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.