Welcome to my blog! My name is Geoff. I have always been a sporty kind of chap. I love to go long distance running and I also play football and rugby. One day after a long run, I had a terrible pain in my foot. I thought I had just been overdoing it a little bit, so I decided to rest up. A week later, it was no better. I was still in a lot of pain and had to drop out of a couple of football matches. My doctor sent me to see a podiatrist who examined my foot and explained I had damaged a ligament. The podiatrist helped me to get back to full health. I decided to start this blog to explain the importance of good foot care.
If you have been diagnosed with a musculoskeletal or neurological disorder, you may notice that your ability to walk is affected. You may find that it is difficult to place one foot in front of the other or to coordinate the placement of your feet. Problems with gait can have a severe impact on your ability to move around and the quality of your life. A podiatrist will be able to help to diagnose and treat gait problems. Below is a guide to everything you need to know about how this is done.
Patient History
The first step a podiatrist will take in diagnosing gait problems is to take a comprehensive patient history. You may be asked about any medical condition you have had in the past or that you are currently living with.
Tests
The podiatrist will then proceed to carry out some tests so they can judge the possible causes and the severity of your gait issue. These tests may include the following:
Observed Walking
You may be asked to walk up and down a room or corridor while the podiatrist watches you. The podiatrist will be looking out for any specific features of your condition such as the type of posture you have when you begin and stop walking and your ability to turn around on the spot. This test may be filmed using a digital video camera so further analysis can be carried out later.
Gait Measurements
The podiatrist will also take a series of measurements which will be related to your gait. These can include the following:
Ability to Balance
The podiatrist will also test your ability to hold your balance. You may be asked to stand up from a sitting position without assistance or to stand on one foot. They may also ask you to assume various poses and positions so that they can check when you can and cannot balance.
Treatment
Once the podiatrist has assessed and diagnosed the problem with your gait, they will then work with you to draw up a treatment plan. The treatments you may be offered include the following:
Exercise
If you need to strengthen muscles within your foot and leg to improve your gait, the podiatrist may recommend that you complete some daily exercises which will help you to build muscle mass in these areas.
Splints and Braces
The podiatrist may also fit you with a foot brace or a leg splint to correct your gait. The splints and braces used by a podiatrist will force you to change your gait as you walk. Over a period this will help to build muscles and will also help you to change how you move. If you would like more info, you should contact a podiatrist today.
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