Podiatry

Together with a renowned sports podiatrist, BetterTrained can provide objective, biomechanical information to sports medical practitioners, physiotherapists and coaches from a podiatric perspective. The vast majority of sports and sports training involve running of some kind and a podiatric perspective can help athletes perform at their best and prevent injury.

Through our sports analysis service, we can supplement podiatric expertise with technique analysis and highlight any possible movements that may be contributing to pain or injury in the foot ankle region. The service is entirely mobile, a treadmill is useful on site but not essential.

We work closely with orthopedic footwear company FootLogic Ltd (Bristol) who manufacturer insoles and perform shoe adaptations. Therefore BetterTrained can guarantee that should you or your athlete need any intervention, they get the best treatment and products. We ensure orthoses are correctly inserted and monitored and any changes to existing sports footwear can be professionally carried out.

Our expert podiatrist has been involved in the care of injured athletes and sports men and women for the last 25 years. He obtained a masters degree (M.Sc) in sports injury and therapy. He lectures on this subject and general biomechanics at another leading university and is associated with professional Rugby and Football clubs. Qualified in 1975 from the northern college. He worked in NHS clinical management until 1983 when he moved into private practice. He is also a board member of the American Association of Podiatric Physicians and Surgeons.

The BetterTrained Podiatry service is able to provide a comprehensive podiatric care for you or your athletes. The latest technology is used on site at your training ground to gather the necessary data.

Further Information

The foot is unique in the body due to its position and function. Although most people believe that each foot only takes half your body weight during walking in fact the true figure is about one and half times body weight. In the course of a normal day a person might take between 100 - 10,000 steps. This means that any inefficiency in foot function is multiplied many times over. This is the basis for many foot and lower limb problems. A careful biomechanical examination attempts to pick out these minor imbalances and seeks to correct them by mechanical means. A foot orthoses, although in appearance a piece of moulded plastic, works by increasing the efficiency with which the foot functions. This altered function can affect the whole lower limb, pelvis and back thus improving the body's general posture and ability to function.

As previously stated, Walking creates forces through the feet of about 1 to 2 times body weight. During running it is estimated that these forces can increase to 9 times body weight. These incredible forces are transmitted through the lower limb which ultimately interacts with the ground through the feet. If there is any inefficiency in the system then injury can occur. With each different sport there are various elements that can work for or against the athlete. Altering lower limb and foot function through biomechanical assessment and the use of orthoses and with proper muscle balance the athlete is in a better position to overcome and avoid injury. Orthoses have transformed the treatment of many foot and lower limb problems. Developed over many decades the modern orthoses is a highly developed piece of engineering. In order to obtain the correct prescription a full biomechanical examination is required. The examination allows the podiatrist to exam each joint of the foot and lower limb and assess how they interact. A pair of plaster-of-paris casts are taken with the foot and leg in the optimum position. These 'slipper casts' are sent to the laboratory where they are prepared for the orthotic device to be made. The casts and the prescription provided by the podiatrist allow the laboratory to make the right device for the individual. The type of orthoses is as variable as the patients we see. You can be assured that the orthotic you receive is as individual as you are.

Technology has made vast improvements in the way we can view the forces acting on the feet. At one time practitioners only had their eyes and experience to guide them. Now with the development of pressure plates and computer software the interaction between the foot and the ground can be examined in much more detail.