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Footscan®
West Hampstead Physiotherapy treats everyone, from elite sports people to the general public, as evidence suggests that up to 80% of people would benefit from a corrective insole (prescription Orthotic). You could live your entire life with no symptoms as a result of your poor foot function or you could live in continual pain!
Long periods of standing, sudden or relatively small, increases in activity or even going for a long walk on a muddy field could trigger pain as a result of your poor foot function. Sports people, putting up to 18 times their body weight and those who put extra weight through their feet, are generally at greater risk of developing symptoms as a result of their poor foot function.
We use the state of the art footscan® technology with an assessment of muscle length and joint integrity. Your dynamic foot function will then be analysed using footscan® foot pressure technology while walking and, if appropriate, running. This is done barefoot and in trainers / shoes. A treatment program is then designed for your specific problem. There are 4 main reasons why people get their foot assessed.
• Pain in the foot, knee, shin, hips or low back associated with standing, walking or running
• Preventative assessment for people who are worried about foot shape, flat arches etc, and are starting a new job, exercise program e.g. marathon, rigby, football, tennis etc
• Reassessment following a long history of foot problems or worn insoles / orthotics. An ‘MOT' for your feet
• People with arthritis or diabetes whose foot position are leaving certain joints at risk
How it works
We take several readings of you walking / running over the plate to get a consistent picture of your normal walking pattern.
The advanced technology then automatically divides the foot into specific regions, allowing force and pressure distribution within these areas to be analysed. The amount of pressure, speed and control of your foot are noted and advanced calculations allows the right orthotic to be prescribed and made to correct an asymmetry or dysfunction. This will in turn allow better shock absorption of the foot to ease pain and aid performance.
Sports physiotherapists specially trained in lower limb and foot biomechanics do the assessment to choose the right orthotic for your body type, sport, muscle length and stability needs. There is evidence that prescribing orthotics without a full lower limb stability and muscle length assessment has in some cases led to more injuries including ruptured calf muscles and Achilles tendonitis problems. Leave it to the professionals.
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