services : biomechanics

The Birmingham Foot Clinic offers a comprehensive range of biomechanical therapies. Biomechanical therapies offer a unique conservative treatment modality for many conditions that are exacerbated by malalignment of the foot to the lower limb and / or ground. State of the art biomechanical analysis is the foundation to the expert biomechanical therapies provided at the Birmingham Foot Clinic. Such assessments include digital force plate scanning with computerised analysis, however the assessment process does not rely upon technology alone and always involves a hands on lower limb orthopaedic assessment and gait observation.

The information gained during the assessment which may include scans or impressions of the foot, are used to aid in the design of orthotic devices. Orthotics are to the foot what spectacles are for the eyes. They are devices that when worn reduce the negative effect of malalignment or function. The orthotics used by the Birmingham Foot Clinic are manufactured specially for the clinic with unique design features. These are produced by a our manufacturing partners or our clinic orthotist, dependant on the device required.

Orthotics are most commonly used in the treatment of plantar fasciitis (heel pain) and metatarsalgia (forefoot pain). However they can be used in the treatment of any condition where skeletal alignment is influenced by the interaction between the foot and the ground (e.g knee pain or back pain).

It is often asked by patients is it really worth trying an orthotic'. At the Birmingham Foot Clinic we have a simple policy. If we prescribe an orthotic that does not work, we refund the cost of the device in full; this demonstrates the confidence we have in the therapies we provide.

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