Walking (gait) analysis
If you have any of the above pain in your joints, legs or feet, then a biomechanical assessment could be required. At CuraFoot Clinic, our specialists study how your foot functions. By understanding this we aim to preserve and/or improve the function of your feet and how you walk.
The foot is an intricate structure made up of 26 major bones, joints and soft tissue structures. The efficiency with which the foot functions when walking depends on the way in which these bones and joints move in relation to each other. When we walk or run, our feet need to be flexible enough to absorb the shock of hitting the ground. The foot also has to be firm enough not to collapse as the body’s weight moves over it at each and every step. Efficient and pain-free function also depends on the foot’s angle to the leg and to the ground.
Sometimes things can go wrong with how our feet function. This results in foot, ankle, knee, hip and even back pain. Gait Analysis is an important step in understanding the problems.
Common injuries requiring gait analysis are
- Sports injuries
- Running injuries
- Plantar fasciitis
- Neuroma
- Pain in the:
- Shins
- Foot arch
- Legs or muscles
- Knees
- Lower back
- Side of the thigh
- Big toe joint
- Forefoot
- Generalised aches and pains
- Achilles tendon problems.
Features
- Does it hurt to walk or run? Do you have painful toes?
- Do your feet hurt generally all over or in the ball of the foot or the arch area?
- Do your heels hurt first thing in the morning or after resting? Do they feel bruised?
- Do your ankles ache or sprain easily?
- Are your knees sore when you are walking or climbing stairs?
- Do your muscles ache or cramp a lot?
- Do your hips hurt or do you get back pain?
What is a biomechanical examination?
A biomechanical examination involves taking a series of measurements of the feet and legs with the patient standing and lying down, checking joint movements and assessing muscle strength and flexibility. We need to watch how you walk to assess the way in which your feet work.
Once a diagnosis has been reached your podiatrist will discuss the proposed course of treatment, giving options where appropriate. It is possible that a programme of exercises and advice on footwear may be all that is necessary. You may need an orthotic insole in your footwear to improve your walking pattern.
Your first visit
- Book your visit Request an appointment online, call or WhatsApp the clinic. The clinic desk confirms a time with you.
- Assessment A podiatrist (foot doctor) or a doctor asks about your symptoms and examines your feet, and may check how you stand and walk with a foot scan or gait analysis.
- Your treatment plan You leave with a clear plan: treatment, exercises and footwear advice, or custom insoles made from your foot scan.
What to bring: previous prescriptions, X-rays, MRI or lab reports and your list of medicines. Wear the footwear you use most often: it helps with the assessment.
Since 2017 treating feet in Kolkata · Foot & ankle surgeon on our clinical team · 3D scan and pressure mapping for every insole · Four places to see us in Kolkata, Kharagpur and Bhubaneswar
