Biomechanical Foot Evaluation and Custom Orthotics
The foot is a complex structure made up of 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It is required to handle many times your body weight with walking and running, and if part of the foot is moving incorrectly, it can result in pain and limited mobility.
A Physical Therapist will evaluate your individual biomechanics, or the way your body moves. Tightness or weakness in specific areas can cause pain and impaired movement. One way to correct abnormal biomechanics is with the use of custom orthotics. A Physical Therapist will take a plaster cast of your foot and have orthotic inserts made that are tailored to your specific needs.
This orthotic is different from an over-the-counter insert because it is custom fit to your foot, and contains various levels of support in key areas, as determined by your physical therapist, to provide a comfortable fit and correct your biomechanical motion. Examples of problems that respond well to orthotics include: