A biomechanical assessment looks at how your feet, ankles and lower limbs function together during standing and movement. At Vancouver Orthotic Clinics, biomechanical assessment may be included as part of a comprehensive custom orthotic assessment to help identify factors that may be contributing to foot and lower-limb discomfort.
The assessment may be combined with 3D digital foot scanning, gait analysis, a review of your footwear and clinical examination. Together, these findings help us better understand your individual foot mechanics and determine whether custom orthotics may be appropriate for your needs.
What Is a Biomechanical Assessment?
A biomechanical assessment is an evaluation of how the feet and lower limbs are structured and how they function together. Rather than looking only at the location of pain, the assessment considers factors that may influence the way you stand, walk and move.
During the assessment, we may examine foot posture, arch characteristics, joint movement, alignment, weight distribution and the relationship between the feet, ankles, knees and lower limbs. Your symptoms, health history, footwear and activity level are also considered.
At Vancouver Orthotic Clinics, biomechanical findings are interpreted together with other assessment information rather than being used as a stand-alone diagnosis. This helps provide a more complete picture of your individual foot mechanics and orthotic needs.
What Does a Biomechanical Assessment Evaluate?
A biomechanical assessment may evaluate several aspects of foot and lower-limb function. The specific components depend on your symptoms, history and individual needs.
The assessment may include observation of foot posture and arch characteristics, pronation and supination, joint mobility, alignment, weight distribution and differences between the left and right sides. We may also consider how the feet, ankles, knees and lower limbs interact during standing and movement.
These findings can help identify biomechanical patterns that may be relevant to symptoms such as plantar fasciitis, heel pain, arch discomfort, flat feet, ankle pain, knee discomfort and other lower-limb concerns.
Biomechanical Assessment and Custom Orthotics
A biomechanical assessment can provide useful information when determining whether custom orthotics may be appropriate. By evaluating foot structure, alignment and lower-limb mechanics, we can identify findings that may be relevant to your symptoms and orthotic needs.
When custom orthotics are recommended, biomechanical findings can be considered alongside your 3D foot scan, gait analysis, symptoms, footwear and activity requirements. Together, this information helps guide an individualized orthotic prescription rather than relying on foot shape or a scan alone.
Depending on your individual needs, the orthotic prescription may consider factors related to support, cushioning, pressure distribution, foot positioning and the type of footwear in which the orthotics will be worn.
Custom orthotics are not necessary for every biomechanical variation or every person experiencing foot pain. The purpose of the assessment is to understand your individual situation and determine which recommendations may be appropriate.
Biomechanical Assessment, Gait Analysis & 3D Foot Scanning
A biomechanical assessment, gait analysis and 3D foot scan provide different but complementary information about your feet and lower limbs. The biomechanical assessment evaluates structure, alignment and joint function, while gait analysis provides information about how you move and a 3D foot scan captures detailed information about the shape and contours of your feet.
Considering these findings together can provide a more complete understanding of your individual foot mechanics than relying on any single assessment method alone.
At Vancouver Orthotic Clinics, this information can be considered alongside your symptoms, health history, footwear and activity requirements when determining whether custom orthotics or other recommendations may be appropriate.
This comprehensive approach allows the assessment to focus on the individual rather than simply treating a scan, foot shape or gait pattern in isolation.
Who May Benefit From a Biomechanical Assessment?
A biomechanical assessment may be useful for people experiencing recurring foot or lower-limb discomfort, particularly when symptoms may be influenced by foot structure, alignment or movement patterns. It may also provide useful information for people being assessed for custom orthotics.
People seeking a biomechanical assessment may be experiencing concerns such as plantar fasciitis, heel pain, flat feet or overpronation, arch pain, bunions, metatarsalgia, Achilles tendon discomfort, ankle pain, knee discomfort or other lower-limb symptoms.
An assessment may also be useful for people who spend long hours standing or walking, participate regularly in sports or exercise, notice unusual or uneven shoe wear, or already wear custom orthotics and would like their biomechanics reassessed.
Having pain or a particular foot type does not automatically mean that custom orthotics are required. The purpose of the assessment is to evaluate your individual situation and determine which recommendations may be appropriate.
What Happens During a Biomechanical Assessment?
Your biomechanical assessment begins with a discussion of your symptoms, health history, activities and footwear. Understanding when and where you experience discomfort provides important context for the physical assessment.
We may then evaluate your feet and lower limbs while you are sitting, standing and moving. Depending on your individual needs, this may include examining foot posture, arch characteristics, joint mobility, alignment and differences between the left and right sides.
Gait analysis and 3D digital foot scanning may also be incorporated into your assessment to provide additional information about how your feet function during movement and their individual shape and structure.
The findings are considered together to help determine whether custom orthotics or other recommendations may be appropriate for your individual needs.
Benefits of a Biomechanical Assessment
A biomechanical assessment provides an opportunity to look beyond the location of discomfort and evaluate how the feet and lower limbs function together. This can help identify structural or movement-related findings that may be relevant to your symptoms.
The assessment can also provide useful context when interpreting information from gait analysis and 3D foot scanning. Rather than relying on a single measurement or technology, multiple findings can be considered together to develop a more complete understanding of your individual biomechanics.
For people considering custom orthotics, this information can help guide recommendations based on individual foot mechanics, symptoms, footwear and activity requirements.
The goal is not to identify or “correct” every biomechanical variation. Differences in foot structure and movement are common. The assessment focuses on findings that may be relevant to your comfort, function and individual needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Biomechanical Assessments
Is a biomechanical assessment painful?
No. A biomechanical assessment is non-invasive. It generally involves observing and evaluating your feet and lower limbs while you are sitting, standing and moving.
How long does a biomechanical assessment take?
The biomechanical assessment is one component of your overall orthotic appointment. Time is also spent discussing your symptoms and health history, reviewing footwear and, when appropriate, performing gait analysis and 3D digital foot scanning.
Is a biomechanical assessment the same as gait analysis?
No. They provide different but complementary information. A biomechanical assessment evaluates factors such as foot structure, alignment and joint function, while gait analysis focuses on how your feet and lower limbs function during movement.
Do I need a biomechanical assessment before getting custom orthotics?
A comprehensive assessment is important when determining whether custom orthotics may be appropriate. Biomechanical findings can be considered together with your symptoms, gait analysis, 3D foot scan, footwear and other clinical findings when developing recommendations.
What should I bring to my appointment?
If possible, bring footwear you wear regularly, particularly shoes associated with your work, exercise or symptoms. If you already use custom orthotics or other insoles, bring those as well so they can be reviewed during your assessment.
Book a Biomechanical & Orthotic Assessment in Vancouver
If you are experiencing foot pain, recurring lower-limb discomfort or would like to better understand your foot mechanics, Vancouver Orthotic Clinics offers comprehensive orthotic assessments that include biomechanical evaluation.
Your assessment includes a review of your symptoms and health history, biomechanical assessment, gait analysis and 3D digital foot scanning to help us better understand your individual foot structure and function.
New Patient Orthotic Assessment: $95
Custom orthotics, when recommended, are an additional cost.