GaitScan Technology Quickly and Easily Identifies Faulty Foot Function

Problems starting from the ground up

Like the foundation of a house, your feet support the weight of everything above them. When a small problem develops in your feet, compensating with even just a subtle change in the way you walk can cause a chain reaction of adjustments through your body.

These changes will put stress on joints higher up your body with the potential to cause long-term damage to your joints and may result in pain.

But it’s not all just about injury. The biomechanics of our joints can also be affected by the natural positioning of our feet. You may often hear people referring to themselves as ‘flat footed’ or having a ‘high arch.’ Although these are natural positionings that our feet can create, they can still have an adverse affect on the rest of our body.

The impact of poor foot mechanics

The symptoms of poor foot mechanics can include:

• Localised foot pain
• Bunions, hammer toes
• Arch/heel pain
• Leg/knee pain
• Hip or back pain

What are Foot Orthotics?

Foot Orthotics are a specially designed insole that slips comfortably into the bottom of your shoes to help correct your biomechanics whether this be from injury or natural foot positioning. Over time they work at correcting your posture to reduces stress and strain on your body.

Here at Back In Motion we understand that no two shoes are the same. When your daily activities can vary so drastically, we know a one size fits all approach isn’t the greatest option. But not to worry, The Orthotic Group make orthotics that can be worn in a variety of shoes such as high heels, runners, men’s dress shoes, football boots, basketball shoes, safety boots, even ice skates if you need!

The great thing about your custom orthotics is the longer you wear them, the more benefit you will get out of them. Soon you’ll be wondering how you ever wore shoes without them.

Prescription orthotics will help re-balance you from the feet up, reducing pain and discomfort by enhancing your body’s natural movements.

How To Know If You Need Custom Orthotics.

If you have localised pain or a specific injury in your foot that you are aware of, your podiatrist or physio will often recommend custom orthotics.

It becomes slightly trickier to tell that our biomechanics are wrong when there is no specific injury at hand. However, as mentioned before, if you are suffering from pain in your knee, leg, hip or back, the problem could be starting at the ground floor.

Patients who have biomechanical issue with their feet usually suffer from flat feet (also known as Pronated Feet) or high arches (also known as Supinated Feet.) Pronated feet are one of the most common foot abnormalities we see, and orthotics for flat feet a frequent creation.

The best way to fully understand whether or not you need custom orthotics is to have a comprehensive GaitScan™.

What is a GaitScan™?

A GaitScan™ is a painless, in-depth method of assessing the “gait cycle” of your feet.

This means every movement you make from your foot is on the ground, through to when it rises into the air during a step and returns to the ground afterwards is analysed. It measures your timing sequences, maps your foot pressure and provides an in-depth visual report that you can take home.

The scan is digital and dynamic – meaning you walk over a force plate which allows your physiotherapist to analyse your foot mechanics. Over a million points of data are recorded, even up to your knee flex. GaitScan™ tracks minor flaws in your biomechanics and sheds light on issues that if left untreated, could develop into painful conditions over time.

Conclusion

Using GaitScan™, your Back In Motion physiotherapist can then determine whether faulty foot function is causing you discomfort and whether custom orthotics will benefit you. If so, the results of your assessment are used to create custom orthotics moulded and manufactured specifically for your needs.

Having a GaitScan™ is easy and painless and can save your from long term pain and discomfort with your feet and other joints in your body. 

For more information on whether you could benefit from custom orthotics, contact your nearest Back In Motion practice today!

Justin Mistry - Physiotherapist and Director, Back In Motion Bundall

Practice Director and proud new Dad, Justin graduated from Griffith University in 2008 with his Masters of Physiotherapy. He launched Back In Motion Bundall in 2012 after owning and operating another Back In Motion practice. Justin was raised in Sydney, his father a General Medical Practitioner and he spent one year studying abroad in San Francisco. He is a regular on Gold Coast radio, writes articles for health magazines and lectures nationally to Universities and Personal Training schools. He further provides information seminars to local businesses wishing to reduce the risk of injuries at their workplace. 

Justin has many areas of specialty including the treatment of BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) and the use of Clinical Exercise and Whole Body Vibration Therapy to ensure a complete rehabilitation. Sports strains and sprains, lower back and neck pain, postural dysfunction and ergonomics (work environment) and management of chronic pain are other specialities.