Biomechanical solutions
Pain slows us down and makes our bodies feel unnatural and awkward. As a result of pain, we adopt abnormal postures and develop adverse compensatory motions in other parts of the body when undertaking normal activities such as walking and running. These compensations often cause injuries in other areas of the body.
We provide Specialist Evidence-Based Biomechanical Profiling in order to determine the cause of your musculoskeletal injuries and factors affecting your performance. We are able to look closely at your posture and movement using sophisticated motion analysis and foot pressure systems, in addition to measuring muscle strength and other parameters.
Geraldine is highly experienced in Clinical Biomechanics and Sports Injury Biomechanics. She lectures widely at a number of Universities on MSc programmes, including musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, Sports Injury Biomechanics, Sports Physiotherapy and Sports Rehabilitation. Both Geraldine and Active VIII's physiotherapists are highly skilled in the biomechanical analysis of normal and abnormal postures, walking and running gait and postural dysfunction.
We provide a specialist evidence-based biomechanical profiling and gait analysis service to determine the cause of your musculoskeletal problems:
- Consultant orthopaedic surgeons frequently ask our opinion when clients have complex problems that have not been resolved with orthodox and complementary therapies and surgery.
- We receive referrals from lead EIS physios and other sports institutions for the biomechanical analysis of Olympic and National sportsmen and women.
- We have analysed many top athletes including Olympic rowers, GB triathletes, GB marathon runners, GB hockey players, GB Skiers, British downhill Mountain bikers, England Students Rugby players and premier division Rugby players. To name but a few.
- Usually, such an analysis requires a full biomechanical assessment, although less detailed analysis can also be undertaken.
Physiotherapy Specialist in Biomechanics
Using sophisticated Biomechanical, Motion analysis and Pressure analysis systems, we can:
- Analyse Posture, Walking gait and Running Styles
- Analyse Sports technique e.g. Rowing, Cycling, Golf, Tennis
- Provide you with a Bespoke report with recommendations for resolving your problem
- Fast track physiotherapy treatment and rehabilitation based upon sound evidence based analysis
- Provide prescription Foot Orthotics or off the shelf insoles
- Provide Footwear (sports, walking) advice
- Provide Orthoses prescription e.g. specialised knee braces
The Assessment
The assessment incorporates the use of highly sophisticated biomechanical analysis systems including:
- Motion analysis software programmes
- RSScan computerised foot scan system
- Electrical studies of muscle activity
- Clinical examination of the joints and soft tissues.
- Evaluation of your footwear
- Evaluation of your sporting technique
For the assessment, you will need to bring shorts (similar to a swimming costume or lycra shorts- not below the knee) a crop top or short tee shirt and your sports and other footwear.
Analysis and Report
The assessment incorporates the use of highly sophisticated biomechanical analysis systems including:
- Motion analysis software programmes
- Electrical studies of muscle activity
- Clinical examination of the joints and soft tissues.
- Evaluation of your footwear
- Evaluation of your sporting technique
- In-Shoe foot pressure analysis
Whether you want to understand your impact forces, push-off forces, ground contact time, etc – we’ve got you covered. This analysis will enable us to improve your running form and performance.
For the assessment, you will need to bring shorts (similar to a swimming costume or lycra shorts- not below the knee) a crop top or short tee shirt and your sports and other footwear.
Treatment
Treatment is usually multi-faceted. It may incorporate for example:
- Prescription of bespoke foot orthotics or simple insoles to place in your shoes
- Physiotherapy treatment and/or rehabilitation based upon the findings of your biomechanical analysis
- Further diagnostic tests where necessary i.e.. diagnostic ultrasound or Cybex Isokinetics or EMG muscle analysis
- Advice on sports technique, sports equipment and footwear
- Prescription of an orthopaedic brace e.g. for the knee or ankle
- Referral to other colleagues for treatment or return to sport rehabilitation programmes.
We treat people from all walks of life, from children through to the elderly and have a particular interest in Olympic, Great Britain and National sportsmen and women and recreational sports enthusiasts. The technology within our Professional digital video analysis software and Biomechanical analysis programme allows us to provide you with:
- An accurate 'top to toe' biomechanical report
- Automatically generated and individualised strategy on strengthening and stretching
- A 'take-away' evaluation from your consultation, which completes the 'loop' between biomechanics, physiotherapy and the specialist footwear technician
- Deliver a bio-mechanical correct shoe recommendation, with the latest names, models and function of performance running and walking shoes, independent from manufacturers or retailers influence
- Researchers have identified that the wrong 'type' of running or training shoe as one of the main contributor to overuse injuries.
- Proper shoe selection should accommodate the individual's biomechanical needs, not just for fit and function but performance too.
Gait Analysis
An abnormal walking or running pattern (gait) can produce a number of problems that prevent you from functioning normally. Gait analysis is the biomechanical examination of how a person walks or runs.
It is often necessary to look carefully at how you walk or run to identify the cause of your :
- acute or overuse injury
- posture-related problem
- movement-related problem
- painful feet, knees, hips or lower back.
Gait analysis and treatment is also commonly used to help sports people run more efficiently
Standard Gait Analysis:
Examination of your Gait (walking or running) and Posture is undertaken as part of our normal physiotherapy assessment of your musculoskeletal problem. This incorporates the following:
- A full medical and social history
- Details on your levels of activity
- Observation of your:
- posture
- walking or running style
- Examination of your joints, muscles and tendons
- A diagnosis and explanation of the problem
- Treatment and Rehabilitation
Bespoke Biomechanical Analysis:
Examination of your Gait (walking or running) and Posture is undertaken as part of our normal physiotherapy assessment of your musculoskeletal problem. This incorporates the following:
- A full medical and social history
- Details on your levels of activity
- Observation of your:
posture
walking or running style
Examination of your joints, muscles and tendons
A diagnosis and explanation of the problem
Treatment and Rehabilitation
Example of How Gait Analysis can help Diagnose the Cause of an Overuse Injury:
Analysis of the Cause of ITB Friction Syndrome in a Marathon Runner:
The video show the pelvis dipping excessivley due to poor gluteal muscle control over the (L) side. This has led to the knee moving into a "valgus" (knock knee position), triggering adverse friction of the outside ITB tendon against the thigh bone - causing pain and inflammation. This problem was resolved with "dynamic" physio-stability (core) exercsie therapy incorporating EMG Biofeedback of muscle activity.
Accreditations
