How Biomechanical Issues Affect Foot Health
Biomechanical issues can impact everything from how our feet feel to the way we walk. There are various factors that can influence our biomechanics, including deformities, genetics, injuries, and more. Because even the most subtle deviations in our gait can affect our quality of life, we at PodiatryCare, PC, and the Heel Pain Center are here to inform you about how podiatrists evaluate their various forms and effects.
Biomechanical Issues
Biomechanical issues refer to problems with the structure or function of the feet and legs that affect our gait and movement. These can include:
Overpronation: Excessive inward rolling of the foot.
Underpronation: Insufficient inward rolling of the foot.
Leg Length Discrepancy: A difference in the length of the legs.
Muscle Imbalances: Weakness or tightness in certain muscles.
Foot Deformities: Such as flat feet, high arches, or bunions.
Biomechanical Impacts on Foot and Ankle Health
These gait abnormalities and biomechanical issues can significantly impact foot and ankle health.
They can contribute to conditions such as plantar fasciitis, which causes heel pain; Achilles tendonitis, leading to pain and inflammation in the Achilles tendon; stress fractures or small cracks in the bones; ankle sprains, where ligaments are stretched or torn; and metatarsalgia, which causes pain and inflammation in the ball of the foot.
Podiatric Assessment of Biomechanical Problems
Podiatrists are trained to identify gait abnormalities and biomechanical issues. They conduct thorough examinations, which may include observing your walking pattern, evaluating your foot structure for any deformities or misalignments, assessing your range of motion and joint flexibility, and analyzing your footwear to determine if it's contributing to the problem.
Treatment options vary depending on the specific issue and may involve custom orthotics, physical therapy to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility, footwear recommendations to promote healthy foot function, and medicine to manage pain or inflammation.
Surgery is often viewed as a last resort option, but it is a possibility if conservative treatment isn’t working.
At PodiatryCare, PC, and the Heel Pain Center, we care for a wide variety of foot and ankle ailments. Dr. Charlotte George, Dr. Matthew Tschudy, Dr. Rebecca Wiesner, Dr. Kristen Winters, Dr. Laura Vander Poel, and the rest of our team are ready to serve our Hartford County patients. To schedule an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.