Assessment
Gait and Biomechanical Assessment
A gait and biomechanical assessment at our Forest Hill clinic is a structured look at how you stand, walk and, where it is relevant, run. The point is to understand how your feet and lower limbs are working, how that connects to any pain you are having, and what it means for the activity you want to keep doing. Care is provided by AHPRA registered podiatrists, and no referral is needed to book.
What the assessment looks at
Foot and lower limb problems rarely come down to a single spot. How you load through the foot, ankle, knee and hip all plays a part, so we assess the whole lower limb rather than only the area that hurts. In a typical assessment the podiatrist examines:
- Standing posture and alignment, and how your foot is built and loaded
- Ankle, foot and big toe mobility
- How you walk, and how you run where that is relevant to your goals
- Strength and control through the lower limb, hips and pelvis
- Your current footwear, and whether it suits the activity you are doing
How the assessment works
Every assessment starts with your history, then moves through examination and movement, and finishes with a clear explanation and a plan.
- History. We talk through your symptoms or your goals, your activity, and anything that has changed recently.
- Examination. We assess foot posture, joint mobility and strength through the lower limb.
- Movement. We watch how you stand, walk and, where relevant, run, and how you load at each stage.
- Explanation. We explain what we found in plain terms and how it connects to your pain or your activity.
- Plan. Where a plan is worthwhile, we set out the next steps with you.
Who an assessment helps
An assessment is useful if you:
- Have a recurring foot, ankle or lower limb complaint that keeps coming back
- Are building or changing your running, walking or training
- Keep picking up the same injury and want to understand why
- Want to understand how you move before a problem starts
Many of the people we assess are not in acute pain. They want to load their body sensibly and avoid the setbacks that come from doing too much too soon.
What you leave with
After the assessment you have a clear picture of how your lower limbs are working and what, if anything, is worth addressing. Where a plan is worthwhile it may include loading and footwear advice, targeted strength or mobility work, and custom orthotics where they suit your assessment. We only recommend orthotics or in clinic treatment when the assessment shows they are likely to help, not as a default.
How it fits with your care
A gait and biomechanical assessment often sits at the start of a wider plan. The findings inform how we treat a condition, whether orthotics are worth considering, and how you build back up if you are returning to activity. It is also a core part of our sports and musculoskeletal podiatry.
Related
Where this leads
Related assessments
Questions
Common questions
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed. You can book online or call the clinic.
What should I bring?
Bring the shoes you usually wear or train in, and any orthotics you currently use. If your concern relates to a particular activity, wearing or bringing suitable clothing helps us watch you move.
Will I be given orthotics?
Not automatically. Orthotics are only recommended where the assessment shows they are likely to help, and they are one option among several.
Book a gait and biomechanical assessment
Book online, or call the clinic on (03) 9877 2077. We see patients from across Melbourne's eastern suburbs at our single Forest Hill clinic.
Shop 26/500 Canterbury Rd, Forest Hill VIC 3131