A biomechanical study of the foot or Podoactive gait is a set of diagnostic tests performed with high precision technology that allows us know and prevent possible pathologies and injuries of the foot, as well as its relationship with other structures such as the knee, hip or spine.
Through this complete analysis it is possible to know the way a patient steps, helping to diagnose or advise to prevent the appearance of muscular and osteoarticular pathologies and injuries as flat feet, cavus feet, Plantar fasciitis, calluses y hardness, blisters, muscle overloads, repetitive sprains, etc.
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In this first contact, in addition to collecting basic data such as weight, height or age, emphasis is placed on the Family history, medications, type of activity carried out, type of footwear that you usually use, discomfort, injuries that you have suffered, etc.
That is, everything that is important for the subsequent study.
First, the patient is supine, that is, lying on his back. In her possible discrepancies are assessed (if your leg is longer than the other), if the dismetria is postural or real, the hip rotationsAs well as joint and muscle balances of the entire lower limb.
The study on the stretcher will be completed in the prone position or lying face down, where the tibial twists and metatarsal adduct.
We continue with the patient in a sitting position, that is, sitting on the stretcher, and we will see the position of your tibia and alignment of the kneecap and foot.
After the examination on a stretcher, the patient will be in a standing position, standing still, where a few static biomechanical tests that will detail some data on the flexibility of the foot. These tests allow us to evaluate aspects such as elasticity, muscle tone, activation of muscle groups, etc. Thanks to these tests, the expert knows how the joints behave.
This part of the study in static is completed in the baropodometric platform or pressure platform, where the patient is studied in a static position (standing) to assess maximum pressure points on the foot, that is, the supports of the right foot and the left foot, the centers of gravity, etc.
The walking patient matches the left foot to the pressure pad and then the right foot. This allows us analyze the feet in motion and obtain data such as maximum pressure, displacement of the center of pressures, rotations, etc.
The study is completed by high-speed video filming. This filming allows us analyze all the movements of the step, as well as its impact on the knee or hip. This part is done in treadmill or track, depending on each Podoactiva clinic.
Imaging systems at 1.200 images per second are used to analyze details that are imperceptible to the human eye, but which can be of great importance for diagnosis.
This system allows us assess gait symmetry or asymmetry with or without templates, the flight and support times of each foot, the performance of the jump test, how long a leg is on the ground and is in the air, etc.
Once the study is done, the expert determines the need for perform a treatment of Podoactiva custom templates to the patient, since they are not prescribed in all cases. Sometimes patients can correct their problems with stretching or strengthening exercises. Also, with all the results obtained, the podiatrist gives the patient a full report
If the custom templates are necessary, the foot is scanned with the high precision 3D Scan Podoactiva system, patented worldwide, with which we obtain a virtual mold of the foot with the optimal patient data.
It consists of an adjustable membrane in tension where the patient steps, the podiatrist places the foot in the correct position and the laser performs a scan with maximum precision.
After carrying out the biomechanical study and the scan of the feet, the patient will receive the custom templates in your usual clinic or Podoactive unit and You will be cited to test them in consultation.
In the childhood stage, many muscle and joint pathologies can be avoided and treated in time by improving the footprint. Prevention is the key.
In adults, it is advisable to go to the podiatrist at least once a year to see if our feet and tread are correct.
When a person begins to practice any type of sport, they should go to check their footprint, since any small defect could cause an injury. Playing sports is very healthy but always taking into account our needs and adapting to the characteristics of the exercise.
If there has been an injury to the lower limbs (feet, knee, hip or ankle), with a complete biomechanical study of the footprint the podiatrist can detect if the injury could be caused by continued poor support, which could be corrected with treatment with custom templates.
“Many patients who visit us in consultation suffer discomfort and pain in other parts of the body (such as knees, hips or spine), which in many cases are usually associated with an incorrect way of stepping. Prevention is the key"
