Injury Prevention

Rollover an area on the body to read more about how profeet can help prevent injury.

Runners' Knee

Runners' knee is the big one and will affect more runners than any other injury. The knee works with the foot as an active shock absorber. Forces are transmitted about the knee joint as they pass up through the soft tissue, bones and joints. Often the knee is the apex of load. Forces transmitted from the ground to the foot and then the knee are combined with the bodies' weight moving from the hip to the knee. Since the footwear is the link between the body and ground it will contribute significantly to the injury. The areas that are affected are the Patella tendon and behind the knee cap. This is caused by muscle imbalance and offset joint alignment.

1D Analysis
Biomechanical aspects such quick movement to 'foot flat' caused by short calves, shortened stride length, heel height, high shock all cause knee to flex too fast with too much power. Hello knee pain!
2D Custom insole
Will help reduce harmful shock, guide and stabilize the foot.
3D Footwear
Footwear that are either worn out, too stiff, too soft or plan wrong will be working towards knee pain/ injury. The correct shape, function and cushioning is essential in protecting the knee.

Core exercises, quad and hamstring stretching and strengthening exercises. Work with physio, personal trainer.

Medial Knee Pain

The medial knee has a ligament called the Medial Collateral that helps to resist inwards forces. The knee suffers more injury than any other joint because of its ability to only move forward and back acting like a hinge joint. Women have a higher incident of medial knee pain than men due the wider pelvis and angle of thigh.

1D Analysis
We can assess the amount of side to side tracking of the knee joint with reference to hip and foot and ankle alignment. This gives us a feel for how much load is subjected to the inside of the knee and at what point from foot contact to toe off. We find that a lot of knee problems actually occur while the forefoot is weighted and its relationship to knee alignment. We can also assess the function of footwear and its role in either contributing too or preventing the pain/injury.
2D Custom insole
The custom insole with help stabilise the medial arch internally inside the shoe while the shoe itself to stabilise the foot and knee.
3D Footwear
The footwear will be selected to match both support and cushion requirements of the foot and body to ensure sufficient control. Incorrect footwear will be a big cause of medial knee pain.

Flexibility, range of motion, strength and endurance will all impact on optimal biomechanical function.

Medial Shin Splints

Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome [MTSS]) are up there on the Richter scale of painful running type injuries. As the name suggest the shin (tibia) experiences 'splinting' of the bone, Ouch! as the muscle belly tries to detach itself from the bone. You feel pain somewhere along the length of the inside of the shin bone and it can be from mild to excruciatingly painful too touch. One of the main muscles involved is the Posterior Tibialis whose main job is to help decelerate the medial arch as the foot goes to 'foot flat'. If this happens too quickly with too much force in a repetitive action the muscle attachment onto the bone starts to splinter.

1D Analysis
Here we can observe the relationship of how quickly the foot's medial arch collapses and the tracking of the knee. This gives us a feel for how much stress is experienced on the inside of the shin bone.
2D Custom insole
This will help stabilise the arch and reduce the rate at which the arch falls to the ground, in turn reducing the stresses on the inside of the shin.
3D Footwear
If your shoes either limit the amount of foot motion or allow for too much foot roll, this will affect the ability and timing of the muscles and skeleton to reduce shock and attenuate load along the shin area. If your shoes are just plain worn out then shin splints maybe came out to play as a result, so be aware: change shoes after 400miles!!

Plantar Fasciitis

The Plantar Fascia is a thick fibrous elastic band that extends from the front of the heel bone, wrapping around the ball of the foot and attaching onto the end of the toes. It acts like a Windlass Mechanism causing the foot to become a rigid lever whilst also acting as an energy return system and distributing tensile loads under the foot.

Plantar fasciitis happens when the band becomes too stressed and an inflammation occurs near the heel/arch area. It's most painful in the mornings and eases as the fascia becomes more elastic as it heats up during the day.

1D Analysis
Reasons for PFitis include tight calves, excessive foot pronation, poor footwear fit and function. All this is evaluated during the video and footscan.
2D Custom insole
These will help relax, support and guide the foot working with the PF in loading and unloading the timing of the foot.
3D Footwear
Footwear plays a major role in preventing or causing PFitis. If the shoes are too long or too short so the 'forefoot rocker' of the shoe and foot don't match or are too restrictive, this places enormous pulling loads under the arch. If the shoes are too hard or too soft this affects the amount of load taken up by the Plantar Fascia and can also contribute.

Numb Toes and Neuromas

A neuroma is a mass occurring about the nerve sheath of a main nerve as it divides into branches between two toes at the metatarsal heads. It is common in sprinters, dancers and when running uphill in which the majority of time and force is directed onto the forefoot. This is further aggravated by narrow shoes that compress the transverse arch of the foot and prolonged excessive pronation that increases the shearing force through the metatarsal heads. Repetitive and excessive collapse of the metatarsal arch leads to compression and irritation of nerve fibers between the toes.

1D Analysis
Looking at the pressure distribution behind the toes, especially the 2nd and 3rd toe can help identify 'hot spots'.
2D Custom insole
Will help to re-distribute pressure under the whole underside of the foot so it's not isolated just under the ball of the foot.
3D Footwear
if your current shoes are too small or too narrow and the cushion too hard this will all add to numb toes that could lead to a neuroma. The correct fit profile is essential to protect to foot without compressing and bunching the toes together.

Bunions

Bunions are a lump that forms around the side of the big toe joint often referred to as a Hallux Valgus. They are formed by a combination of biomechanical behavior (excessive forefoot roll), congenital (thank your family) and/or ill fitting footwear. The big toe tends to cross over or under the lesser toes.

1D Analysis
We can see how the foot functions and the possible cause of the bunion from a biomechanical perspective.
2D Custom insole
These will help to stabilize and support the foot to reduce excessive rolling in the forefoot and maintain better foot shape and profile inside the footwear.
3D Footwear
One of biggest contributors to bunions. Shoes that are too tight in the toe area will restrict normal toe alignment and flexion. The correct volume, shape, profile and function is key combined with a custom insoles will help accommodate and comfort the foot.

Rollover an area on the body to read more about how profeet can help prevent injury.

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain (LBP) is the number one offender and is caused by either structural (bones) and/or functional (muscles) issues. Muscles imbalance, core weakness, leg length discrepancies, poor posture, foot mechanics, footwear, poor shock attenuation, lack of/too much activity and spine profile/alignment. The pain is either felt on the sides of the spine on directly on the mid spine. It's advisable to consult an expert to get a diagnosis of the background reasons for LBP. See our medical partners link.

1D Analysis
Difference is hip height and foot pressure can reveal some indicators for LBP but get some a full muscular skeletal assessment to ascertain the exact nature LBP.
2D Custom insole
Help to stabilise the foot and attenuate harmful shock waves.
3D Footwear
Shoes that are either too soft, too hard, too supportive, not supportive enough and heel to forefoot gauge (high heels) can all contribute to lower back pain. Correct footwear is essential.

Proper core strength and control is vital in supporting the lower back.

Achilles Tendon

The largest tendon in the body, it attaches the calf to the heel. It is highly elastic but is prone to either rupture or repetitive strain called tendonitis. A short, tight calf muscle can place additional stress on the tendon, common in higher arched feet or excessively mobile and pronated feet. Forefoot strikers seem more prone to this injury due to the time the calf is inactive from foot contact to toe off.

1D Analysis
Identify biomechanical issues that could predispose person to injury such as foot timing, foot type and motion, running style and relationship to injury and current footwear.
2D Custom insole
Help stabilize and guide the foot and slow the rate of foot motion.
3D Footwear
Footwear can be a major contributor to Achilles tendonitis. Shoes that are too soft or too hard or wrong heel counter fit, over-support or under-support will all significantly contribute. The correct shoe maybe the biggest player in getting you back on track.

Proper training, strengthening and stretching exercises will be discussed as part of the package. Poor flexibility and incorrect training such as too much hill work too early will all be addressed.

Lateral Ankle Sprain

The ankle joint is the keystone to lower limb function, stability and shock attenuation. The joint is the articulation between the lower leg bones of the tibia and fibula and the foot via the talus bone, therefore also known as the sub-talar joint and is subject to considerable forces. Commonly known as 'going over' on the ankle causes lateral ankle sprain where the talus effectively tries to part company with the surrounding structure, tearing and rupturing the ligaments around the outside ankle. More common in sports that involve a lot of side to side movement like tennis and football.

1D Analysis
Foot types and motions that are prone to inversion ankle sprains can easily be identified along with the influence of the persons current footwear on those types of feet.
2D Custom insole
Can help maintain better lateral support both on the inside and outside of the feet that stabilise the ankle joint itself help to protect it.
3D Footwear
If a strong motion control shoe is combined with a high arched right foot type then this will significantly increase the chance of rolling over on the ankle joint. Over correct orthotics combined with these shoes lead to inversion ankle sprains and Achilles problems.

Balance training work helps to re-orientate the ankle joint post injury.

Lateral Knee Pain (ITB)

The Iliotibial Band (ITB) is a tough fibrous tendon band that spans from the top of the outside hip down to outside and below the knee joint. It passes over two joints and has a big job to do in stabilizing the twisting and tracking of the knee. The band experiences a lot of rubbing as the knee moves forward and back during exercise. Too much tension in the ITB can be from leg length issues, tight hamstrings, foot mechanics, footwear, and muscle imbalances

1D Analysis
This will pick certain biomechanical issues such as foot motion and the tracking of the knees. The relationship between the person's current footwear and ITB syndrome can be identified.
2D Custom insole
these will help stabilize the foot and knee and help reduce the tension along the band that adds the rubbing and inflammation about the knee.
3D Footwear
The wrong footwear in terms of function can directly influence ITB syndrome often shoes have too much support or not enough which affects the alignment and tracking of the knee and therefore tension in the ITB. The correct footwear is key to reducing the effect of ITB syndrome or reducing the risk of getting it.