Tag Archive for 'physiotherapy for ankle'

Gaitscan Gait Analysis- a picture tells a thousand words!

Published on January 31, 2011 in Ankle and Knee, Foot Pain and Gaitscan. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

The average person takes over 8000 steps every day and the feet are a complex system of 52 bones, 66 joints, 214

Gaitscan computerised pressure plate and gait analysis system

ligaments and 38 muscles! The foot is in contact with the ground for about 0.8 of a second when walking and 0.25 of a second while running! That’s alot going on with each and every step! 

When examining and assessing patients with foot, ankle and even knee pain looking at the mechanics of the feet is essential.  BOOST PHYSIO has invested in a GAITSCAN system to better enable us to examine our patients’ gait and walking.

The GAITSCAN system is a sophisiticated pressure plate with over 4000 sensors that is connected to a computer system.  When we perform a GAITSCAN gait analysis our patient walks over the pressure plate which takes over 300 readings every second and feeds this to our computer system generating a very detailed report.  The report shows us and our patient where most pressure is occuring under their feet, if the foot alignment is correct, we can even look  the pressure under each of the toes!

If you are having persistent foot, ankle or even knee pain GAITSCAN analysis will help your physiotherapist to identify the role of faulty mechanics in your feet and ankles.  This can be addressed in a number of ways- often corrective remedial exercises will be prescribed for you.  Call us to book a GAITSCAN appointment now on 020 82017788.  GAITSCAN assessment is discounted to £48 when you pay immediately on the day, otherwise it is charged at our standard rate of £55.  As this is a physiotherapy assessment it is fully covered by most health insurance policies.

In certain cases it may be advisable to invest in a pair of prescription customised orthotics (innersoles) to improve the foot mechanics and to relieve the pain.  Your GAITSCAN data is sent to the GAITSCAN Lab in Canada where the scan data and prescription is used to produce your customised prescription orthotic to help correct and improve your foot function.

So if UGGs are bad, how are Crocs?

Published on February 17, 2010 in Ankle and Knee. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

You may have read about my view that UGG type boots can be bad for your feet and knees, well someone asked me today- what about Crocs? 

How good are Crocs for you

How good are Crocs for you?

 While they score low on style, Crocs actually score very high on being anatomically moulded with correct support being provided for the foot and hence ankle.  Not only this, but the very material that Crocs are made of are excellent for shock absorption and minimizing stresses and strains to the feet and ankles. 

The whole issue about shoes is that they should help to support the structure and mechanics of the foot and of course be comfortable and reduce shock being transmitted through the foot.  Crocs do this well, UGGs do this poorly.  

Looking at the inside of a Croc it is easy to see that it has has a contoured surface with arch support and a good heel cup that nestles your heel bone.  This heel cup and arch support help to maintain the mechanical alignment of the foot, ankle and knee.  In particular they minimise pronation, which is the movement that occurs in the foot when the foot rolls from the outside of the heel to the front of the big toe,  pronation can stress the ankle and knee joints and muscles. 

UGGs are they bad for you?

Could UGG type boots be bad for you?

UGG type boots however support the foot very poorly, they do not provide enough support to the heel bone (calcaneus) and the sole of the shoe does not have sufficient arch support.  For someone who is flat footed these shoes (along with shoes like ballet pumps) can be a big problem as they stress the sole of the foot, can lead to ankle and even knee pain. In children whose feet are still developing and growing particular care must be taken.