What is a Biomechanical Assessment?
The Biomechanics Centre is located within The Westoe Practice and is a centre of excellence in the field of Biomechanics. It is run by Dean Glozier BSc Hons Mchs Hpc reg who has over 18 years of experience in Biomechanics, movement, Gait analysis and musculoskeletal Podiatry. Biomechanics involves looking in detail at the body, its alignment and how it functions. A biomechanical assessment is very beneficial if you are experiencing pain in your feet, lower limbs or back but no cause has been established. A biomechanical assessment is the starting point for understanding the cause of your problem, what treatment is needed or whether further investigations are necessary.
Dean and his team provide a multidisciplinary service, combining comprehensive assessment protocols and manual therapy whilst working with advanced video and digital technology to analyse alignment, movement and function. The results speak for themselves - Performance... having helped thousands of people overcome and prevent injury and pain.
Find the root cause of muscle and joint pain
Eliminate pain and discomfort
Improve functional fitness & athletic performance
Identify dangerous weaknesses BEFORE injury occurs
Identify and resolve movement problems
Build lasting fitness instead of temporary ability
Utilizing the very latest technology - Video gait analysis to capture slow motion movements and a digital foot scanner we can record foot pressure data and body function during standing, walking and running. This enables us to determine exactly, the cause of recurrent injuries or pain and develop a treatment plan which will aim to realign the body, removing compensatory patterns so that you can function with optimum performance.
We also carry out a Functional Movement screen as part of our Biomechanical Assessment. The FMS is a ranking and grading system that documents movement patterns that are key to normal function. By screening these patterns, the FMS readily identifies functional limitations and asymmetries.
The Westoe Practice is the only clinic in the North East and one of only a handful in the UK to use a 3d optical laser scanner to capture an exact model of your feet and the many contours, whereby carbon fibre Orthotics -specialised insoles are manufactured using CAD CAM technology.
The realtime interactive foot image displays dimensions and rotating 3D views and is transmitted direct to the lab for the manufacture of accurate, reliable and repeatable orthotics. The Orthotic shell is guaranteed for life.
Designed to fit inside normal footwear Orthotics work by improving foot and leg function and alignment during gait, reducing excessive Pronation or Suppination, supporting and aligning the foot and eliminating abnormal foot biomechanics. Orthotics can be likened to having the tyres balanced on a car, improving foot and leg alignment, reducing injury and pain.
Following a Biomechanical Assessment at the Westoe Practice the Podiatrist will also recommend an individually tailored corrective exercise programme targeting areas of your body which require attention. This will aid your recovery and improve the posture and mechanics of your body - put simply, improving the way we stand, walk and run..
A Typical Session
A Biomechanical Assessment at the Westoe Practice in South Shields will begin with a consultation to understand your concerns. Usually you will be asked to wear shorts or tracksuit bottoms that can be rolled up above the knee. During the assessment the podiatrist will take an in-depth look at your posture looking at muscle strength, flexibility, joint range of motion, movement patterns and foot/leg/pelvic alignment.The examination looks at the whole person, the spine, pelvis, legs and knees, assessing the relationship between them. It is important to examine the body as a whole because pain in one area can be due to a weakness or structural problem in another area.
The next part of the assessement will involve looking at gait (the way we walk) often using a treadmill with video analysis and a compurterised foot pressure scanner. This shows imbalances and exactly how our foot strikes the ground. For example, one foot may overpronate (ankle rolls inwards) whilst the other foot may over suppinate (ankle rolls outwards). Leg length discrepencies, muscle imbalances, faulty movement patterns and issues with core function all contribute towards pain and injury.
With the findings from the assessment the Podiatrist is then able to guide you to the appropriate management plan, using a variety of techniques to bring the body back into balance,
Treatment may include joint mobilization and manipulation, muscle corrections, footwear guidance, corrective exercise and foot Orthotics if required.
The podiatrist will also look at your footwear and discuss if Orthotics (specialized shoe inserts) are needed to improve foot alignment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Why choose us?
A. At The Biomechanics Centre, our reputation speaks for itself. Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Physiotherapists and Manual therapists throughout the North East of England refer to us so we can help their clients when injuries are recurring or pain refuses to go away. We work closely with local running and athletic clubs, and have clinics in South Shields and Durham. Later in 2012 we plan to open in Newcastle. In our clinics we see people of all ages and backgrounds, from young children to the elderly. If you are a walker, a footballer, a golfer, a cyclist or a runner we can help you. If you haven’t yet invested in a Biomechanical Assessment and Gait Analysis, then we recommend you do! Specializing solely in Biomechanics we look at the body as a whole and our aim is to assist you on your journey towards optimum health and fitness.
Q: What are Orthotics?
A: Orthotics are devices that fit inside your footwear, supporting your feet in a neutral position, re-aligning your ankle and legs, the resulting effect being improved gait and posture. Orthotics are used for the treatment and prevention of injuries.
Q: I'm an athlete and run regular half marathons, and suffer with Achilles tendonitis, my Physiotherapist has advised me to see a Podiatrist for a Biomechanical assessment. How would this help?
A: A biomechanical assessment will aim to find the route cause of your Achilles tendonitis looking in detail at foot function and gait, there is nearly always a bio-mechanical dysfunction and once we understand why it is happening we can devise a treatment strategy.
Q. Why do you look at the whole body when the pain is only in my knee?
A. Sometimes injury and pain occurs for no known reason and just wont go away. Or you recover and then along comes another niggle! What if the site of the problem isn't the source of the problem? Then all we are providing are classic band aid solutions where the problem will just keep coming back.
Q: I've had foot surgery will Orthotics help me?
A: It would most certainly be worth having an assessment since supporting the foot and improving its alignment will most likely be beneficial. A large number of foot deformities are a result of biomechanical issues with the feet.
Q: I suffer from reccuring knee problems and Plantar Fasciitis. Do you think Orthotics will help me?
A: A Biomechanical Assessment will aim to find the exact cause of any injuries or pain, and prevents continually treating the symptoms. In an average lifetime a person walks 100,000 miles, the majority of which is spent on hard, flat, unnatural surfaces like concrete. Feet provide the foundations for your entire body and as we walk, run and stand on flat surfaces they are forced repeatedly out of alignment. This creates a strain through the plantar fascia and has a knock on effect throughout the body, particularly the knees, since every movement of your feet affects their position and disturbs the complex body structure above them.
About the Podiatry department
Dean Glozier BSc Hons MCHS HPC Reg is a Podiatrist with over 16 years experience in Biomechanics, Gait Analysis, Injury rehabilitation and prescription Orthotics.
Dean is the owner / director of The Westoe Practice in South Shields, Tyne and Wear and The Biomechanics Centre which is also located at The NIHP in Sacriston, Durham http://www.bodyalignmentcentre.co.uk/ . During his time in practice Dean has assisted thousands to overcome injury and pain and has a special interest in Sports and Muscular Skeletal Podiatry. Along with his colleagues Dean also practices various Neuro Muscular therapies - Bowen Technique, Neurostructural Integration Technique, Emmett Technique and specializes in Foot Manipulation and Mobilization therapy and Podiatric Acupuncture. Dean uses a variety of techniques to bring the body back into balance, his approach is unique and people travel from throughout the North of England to benefit from his expertise.
