Biomechanics

What is a biomechanics assessment?

A biomechanics assessment is a noninvasive, outpatient procedure that evaluates the relationship between the bones, joints, muscles, and nerves in your feet and ankles. If any of these components are misaligned or improperly positioned, it increases your risk of pain and mobility problems.

By undergoing a biomechanics assessment, you can identify the cause of your foot and ankle pain and take steps to prevent it from worsening.

What happens during a biomechanics assessment?

During a biomechanics assessment at North Central Texas Foot & Ankle, you walk on a treadmill that takes real-time three-dimensional scans of your feet and ankles. Your provider uses these scans to check for two things:

Pronation

Pronation causes you to put most of your body weight on the inside of your foot when standing or walking. Because your body weight is unevenly distributed, it causes foot and ankle pain.

Supination

Supination causes you to put more of your body weight on the outside of your foot when standing or walking. This body weight imbalance increases your risk of foot and ankle pain.

Can a biomechanics assessment help diagnose foot and ankle problems?

The North Central Texas Foot & Ankle team uses biomechanics assessments to diagnose various foot and ankle problems, including:

• Ankle sprains
• Heel spurs
• Plantar fasciitis
• Tendonitis
• High arches
• Uneven hips
• Uneven legs

A biomechanics assessment can help diagnose metatarsalgia, a condition that causes pain and inflammation in the ball of the foot.

It can also assist in determining whether custom orthotics may help relieve pain in your feet and ankles and even other parts of your body as everything is connected.

What does a biomechanics assessment involve?

At North Central Texas Foot & Ankle, a biomechanics assessment takes 45-60 minutes.

Your provider reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and completes a podiatry exam. They look at your legs and feet for visible abnormalities and assess your gait (how you walk) and posture.

Next, your provider has you walk and run on a treadmill for several minutes. The treadmill takes three-dimensional scans of your feet, allowing your provider to analyze your gait in greater detail. After identifying the cause of your foot and/or ankle pain, your provider develops a personalized treatment plan.

They could suggest:

• Homeopathic injections
• Sarapin® injections
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Herbal and nutritional medicine
• Custom orthotics

The goal of treatment is to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and restore your mobility.

Call the nearest North Central Texas Foot & Ankle office to schedule a biomechanics assessment, or book your visit online today.