Why see a Podiatrist for gait analysis?
Lisa Moore • June 2, 2022
Why see a Podiatrist for gait analysis?
Why see a Podiatrist for gait analysis?
I’ve been told my local sports shop does gait analysis when I buy a pair of trainers…
If you’re already injured or experience pain during or after your run, don’t rely on a sales assistant to diagnose the perfect shoe to take away the pain. Unfortunately, despite the genuine good intention from most running sales assistants, the ‘science’ typically used to translate results from their gait analysis into suitable trainer selection is not science, it’s their eyes!
So why should I see a podiatrist who charges me?
Podiatrists have studied the foot, ankle, and leg for 3 years. It is a very complex structure. A problem that occurs at the foot can have an effect on your knee, hip or back. It doesn’t always cause problems immediately; it may take years.
Why should I see a podiatrist?
Good foot health is essential for an active, healthy life. After all, your feet support your entire body, helping to maintain balance, posture, and overall wellbeing. Unfortunately, foot problems are some of the most common health issues people face — and they can lead to other medical conditions.
How can the feet impact other parts of your body?
Foot diseases and disorders can cause mobility issues and impact quality of life. So, it’s important to be aware of some of the ways that a foot condition, injury or illness can affect the health of other parts of your body.
- Back and knee pain may result from a foot disorder, disease, or sports-related foot injury. For instance, conditions such as plantar fasciitis, tendonitis or stress fractures may cause you to adjust your walking pattern to avoid hurting your feet even more. This can affect your posture and balance, putting stress on other parts of your body.
- Joint pain may result from flat feet, a condition in which feet don’t have enough arch to absorb the shock of routine activities like walking, running, and standing. Flat feet put additional pressure on joints.
- Leg pain, stiff legs and muscle weakness in legs can result from foot pain traveling to your legs.
- Poor posture can be the result of imbalance due to foot problems. When feet aren’t aligned with the rest of the body, this can cause you to be off balance, making you more prone to accidental falls and other injuries.
- Skin conditions can result from an athlete’s foot infection that has spread to other areas of the body, such as your hands.
What do your feet say about your health?
There are a number of health conditions that are sometimes first detected in the feet. Pay attention to these foot problems that could indicate a serious condition and should warrant a visit to your doctor.
- Foot cramps may be a sign of dehydration.
- Swollen feet can signal hypertension or diabetes.
- Tingling in feet may be a sign of a pinched nerve somewhere else in the body.
- Cold feet may indicate a thyroid condition.
What does a podiatrist do during the treatment?
- ·Assessment, this involves a detailed physical examination of the lower limb lying/sitting down, standing, walking, and running (if needed). The technology 'Footscan' is a pressure plate that can not only capture data standing on it but provide dynamic data as you walk or run over it giving information that could never be seen by eye. Treadmill and film analysis is also used.
- Take a medical history, seeing a healthcare professional will involve a full medical history, including previous injuries and surgery.
- Time, Time is taken to analyse all the data collected and an individual treatment plan compiled. This may include specific stretching and strengthening exercise, advice on footwear and orthotics if needed.
- Treatment plans, a treatment plan can either address a specific problem or help eliminate pain.
- Detailed clinic notes, these are kept from your assessment and reviewed at each visit. They can also be referred back to in years to come.
Since feet serve an important role in our overall health, it’s a good idea to check your feet regularly, taking note of any issues like bunions, foot injuries, skin infections, signs of foot pain or any of the symptoms above. It’s important to not ignore foot pain, since it could indicate a more serious health condition. If you have any foot health concerns, schedule an appointment with a podiatrist, who can diagnose the issue and recommend the right treatment options.
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The second time in a row Lisa has been announced as a finalist in the Ladies First Health and Wellbeing category at this years awards ceremony which will be held at the Dallas Burston Polo Club on Thursday 13th June. Last year Lisa won the award which was held at Coombe Abbey Hotel. Will Lisa hold the title for the second year?
Join us every 3rd Tuesday of the month for Bev and her Heart Meditation Drumming Circle from 7pm for beginners and 8.15pm for those who have attended at least twice before. Become more connected with your heart and practice the ancient art of heart beat meditation. Unlocking lower stress levels, conscious breathing and a better nights sleep along with an art of drumming. The heart holds the key to unlocking your true potential.  Daf drums, (Frame drums) provided. Join us as we focus on the heart for a £5 - £10 donation to cover expenses and any additional goes to charity. To book your place click HERE .
Our last Mind, Body & Soul event was such a success its back!
Connect mind and body through breath, movement and sweat.
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Whether you’re struggling with the symptoms of everyday stress, or are experiencing a big change in your life that is activating feelings of anxiety, it can have an adverse affect on your emotional and physical wellbeing. When your mind is in turmoil, it can be difficult to figure out how to diffuse the feelings of stress, so why not try taking the focus off the things you can’t control, and instead concentrate on the things you can. At Leamington Therapy and Fitness Centre , we’ve put together this list of our top 8 stress relievers to help you relax.
Where is fascia located in the body? Fascia is a sheath of stringy connective tissue that surrounds every part of your body. It provides support to your muscles, tendons, ligaments, tissues, organs, nerves, joints and bones. Does massage help fascia? Massage therapists can help with a technique called Myofascial Release that uses sustained pressure to loosen and lengthen constricted fascia. Cupping therapy is another technique that stretches and lengthen fascia with the use of vacuum cups. What does fascia massage do? Fascial release therapies are known to increase tissue flexibility and joint mobility. Massage therapists can help with a technique called Myofascial Release that uses sustained pressure to loosen and lengthen constricted fascia. How is myofascial release performed? Using light, manual pressure, your therapist will massage and stretch the trigger point, sometimes holding that point for a few minutes. Your therapist may repeat this process a few times on each trigger point they find, until they feel a full release. What can I expect from myofascial release? Myofascial release can be an intense experience. During a session, a massage therapist will massage, knead and gently stretch the muscles and fascia to work out knots. This bodywork technique also involves applying pressure to the tight or sore areas to get them to relax. What should I expect after a myofascial massage? You may feel tired or relaxed after your myofascial massage, however, most people experience an immediate feeling of relief. Aches and pains are common for for around 24 hours after your treatment as the body flushes the toxins that have been released out. What are the benefits of myofascial release? Myofascial release offers a host of benefits to your health and well-being, including: Reduces soreness and improves tissue recovery. Improves neuromuscular efficiency. Increases blood flow. Maintains normal functional muscular length. Improves joint range of motion. Decreases overall effects of stress on the body. What is the difference between myofascial release and massage? First of all, they each have a different focus. Massage works with soft tissue and the overall system of muscles in the body to relieve stress and tension. Myofascial release works specifically with the connective tissue (fascia) to relieve the tightness that causes muscle restrictions. What does myofascial massage feel like? During a massage treatment, when we stretch this tight tissue you could feel a burning sensation. This is a myofascial release sensation and is generally short lived and quite normal, but not felt by everyone. What happens when fascia is tight? Healthy fascia is smooth and flexible. However, when the body undergoes physical trauma, such as muscle injuries or surgery, the fascia is placed under stress and tightens up, causing muscle pain. What causes fascia pain? Factors that cause fascia to become gummy and crinkle up (called adhesion) include: A lifestyle of limited physical activity (too little movement day after day) Repetitive movement that overworks one part of the body. Trauma such as surgery or injury. What can damage fascia? Accidents, abnormal posture, repetitive movements, overextension injuries, or inactivity can all lead to fascial damage. What does damaged fascia feel like? However, when the fascia is damaged through injury, overuse, or dehydration it often has a domino effect, causing a series of painful symptoms to appear over time. You may experience stiffness, reduced range of motion, and increasing chronic pain. How long does it take for fascia to heal? Most injury to fascia heals within a six to eight weeks period. Occasionally chronic inflammation and pain affect fascia. This may cause problems such as painful movement or fibromyalgia. What makes myofascial pain worse? Myofascial pain may worsen if it is left untreated for a prolonged period of time. Additionally, you may also feel more pain if the trigger point or affected muscle is strained or stretched. What happens if myofascial pain syndrome is left untreated? Untreated, the myofascial pain syndrome leads to a reduced extensibility of the involved muscle with consecutive decrease of the range of motion and development of a muscular imbalance resulting in a disturbance of complex movement and evolution of a chronic pain disease. Should you exercise after myofascial release? Many therapists recommend clients avoid strenuous exercise for at least 24 hours after a bodywork session. Exercising after a session can both increase muscle soreness and compromise the value of the soft-tissue work you've just received. What happens to fascia as we age? As you age, your body produces less and less collagen. This has a dramatic effect on the fascia throughout your body. With less collagen, the fascia starts to dry out and tighten. It becomes restrictive, making it more difficult for the body to move efficiently. Can tight fascia cause nerve pain? As fascia stiffens through adhesion, fascia—rich in nerve endings in and of itself—can entrap surrounding nerves, leading to radiculopathy and a host of painful consequences. Who should avoid myofascial release? Contraindications for MFR include – but are not limited to – those with malignancy, aneurysm, acute rheumatoid arthritis, advanced diabetes, severe osteoporosis, and healing fractures. Your physical therapist can help determine whether or not MFR is an appropriate course of treatment for you. Can you do myofascial release on yourself? SMFR methods do not require the assistance of a physical therapist or fitness professional but can be performed by the individual itself and are considered an effective rehabilitation tool. Can you overdo foam rolling? When it comes to foam rolling, yes, you can overdo it. Excessively using a foam roller on a specific area can increase injuries and leave you in more pain. Instead, limit foam rolling to 30 to 90 seconds per muscle group and include 10 seconds stretching in between each roll.
