With our new Specialist MSK Podiatrist - Lucy Collins starting here at Denby Dale Podiatry - we wanted to take some time to make sure all our patients understand how Podiatry & Biomechanics work!

Understanding how your feet, legs and body move

Your feet are the foundation of your body. Every time you stand, walk, run or exercise, your feet work together with your ankles, knees, hips and pelvis to absorb and transfer forces.

Sometimes the way your feet and lower limbs move can contribute to pain, discomfort or injury. This is where Podiatry and Biomechanics can help.

What is Biomechanics?

Biomechanics is the study of how your body moves and how forces are distributed through your feet and lower limbs.

A biomechanical assessment looks at the way your feet, ankles, knees, hips and legs work together during movement. We assess your individual movement patterns rather than simply looking at your feet in isolation.

There is no such thing as a “perfect” way for everybody to move. Our aim is to understand your individual mechanics and determine whether they may be contributing to your symptoms.

What can a biomechanical assessment help with?

Biomechanical assessment can be useful for a wide range of problems, including:

• Heel and arch pain
• Plantar heel pain / plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendon problems
• Shin pain
• Knee pain
• Hip and lower-limb pain
• Recurrent ankle problems
• Forefoot and metatarsal pain
• Bunions and other foot deformities
• Tendon and muscle problems
• Sports and running injuries
• Recurrent injuries
• Pain associated with standing or walking
• Children’s and teenagers’ lower-limb problems
• Problems related to changes in activity or footwear

What happens during an assessment?

Your appointment will begin with a detailed discussion about your symptoms, lifestyle and activities.

We will want to understand:

Where is your pain?

When did it start? What makes it better or worse? Does it affect your daily activities, work, sport or exercise?

What activities do you do?

We may discuss your occupation, walking habits, running, dancing, gym work or other sports.

Your footwear

The shoes you wear can influence how forces are distributed through your feet and legs, so we may ask you to bring along the footwear you regularly use for work, sport or everyday activities.

Clinical assessment

We assess your feet and lower limbs, which may include looking at:

• Joint range of movement
• Muscle strength
• Foot and ankle function
• Alignment
• Lower-limb mechanics
• Balance and stability
• Walking and/or running pattern

Do I need to bring anything?

If your assessment relates to sport or exercise, it can be helpful to bring:

• Your usual sports footwear
• Any specialist footwear you use
• Clothing that allows us to assess your legs and movement comfortably
• Information about your usual training or exercise routine

If you have previously had scans, X-rays, physiotherapy or other relevant assessments, please bring any information you have available.

What happens after the assessment?

Following your assessment, we will explain our findings in a way that is easy to understand.

Your treatment plan will be individual to you and may include one or more of the following:

👣 Footwear advice

Sometimes a simple change in footwear can make a significant difference. We can advise on suitable footwear for your feet, occupation and activities.

🏃 Exercise and rehabilitation

We may recommend specific exercises to improve strength, flexibility, mobility, balance or control.

👟 Foot orthoses

In some cases, foot orthoses may be recommended to alter the way forces are distributed through the foot and lower limb.

Orthoses are not suitable or necessary for everyone. If we feel they may benefit you, we will explain why and discuss the available options with you.

🤝 Working with other professionals

Biomechanical problems can sometimes benefit from a multidisciplinary approach. Where appropriate, we may recommend working alongside physiotherapists, GPs, consultants or other healthcare professionals.

Do orthotics “fix” your feet?

Orthoses are often misunderstood.

They are not designed simply to “correct” your feet or force them into a particular position. Depending on your individual needs, they may be used to help redistribute pressure, modify loading and support your symptoms or activity.

The decision to prescribe orthoses should be based on your assessment, symptoms, goals and lifestyle.

What if I don’t have pain?

You don’t necessarily need to be in pain to benefit from a biomechanical assessment.

Assessment can be particularly useful if you:



• Are returning to sport after an injury
• Have recurrent injuries
• Have changed your activity levels
• Are experiencing changes in how you move
• Want advice about footwear or orthoses
• Are experiencing discomfort during exercise
• Are concerned about your child’s walking, running or lower-limb development

Every patient is different

Two people can have very similar symptoms but completely different causes and movement patterns.

That’s why we don’t take a “one size fits all” approach.

Our goal is to understand you, your body, your activities and your goals, and then provide practical advice and treatment based on your individual needs.

Your feet are the foundation of movement.

If something doesn’t feel right, don’t simply put up with it.

Book a Biomechanical Assessment to find out more about how your feet and lower limbs are functioning and what may help you move more comfortably.