait analysis. We use advanced technology to study your range of motion, balance, and muscle strength, allowing us to pinpoint the source of your discomfort. Once we've gathered all the necessary data, we create a personalized treatment plan, which may include custom orthotics, footwear advice, and a rehabilitation program designed to relieve pain and optimize your movement.

Who is a Musculoskeletal Assessment For?

A musculoskeletal assessment is suitable for anyone experiencing discomfort or pain related to the lower limbs. It is particularly beneficial for individuals with conditions such as:

• Achilles tendinopathy
• Plantar fasciitis
• Knee pain
• Metatarsalgia (pain in the ball of the foot)
• Bunions
• Arthritis or joint pain
• Symptomatic leg length discrepancies or misalignment
• Diabetic foot issues
• Nail trauma or damage to the feet
• Overuse injuries like stress fractures or shin splints

Even if you're not experiencing pain, a musculoskeletal assessment can help identify subtle imbalances that might cause problems in the future, ensuring you stay healthy and pain-free.

Why is a Musculoskeletal Assessment Important?

A musculoskeletal assessment helps identify underlying issues in your body that may be causing pain or dysfunction. By evaluating the way your body moves and functions under various conditions, we can uncover misalignments, weakness, or overuse problems affecting your joints, muscles, and bones.

The key benefits of a musculoskeletal assessment include:

• Identifying the root causes of pain
• Whether you're suffering from conditions like plantar fasciitis, knee pain, or shin splints, a musculoskeletal assessment helps identify the cause of your discomfort.
• Early detection of imbalances
• Even if you're not experiencing pain, imbalances or minor misalignments could lead to future injuries or discomfort. Early detection helps prevent long-term problems.
• Customised treatment plan
• Based on the findings, we create a personalised treatment plan that may include physical therapy, exercise rehabilitation, custom orthotics, or lifestyle changes to address your unique needs.
• Injury prevention
• By identifying and correcting musculoskeletal issues early on, you can prevent injuries and improve your overall performance, whether you're an athlete or someone with an active lifestyle.
• Better movement efficiency
• A thorough assessment helps improve your body's movement mechanics, making walking, running, and other activities more efficient and less painful.

What Happens During a Gait Analysis?

At Flawless Feet, we offer a detailed gait analysis as part of your biomechanical assessment. Here’s what you can expect:

1.  Musculoskeletal Evaluation

We begin by evaluating your posture, joint motion, muscle strength, and flexibility. Our specialists will observe and measure the range of motion through the joints, checking for any misalignments in the feet, legs, pelvis, and shoulders.

2.  Range of Motion and Muscle Strength Testing

We test the flexibility and strength of the muscles in your lower limbs. Tight or weak muscles can significantly affect your gait and contribute to pain.

3. Video Gait Analysis

We use video gait analysis to obtain the most accurate diagnosis of your walking and running patterns. You’ll walk or run on a treadmill or across a floor while we record and analyze your movement. This allows us to evaluate aspects like contact and flight time, helping us detect any abnormal gait cycles or movement inefficiencies.

4. Foot Posture Index

We use a Foot Posture Index (FPI) to assess the alignment of your feet. This index helps us identify conditions such as flat feet or high arches that may be contributing to your discomfort.

5. Footwear Assessment

Your footwear plays a key role in your movement. We evaluate the shoes you wear most often to ensure they are providing the right support for your unique foot structure. We may recommend specific shoes or custom orthotics to better support your feet and optimize your gait.

Custom Orthotics

If your assessment shows that custom orthotics would help, we’ll prescribe them — custom-made insoles that realign your foot posture to relieve heel, arch, knee and lower back pain. They’re from £350, with additional pairs at £290.

Find out more about custom foot orthotics, or simply ask your podiatrist during your assessment.

The Benefits of Biomechanical Gait Analysis

By incorporating gait analysis into your treatment plan, we can help you:

• Identify the root cause of chronic pain
• Whether you're suffering from heel pain, knee discomfort, or lower back pain, gait analysis helps us determine the underlying biomechanical issues.
  
• Optimize your movement
• Correcting abnormal gait patterns improves your walking and running mechanics, increasing mobility and reducing fatigue.
• Prevent future injuries
• Addressing gait issues early helps avoid long-term joint or muscle damage, reducing the likelihood of further injuries.
  
• Enhance your overall well-being
• By improving foot function and posture, gait analysis and custom orthotics provide a holistic solution to improve your comfort and mobility.

Do You Suffer from Foot, Ankle, Knee, or Lower Back Pain?

If you're experiencing chronic foot, ankle, knee, or lower back pain, gait analysis may be the solution you're looking for. At Flawless Feet, we specialise in identifying the biomechanical causes of your discomfort and creating a personalized treatment plan, including custom orthotics and rehabilitation exercises.

Our gait analysis services are available in Sydenham, Croydon, and Covent Garden, and are provided by experienced podiatrists and chiropodists in London who are committed to helping you achieve pain-free movement.