Author: potterpodiatry

Chloe Potter Podiatrist Sunshine Coast

FOOTSCAN® – Digital Gait & Balance Analysis now available at Potter Podiatry

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Potter Podiatry proudly use the logo_rsscanFOOTSCAN® digital gait & balance analysis platform from RS Scan International.

Footscan® provides evidence-based, industry leading digital gait analysis to optimise assessment & management of lower limb pain, gait disorders & balance problems.

logo_rsscanFootscan® is trusted by elite athletes & sports teams across Europe & globally to optimise performance & minimise injury. Potter Podiatry’s Footscan® has been used in more than 100 published research studies into gait, pain, balance, footwear & orthotic effectiveness in athletes, adults & children, including people with disabilities.

logo_rsscan What is the benefit of FOOTSCAN® Digital Gait Analysis?
The human gait cycle (walking or running pattern) is a highly complex series of movements that occur rapidly & require careful co-ordination & input from many systems of the body.
Digital Gait Analysis using Footscan’s® 8000+ sensors enables Potter Podiatry to identify asymmetry of movements or pressure through the feet, high areas of force (& therefore injury risk), problems with timing of gait (how your weight is transferred through the feet & in relation to the other leg) as well as the effectiveness of interventions such as footwear changes or orthotic use.
Force time comparison barefoot & orthotics2
Footscan enables us to measure the force going through your feet when barefoot & in foot orthoses.  By measuring what slow motion video analysis cannot capture, our patient’s outcomes are optimised
logo_rsscanWho can benefit from Potter Podiatry’s FOOTSCAN@ assessment?
  • Children with disabilities such as ASD who frequently have balance & gait problems
  • Children & Adults with a neurological diagnosis such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Stroke or Cerebral Palsy that affects movement & balance
  • Athletes seeking to reduce/ prevent injuries & optimise performance
  • Children & Adults with persistent foot or lower limb pain
  • People with Neuropathy at risk of foot ulceration
  • People with Diabetes who may be at risk of foot ulceration/ breakdown in areas of high pressure
What does Potter Podiatry’s FOOTSCAN® measure?
  1. Static & dynamic plantar (sole of foot) pressure
  2. Dynamic measurement of gait patterns & symmetry of foot function
  3. Balance/ Centre of Mass between feet & lower limbs (single or double leg, eyes open
  4. Efficacy of orthoses, footwear & exercise programs
  5. Effectiveness of Foot Orthoses including footwear & barefoot comparisons of gait
  6. Loading rate of feet & lower limb
  7. Gait ratios & angles such as in-toeing & out-toeing
  8. Multi-step foot timing (step & stride length, velocity)
  9. Evidence-based injury risk by foot segment

Footscan Balance Analysis

 

logo_rsscan Potter Podiatry’s Functional Movement Screen for injury screening & prevention of athletes (please contact us for further details) 

  • Walking
  • Running
  • Balance (eyes open/ closed)
  • Single leg balance
  • Tandem stand
  • Squats
  • Vertical jumps
  • Golf swing

logo_rsscan FOOTSCAN® FAQs

Where is Footscan® available?

Footscan® assessments are available at Potter Podiatry’s Noosaville & Birtinya rooms as well as for home visit assessments to eligible NDIS participants.

Is Footscan® available for NDIS participants?

Yes, Potter Podiatry use Footscan® for all of our NDIS participants as standard. Digital Gait Analysis along with slow motion video analysis enables us to monitor how participants are progressing towards their aims (such as improved gross motor skills/ balance). It can be particularly helpful when a hands on biomechanical assessment is difficult.

What can I expect?

An initial Biomechanical assessment including Footscan®  with Potter Podiatry involves:

  • Taking a thorough history of your lower limb complaint & injury history
  • X-ray, MRI or ultrasound imaging assessment
  • Assessing non weight bearing alignment, range of motion as well as strength & flexibility
  • Slow motion video gait analysis using Dartfish360®
  • Footscan® analysis of walking gait, running gait (if applicable), balance & squat (where appropriate). This involves moving over & on a 1 metre platform with more than 8000 sensors to measure your movement
  • Analysis & explanation of your Footscan® digital gait & balance analysis
  • Analysis & explanation of your Dartfish® slow motion video gait analysis
  • Management Plan to address the presenting complaint
  • X-ray, ultrasound, MRI referral where appropriate
  • Referral to other Allied Health Providers from our valued local network where appropriate

Do Private Health Funds cover digital gait analysis?

Yes, if you have Podiatry cover under your Extras policy, it is likely you will receive a rebate towards the cost of your assessment. You can check item numbers 004, 115 or 118 with your health fund.

How long does a Footscan® Digital Gait Analysis take?

As AHPRA & APODA registered health professionals, we do not offer Footscan® analysis without a thorough history & assessment. This ensures accurate interpretation of the data by correlating it with the clinical findings of your examination as well as medical history & imaging findings. Initial appointments for biomechanical problems such as a gait disorder or chronic lower limb pain typically last 60 minutes. This ensures all factors relevant to your presenting complaint are identified & a thorough, holistic management plan can be formulated.

NDIS participants who wish to book an Initial Biomechanical assessment (including Footscan® Digital Gait Analysis) are also provided with a detailed 4-10 page report explaining the assessment results, management recommendations & a quote for services where applicable. This is billed at Chloe’s standard hourly rate & in accordance with NDIS guidelines. For further information or to make an enquiry about NDIS funded Footscan® assessment for you, your child or as a support co-ordinator, please contact us at info@potterpodiatry.com.au 

How is Footscan® different to other analysis systems such as those in retail footwear stores?

Potter Podiatry only use evidence-based, industry leading technology. Our Footscan® gait analysis systems are clinical research grade technology. Unlike many gait analysis systems, Footscan® has been used in hundreds of peer-reviewed, published scientific articles* for the assessment of gait, balance & sports. The gait parameters, force/ time information, gait ratios & centre of mass measurements are only available in the Clinical level technology found in Specialist Biomechanical Clinics such as Potter Podiatry. In depth biomechanical data of the lower limb requires interpretation by registered Health Professionals with many years of experience in lower limb pathomechanics, development of postural & motor control & the diagnosis of pathology.

*Links to published articles can be found here: Peer-reviewed, published articles using Footscan®

What should I bring to my Biomechanical assessment & logo_rsscanFootscan® appointment?

  • Any shoes worn regularly, particularly school/ work shoes & those worn for exercise
  • X-ray, MR, CT or Ultrasound reports & films
  • Any orthotics that you wear
  • Shorts & loose fitting clothing

How can I book my logo_rsscanFootscan® assessment?

You can book online for our Noosaville or Birtinya clinics by clicking here or by calling 5628 3020. If you wish to book a home visit for an NDIS participant, please email us at info@potterpodiatry.com.au or speak to our receptionists.

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Colour 3D Printed Custom Orthotics now available!

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Potter Podiatry is committed to constantly updating our Custom Orthotics design & manufacture process to offer World Leading technology local to home.

 

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Working in conjunction with Queensland based 3D Medical Printers & utilising HP Multi Jet Fusion Colour 3D Printers, we now offer any image, pattern or colour printed directly onto your orthotics.

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Great for kids, lightweight & digitally designed by your treating Podiatrist for optimum fit & performance.

Book in to upgrade your orthotics now here

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Shockwave for Heel & Achilles pain now available

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Potter Podiatry use the evidence-based Swiss DolorClast® Method of Radial Shockwave Therapy for Musculoskeletal pathologies including heel pain & achilles tendinopathy. Shockwave is currently only available at our Noosa clinic.

What is Shockwave Therapy?

Shock Waves are movements of extremely high pressure caused by, for example, an explosion, an earthquake or a plane breaking the sound barrier. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is the application of Shock Waves in medicine. A shock wave is a single acoustic pulse characterised by a rapid rise to a high peak pressure followed by a rapid drop to below ambient pressure. They are sent to the affected area from the point of contact on the skin’s surface using the device pictured above.

How does Shockwave Therapy work?

The Swiss DolorClast® Method uses single acoustic pressure waves to treat musculoskeletal pathologies.

The therapeutic effects of shock waves on the musculoskeletal system (pain relief and healing) are based on a multitude of molecular and cellular mechanisms. The short-term effects are depletion of presynaptic substance P in C nerve fibers (resulting in pain relief) & improved blood circulation in the treated area (which is the basis for healing). The long-term effects are blockade of neurogenic inflammation and improved tendon gliding ability (resulting in pain relief) as well as activation of mesenchymal stem cells and new bone formation (both essentially involved in healing).

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It is clinically proven that pressure waves, when applied to injured tissues, stimulate metabolic reactions:

  • Reduction of pain felt by nerve fibers
  • Increase of blood circulation in surrounding soft tissues
  • Beginning of healing process triggered by stem cells activation

What conditions can Shockwave treat?

Heel pain (plantar fasciopathy/ fasciitis), tendinopathies (achilles, patellar), ostheoartritis, non-union fractures & spasticity.

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What is the evidence for the Swiss Dolorclast Method of Shockwave Therapy?

26 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of the Swiss DolorClast method have been published in international peer-review literature.

How many treatments will I need?

Typically 3, though many patients experience considerable pain relief after the 1st treatment.

Does it hurt?

Treatment may be uncomfortable but is not typically painful.

Can anyone get Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy is not suitable for children under 18 (except for Osgood Schlatters disease), patients who take anti-coagulant medication (blood thinners such as Aspirin or Warfarin), patients with blood clotting disorders, local tumours or bacterial infection or anyone treated with local cortisone injections in the previous 6 weeks.

How much is Shockwave Therapy at Potter Podiatry?

Treatment is $145 per session.

For private health insurance, the item numbers are 004 or 014 & 145. Podiatrists are one of the very few health professionals that can bill for Shockwave Therapy as an extra item number. This may mean increased rebates, please check with your Private Health Insurer.

How is Potter Podiatry’s The Swiss DolorClast® Method different to other Shockwave machines?

The superior engineering of the Swiss DolorClast machine delivers guaranteed constant energy delivery. This is essential in order to achieve the excellent patient outcomes noted in the research. The vast majority of research into Shockwave therapy has been performed using the The Swiss DolorClast® Method. It has been the Shockwave machine trusted by elite athletes across the world since the 90s & used at all Olympic Games since 2004.

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How do I book?

Shockwave treatment can be booked online here

References

1 Maier et al., Clin Orthop Relat Res 2003; (406):237–245.
2 In addition, shock waves activate the so-called Aδ nerve fibers (sensory afferent nerve fibers from the periphery) via receptors in the tissue.
According to Melzack and Wall’s gate control theory (Science 1965; 150:971–979) these activated Aδ fibers then suppress the conduction of pain in the second-order neuron of the sensory pathway in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.
3 The release of substance P, CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) and other inflammation mediators from afferent nerve fibers is generally referred to as “neurogenic inflammation” (Richardson and Vasko, J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2002; 302:839–845). It is also linked to the pathogenesis of tendinopathies such as tennis elbow and plantar fasciitis (Roetert et al., Clin Sports Med 1995; 14:47–57; LeMelle et al., Clin Podiatr Med Surg 1990; 7:385–389).Shock wave treatment causes a drop in substance P and CGRP in the tissue (Maier et al., 2003; Takahashi et al., Auton Neurosci 2003; 107:81–84).
4 Shock waves in the treated tissue lead to a stronger expression of growth factors such as BMP (bone morphogenetic protein), eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase), VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) as well as to an activation of stem cells
(Wang CJ, ISMST Newsletter 2006, Vol. 1, Issue 1; Hofmann et al., J Trauma 2008; 65:1402–1410).

Paediatric Gait Clinic

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Podopaediatrics is a specialist area of Podiatry that treats:

  • Foot & lower limb pain
  • Structural alignment problems
  • Gait disorders

A child’s feet are the foundation of their body. A complex network of muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves & blood vessels must work together to enable efficient & pain free transfer of body weight over the feet.
If any of the structures in this rapidly growing network are out of balance, the impact can be felt throughout the entire body. If left untreated in the growing child, foot & leg problems can cause years of avoidable pain & lost activity. This can have long term impacts on the physical activity levels & therefore overall health & wellbeing of your child long beyond the school years.

The development of a healthy gait & posture requires good input from the visual, vestibular & proprioceptive systems.

Poor foot mechanics (such as in Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, flat feet, in-toeing, tip-toeing) can affect the proprioceptive information the brain receives via the feet. This affects muscle activity patterns and can lead to postural & gait adaptations. If left, these can cause lifelong musculoskeletal problems.

Vital stages in gross motor skill & gait development occur before the age of 8. Early assessment is therefore essential. Intervening early, while bones are still rapidly growing, offers the best opportunity to make lasting improvements to a child’s foot & leg health.