Gait Analysis & Biomechanical Assessment

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The Sportsphysio injury clinic provides gait analysis and biomechanical assessment in Cumbria and South Scotland.

Running SkeletonWe believe that a skilled practitioner is essential when it comes to analysing the foot and its actions. Most problems are not limited to simple pronation or supination of the foot.

A gait problem may lie with other structures of the body and a thorough, skillful assessment of your biomechanics, including foot, lower limb and spine is our standard approach.  For this reason, we prefer to use the term biomechanical assessment, of which gait analysis is only an element.

The outcome of the assessment will let us know where the problem lies. This will open up various treatment pathways, adapting them to find the right combination for you.

  • Some problems can be rectified with manipulation, adjustment and exercise programmes.
  • Core strength training can improve posture, leading to a more efficient gait (walking pattern).
  • Orthotics and specific exercises can be used to correct problems with the foot itself.

Why we are different

The Sportsphysio.com takes great pride in being one of a very few clinics to look comprehensively at the body as a whole, allowing you to obtain your very own “blueprint” of how your body’s biomechanics affect your sport and every day activity.

This profile allows you to understand your posture, technique, range of movement and flexibility.

Advice on how to utilise this and adapt where necessary, reduces unnecessary strain on soft tissues and joints and helps prevent injury.  Your agility, performance and personal best can be greatly improved.

  • Independent – The Sportsphysio gait analysis and video capture systems are our own. We do not tie ourselves to orthotics or footwear manufacturers and as a result feel that we offer a completely unbiased, professional service based on sound science and clinical based evidence.
  • Skill- We have an in depth knowledge of the body’s mechanics and the physical and mathematical processes involved in measuring it’s movement.
  • Open minded – Biomechanical or gait problems can have many causes, not all of which can be solved by orthotics.  Our thorough assessment allows us to determine the best advice or treatment approach for you.
  • Flexible – When orthotics are required, The Sportsphysio practitioners have access to a number of quality suppliers and specialist orthotists, to allow us to achieve your perfect orthoses.
  • Adaptable – We know that every body is different, so we will never use a “one style fits all” approach.  Instead we can help you get the best from what nature has given you, fine tuning each individual.

The Sportsphysio biomechanics assessment

A typical biomechanics assessment at The Sportsphysio clinic will take into account any problems you may be experiencing, your activity and aspirations.  Our comprehensive assessment includes:

  • Full postural analysis
  • Joint and muscle function tests
  • Comprehensive assessment of your foot function
  • Pressure measurement of your active foot
  • Video analysis

Who is biomechanical and gait analysis suitable for?

We work with elite and amateur sportsmen and women to help improve performance and reduce injury risk, but anybody who experiences mechanical back pain, hip, knee, ankle or foot problems can also be greatly helped by analysing the body’s biomechanics and gait.

Buy Securely Online

You can even buy your Biomechanics Assessment voucher online for yourself or possibly to treat a friend for Christmas or their birthday.  Your voucher will be e.mailed to you and all you need to do is call us to arrange your appointment.


Look after your feet

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Make sure you are proud to put your feet on display and help them stay healthy over the summer months.

Woman's sandy feet on beach.

Be proud to show your feet off this summer

Our feet are generally hidden away in socks and footwear but when the sun shines and the beach beckons we need to make sure that our feet look and feel great.

However, all too often we see thickened, yellowing toenails peeping out of shoes and cracked heels flip flopping their way down the street.

A good daily foot care routine will generally keep most of the nasties at bay and keep your tootsies happy, but a bit of professional care can make all the difference.

Think of your visit to a foot health practitioner as an overhaul or MOT for your feet.  Apart from ensuring that nails are trimmed correctly to avoid any ingrown toe nails, they can spot the early signs of nail and skin infections, treating them before major problems arise.

Regular removal of hard skin and callouses not only makes your feet look healthy, but stops pressure and pain from tissue build up, which can lead to problems with walking and posture.

Callouses and corns are also a sign of undue pressure on certain aspects of the foot and if caused by biomechnical problems or ill fitting footwear, your foot health practitioner can advise accordingly.

For Foot Health care in the Carlisle region, Contact FDF footcare on 07886609246

 

 


Centurion Pilates

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Centurian Pilates is owned and run by Annie Duff. Trained in Injury and Special population work, Annie is our first choice for patients who require specialist rehabilitation or one to one pilates tuition.

Annie Duff has been teaching Pilates since 1999.

Gym people in a stretching class

Improves posture, tone and core strength

Originally from a Fitness (Aerobics, Gym Instruction, Personal training) background. She “fell” into Pilates when struggling with knee and back pain.

Certified by Stott Pilates, in Matwork, Annie is one of the few teachers in the Carlisle indeed, cumbria area qualified to teach on all of the large apparatus and have a small studio with two reformers, a Cadillac, chair, and barrels.

She is also a certified Fletcher Towelwork instructor.

Annie teaches Matwork group classes in village halls using the more familiar, regular mat, swiss ball, foam roller and bands, and less familiar, spine corrector (balanced body Pilates arc), Rotational discs, and Fletcher towelwork.

Much of her Pilates teaching was in Abu Dhabi until moving back to the UK, in 2007. In the UAE Annie worked with many of the Sheikha’s (the women of the ruling family), where she would train them in their homes on  their own Pilates equipment. She also had a small studio, where she could teach one to one, and small group

Fletcher Towel work Logo

Certified Fletcher Towelwork instructor

classes. She taught freelance group classes, mixed ability, and advanced at Abu Dhabi Health and Fitness.

Mostly, Annie Duff runs progressive group matwork courses, where a skill is honed and perfected over a matter of weeks, allowing strength and flexibility to develop. She also runs Back care courses, and beginners courses depending on demand.

Annie will shortly be starting a Fusion group drop in class, with a half hour of circuits followed by a half hour of Pilates, to incorporate cardiovascular

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Registered with REPs

(and fat burning) exercise.

The large equipment is suited to one to one/two.  At the beginning of a course of one to one, a posture analysis is done, to help identify areas of the body which need attention. Pilates works by lengthening short muscles and strengthening weak ones. It helps recreate balance within the body, and helps mobilise stiff areas .

Pilates is one of the safest forms of exercise, when performed correctly, and can be helpful in alleviating neck and back pain. It is also useful  in helping rebalance the body from sports such as Golf and Tennis which are very one sided (one directional).  Sports injuries often occur when a part of the body compensates for another that isn’t working correctly.

Age is no barrier.  Annie has worked with teenagers through to eighty plus year olds.

Available in the one to one/ two classes are the use of Cardio equipment such as treadmill, upright bike, and an eliptical trainer for those of you wanting to combine Pilates and Cardiovascular fitness, for general conditioning and toning, or weight loss.

Scotby is 2 miles from Carlisle city centre and located just 2 minutes off junction 43 of the M6 with ample free parking.

Stott Pilates logo

Certified by Stott Pilates

More information

Centurion Pilates website


Penny Ingham

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Whilst therapy and mobilisation can treat injuries and conditions.  Sometimes the help of a specialist Alexander Technique practitioner can be of immense benefit as an adjunct to treatment or to re-educate body posture.

Penny Ingham – The Busy Body (Alexander Technique Teacher)

Penny Ingham trained as an Alexander Technique teacher with Don Burton and has been in private practice since 1988.

She is a member of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique and has been published in its journal. She has a BA in Philosophy and maintains an interest in the subject.

Penny works primarily with individual pupils, many of whom are referred to her by medical practitioners. She also runs courses in the Alexander Technique in Universities and Colleges of Further Education. She trains Alexander Technique teachers as visiting teacher at Cumbria Alexander Training, Kendal.

Penny has taught in Greece and Australia and gives talks and holds workshops nationally.

Penny has a special interest in applying the Alexander Technique to help those with problems arising from their work and has extensive experience as a consultant in the workplace. Another specialism is in working with people in recuperation from surgery and injury.

Visit The Busy Body website


How to Become an Osteopath

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We are often asked how one goes about training to be an Osteopath

By law, anybody using the name Osteopath has to be registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) to practice in the UK.

What is Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a system of diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions.  It works with the structure and function of the body, and is based on the principle that the well-being of an individual depends on the skeleton, muscles, ligaments and connective tissues functioning smoothly together.

Osteopaths work to restore your body to a state of balance, where possible without the use of drugs or surgery.  Osteopaths use touch, physical manipulation, stretching and massage to increase the mobility of joints, to relieve muscle tension, to enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues, and to help your body’s own healing mechanisms.  They may also provide advice on posture and exercise to aid recovery, promote health and prevent symptoms recurring.

All osteopaths in the UK are regulated by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC).

What can Osteopaths treat?

Osteopaths’ patients include; the young, older people, manual workers, office professionals, pregnant women, children and sports people.  Patients seek treatment for a wide variety of conditions, including back pain, repetitive strain injury, changes to posture in pregnancy, postural problems caused by driving or work strain, the pain of arthritis and sports injuries.

Osteopathic Training

Training courses which are recognised by the GOsC, are of degree level and take about four or five years to complete. ( BSc Hons, BOst or BOstMed) or a masters degree (MOst).

Osteopathy courses can be full or part time and there are also courses with accelerated pathways for doctors and physiotherapists.

The Osteopathy degree course includes; anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, nutrition and biomechanics, plus at least 1,000 hours of clinical training.

Recognised Osteopathic Schools

British College of Osteopathic Medicine
The British School of Osteopathy
College of Osteopaths validated by Middlesex University
College of Osteopaths validated by Keele University
European School of Osteopathy
Leeds Metropolitan University
London College of Osteopathic Medicine (qualified medical doctors)
London School of Osteopathy
Oxford Brookes University
Surrey Institute of Osteopathic Medicine


Gait analysis and orthotics

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Specialising in gait analysis and biomechanics, we believe that a skilled practitioner is essential when it comes to analysing the foot and its actions.

Because the gait problem may not lie with the foot itself, a thorough skillful assessment of your biomechanics, including foot, lower limb and back assessment is carried out.

The outcome of the assessment will let us know where the problem lies. This will open up various treatment pathways, adapting them to find the right combination for you.

  • Some problems can be rectified with manipulation, adjustment and exercise programmes
  • Core strength training can alter posture, leading to a more efficient gait (walking pattern).
  • Orthotics and specific exercises can be used to correct problems with the foot itself.

Prescriptive Orthotics

There are many types of orthotics (specially designed shoe inserts) on the market but where pain and dysfunction need to be rectified, the only solution is an orthotic device designed specifically for your foot.

High quality, state of the art manufacturers, offer us the opportunity to control foot posture and modify pressure distribution with the ability to suit most footwear styles.

We supply various type of orthotic, depending on your needs and budget, featuring the latest in EVA and Co-polymer Carbon technology.

More information

Gait and Biomechanical analysis – Find out more about our comprehensive service.


Orthotics & Gait Analysis

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The Sportsphysio injury clinic specialises in gait analysis and biomechanics. Skilled thorough assessment is essential when treating gait problems, with every aspect of biomechanics taken into account from the foot to the spine.

The Foot Problem
As we walk, the foot strikes the ground slightly on the outer side of the heel.  Natural forces encourage the foot to roll inward slightly (pronate) before lifting off using the big toe as a lever. In effect, your foot acts like a spring.

In some feet, this leaning inward (pronation) of the midfoot and heel is excessive and causes strain to the joints and supporting ligaments of the foot.  Painful symptoms in the foot, lower leg and knee may develop with some of the worst cases causing pain in the lower back and loss of core stability. The “spring” effect of the foot is lost.

To prevent this from happening, the heel should remain vertical, the medial arch supported and pressure distributed evenly through the forefoot.

Of course, there are people who place too much pressure on the outside of the foot (Supination).  Although this is not as common, it can also cause foot pain and symptoms such as shin splints.

Many conditions such as heel pain, Metatarsalgia (pain under the toe joints) and Plantar Fasciitis are a sign that something may be wrong with the biomechanics of the foot.

The Solution
Sometimes the problem does not lie with the foot itself, so skillful analysis of your biomechanics, including foot, lower limb and back assessment is carried out.

Manipulation, adjustment and exercise programmes can help to rectify problems with the back or lower limb.

Core strength training can alter posture, leading to a more efficient gait (walking pattern).

Orthotics and specific exercises can be used to correct problems with the foot itself.

Prescriptive Orthotics
There are many types of orthotics (specially designed shoe inserts) on the market but where pain and dysfunction need to be rectified, the only solution is a custom build orthotic designed specifically for your foot.

We use high quality, state of the art materials which offer the opportunity to control foot posture and modify pressure distribution.

Orthotics can generally be custom built within a few days and you will be instructed as to their correct use to allow the body to adjust over a period of time.

Various type of orthotic are available depending on budget, from professionally tailored “ready to wear” right up to bespoke rightstride® D3D and RS devices, featuring the latest in EVA and  Co-polymer Carbon technology.

D3D Orthotics

D3D Sports/Active

D3D Sports/Active

The rightstride® D3D bespoke orthotics are produced in EVA.

This enables us to mix base and top material density creating support and comfort in one superb device.

These versatile devices have been PROVEN to remain effective in the harshest of environments as demonstrated by service men and women all over the world.

Neuropathic diabetic patients who require offloading of pressure also benefit from this unique orthotic with its amazing mix of material density.

RS Orthotics

Rs Marathon runner

Rs Marathon runner

The rightstride® RS bespoke orthotics are made in co-polymer carbon.

Ultra durable, with a blend of functional control and dynamic flexibility resulting in the shell flexing under loading while remaining semi rigid under normal load.

A solution to the most demanding fashion shoe is here in the fashion fit orthotic and rightstride® provide us with huge range of different devices from the classic to the summer and winter Sports activities.

RSscan Lab’s advanced foot scanning systems and foot plates give accurate gait analysis, foot pressure measurement that will help in foot pain treatment.


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