What to expect in your Footscan gait analysis appointment
If you’ve not had Footscan gait analysis before, you might not quite know what to expect. So we thought we’d take you through the steps in a typical initial assessment appointment – which should take around XX? minutes, and is really straightforward.
Your Footscan gait analysis session at The Lomond Clinic will typically include:
- Initial consultation with one of our physiotherapists or sports rehab team
- Footscan assessment measuring static balance and dynamic movement
- Detailed analysis of your results, with visual reports, by one of our physiotherapists
- Treatment recommendations which may include custom orthoses, physiotherapy, exercises, or a combination of these
- Follow-up assessments to measure improvement
1. Initial consultation
The first thing we’ll do, before we do anything else, is have a chat with you. You’ll have a consultation with one of our physiotherapy and sports rehab team who’ll talk to you about what issues you may have and what results we’re looking for with your Footscan gait analysis.
And after your consultation, the next step is the Footscan assessment.
All of our Physiotherapy and Sports Rehab team is trained in using the Footscan system, so it could be Zena, Sakshi, Craig or Rachael who take you through your assessment. But it will be one of our physiotherapists, Zena or Sakshi, who will analyse your results and recommend next steps.
2. Footscan assessment
When you’re ready for your Footscan, you’ll be asked to take off your shoes and socks to walk on a pressure pad. The pad is on the floor, and connects to the Footscan system. We use a pad (rather than a treadmill) because it’s a more natural surface to move on, so the results tend to be more accurate.
Your stance (as you stand on the pad) and footsteps (as you walk) will display as moving pressure maps on the screen. The colours represent the different measurements taken as you balance and move.
You will be asked to walk up and down a few times so that we can collect enough data to ensure we have a representative sample. And, if we’re looking at running patterns, you may be asked to run, too.
And that’s it. It’s all really straightforward – and completely painless!
3. Detailed analysis of your results
All of the data we collect during your scan is then immediately available to view on the Footscan system.
Your physiotherapist will be able to see in detail how your feet function as you move, and identify any potential issues. The type of thing we’ll be looking for will be asymmetries or abnormalities in your foot pressure, timings and stability – in other words, checking if your weight is evenly distributed across your feet, or if there’s unusual walking patterns. As well as being able to isolate and identify individual movements, we can also look at an average, to look at patterns.
All of that detailed information means we will be able to clearly identify any issues, and recommend a course of action, if needed.
4. Treatment recommendations
It may be that your Footscan gait assessment shows no issues, which is great. Otherwise, your physiotherapist will recommend treatment.
Treatment could include physiotherapy, exercises, orthoses or a combination of these.
One of the particularly exciting benefits of using Footscan is that we can precribe Phits custom-made othotic insoles for you, based on the detailed measurements taken during your Footscan.
About Phits
Phits othoses are light-weight othotic insoles which are custom-made for you.
They’re 3D printed to the shape of your foot, using thousands of measurements taken during your Footscan. Which means they provide tailored support and cushioning exactly where you need it.
Phits orthoses are durable, and can fit in almost any pair of shoes including walking, running, football, golf, cycling and work shoes, as well as ski boots.
5. Follow-up assessments
If you or your physio want to track how you’re progressing with treatment, we can track improvements with a follow up scan.
We can pull up results from a previous scan to compare side-by-side with your most recent scan results. It’s a very powerful way to accurately measure progress, and a great tool for rehab and recovery.
If you haven’t already made your Footscan appointment, book now.
Book an appointment for specialised Footscan gait analysis by calling us on 01436 672677, or make your appointment online.
If you’re interested in gait analysis, you might also be interested in:
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