Understand How Your Feet and Lower Limbs Function
A foot and gait assessment provides a detailed look at how your feet, ankles, and lower limbs function during standing and movement. By assessing your foot mechanics, gait patterns, and lower-limb biomechanics, we can help you better understand how your body moves and identify areas that may benefit from further attention.
At On The Ball Orthotics, our foot and gait assessments are designed to provide you with clear, practical information about your individual biomechanics. Your assessment may include an evaluation of your walking pattern, foot function, footwear, and existing custom foot orthotics when appropriate.
Depending on your needs, you can choose between a focused 30-minute Express Foot & Gait Assessment or a more comprehensive 60-minute Comprehensive Foot & Gait Assessment, which includes video gait analysis.
What Is a Foot & Gait Assessment?
Your feet play an important role in how your body moves. The way your feet contact the ground and move through each step can provide valuable information about your overall lower-limb mechanics.
A foot and gait assessment looks at how your feet and lower limbs function during movement. The assessment may consider factors such as foot position, movement patterns, gait mechanics, footwear, and the way your lower limbs work together.
The goal is to help you understand your individual biomechanics and, when appropriate, determine whether changes to footwear or custom foot orthotics may be beneficial.
What We Assess
Depending on the type of assessment selected, your evaluation may include:
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Foot and lower-limb mechanics
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Walking and gait patterns
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Foot position and movement
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Lower-limb biomechanics
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Footwear and its relationship to your foot function
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Existing custom foot orthotics
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Video gait analysis
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Potential leg length differences
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Other biomechanical factors relevant to your concerns
Your findings will be explained clearly so you can better understand how your feet and lower limbs are functioning.
Choose Your Foot & Gait Assessment
We offer two assessment options depending on how much time and detail you are looking for.
Express Foot & Gait Assessment — 30 Minutes
A focused assessment for patients looking for a streamlined evaluation of their foot and gait mechanics.
This appointment may be appropriate if you have previously used custom foot orthotics, are looking for a focused assessment of your biomechanics, or want a professional explanation of how your feet and lower limbs are functioning.
The assessment includes:
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Evaluation of foot and lower-limb mechanics
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Assessment of gait patterns
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Identification and explanation of key biomechanical findings
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Footwear recommendations when appropriate
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Discussion of custom foot orthotics when appropriate
30 minutes
Comprehensive Foot & Gait Assessment — 60 Minutes
A detailed assessment for patients who want a more thorough understanding of their foot and lower-limb biomechanics.
This appointment may be appropriate if you are looking for an in-depth assessment, would like video gait analysis, suspect a leg length difference, or have more complex or changing biomechanical concerns.
The assessment includes:
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Comprehensive evaluation of foot and lower-limb mechanics
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Detailed gait assessment
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Video gait analysis
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Consideration of potential leg length differences
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Detailed explanation of your assessment findings
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Footwear recommendations when appropriate
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Discussion of custom foot orthotics when appropriate
60 minutes
[BOOK COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT]
Which Foot & Gait Assessment Is Right for Me?
If you’re unsure which appointment to choose, consider what you are hoping to get from your assessment.
The Express Foot & Gait Assessment is designed for a focused evaluation and discussion of your biomechanics. It may be a good fit if you have previously used custom foot orthotics or are looking for a streamlined assessment.
The Comprehensive Foot & Gait Assessment allows more time for a detailed evaluation and includes video gait analysis. It may be more appropriate if you have complex or changing biomechanical concerns, suspect a leg length difference, or would like a more in-depth assessment.
If you’re still unsure which assessment is appropriate, contact us and we can help you determine which appointment best fits your needs.
What to Expect During Your Assessment
Your appointment begins with a detailed history to understand your concerns and goals, followed by an assessment of your feet and lower-limb mechanics tailored to your individual needs.
We will look at relevant aspects of your biomechanics and gait, explain the important findings, and answer your questions. For the Comprehensive Foot & Gait Assessment, video gait analysis can provide an additional way to examine your walking mechanics.
Where appropriate, we may also discuss footwear and custom foot orthotics based on the findings of your assessment.
Our goal is to give you a better understanding of your foot and gait mechanics and provide practical recommendations specific to you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Foot & Gait Assessments
What is a foot and gait assessment?
A foot and gait assessment evaluates how your feet and lower limbs function during standing and movement. It looks at factors such as foot mechanics, walking patterns, and lower-limb biomechanics to help identify relevant findings and provide recommendations based on your individual needs.
Do I need a foot and gait assessment before getting custom foot orthotics?
A foot and gait assessment is an important part of determining whether custom foot orthotics may be appropriate for you. The assessment allows us to evaluate your foot and lower-limb mechanics and better understand your individual needs, including your pain, symptoms, or condition. These findings help guide how your custom foot orthotics are designed, including which features and modifications may be most appropriate for your feet and your specific needs. Your assessment may also include recommendations regarding footwear or other factors that may support your foot and lower-limb function.
What is the difference between the 30-minute and 60-minute assessments?
The 30-minute Express Foot & Gait Assessment provides a focused evaluation of your foot and gait mechanics and is designed for patients looking for a streamlined assessment.
The 60-minute Comprehensive Foot & Gait Assessment provides more time for a detailed biomechanical evaluation and includes video gait analysis. It may be more appropriate for patients with complex or changing biomechanical concerns, or those who would like a more in-depth assessment.
What is video gait analysis?
Video gait analysis involves recording and reviewing your walking or movement patterns. It can provide additional information about how your feet and lower limbs move during gait and is included as part of the Comprehensive Foot & Gait Assessment.
Can a foot and gait assessment identify a leg length difference?
A comprehensive assessment can consider factors that may suggest a difference in leg length or lower-limb mechanics. If you suspect you have a leg length difference, the 60-minute Comprehensive Foot & Gait Assessment provides additional time for a more detailed evaluation.
What should I wear to my foot and gait assessment?
Wear comfortable clothing that allows your legs and feet to be easily assessed and allows you to walk naturally. Bring the footwear you regularly wear, particularly shoes you use for work, exercise, or other activities relevant to your concerns.
If you currently use custom foot orthotics, bring those with you to your appointment as well.
Will I need custom foot orthotics after my assessment?
Not necessarily. Custom foot orthotics are recommended when appropriate based on your individual assessment findings. Your assessment may instead result in footwear recommendations or other practical guidance regarding your foot and gait mechanics.
How do I know which assessment to book?
If you’re looking for a focused assessment or have previously used custom foot orthotics, the 30-minute Express Foot & Gait Assessment may be suitable.
If you want a more detailed evaluation, video gait analysis, or have more complex or changing biomechanical concerns, the 60-minute Comprehensive Foot & Gait Assessment provides additional assessment time.
If you’re unsure, contact us before booking and we can help you determine which assessment is appropriate.
Book Your Foot & Gait Assessment
Whether you’re looking for a focused assessment or a more detailed biomechanical evaluation, a foot and gait assessment can help you better understand how your feet and lower limbs function.
Choose the assessment that best suits your needs and take the next step toward understanding your biomechanics.