Holistic Podiatry Specialist

How We Diagnose Your Podiatry Condition

Mainstream podiatrists rely on XRay imaging to diagnose foot conditions. Unfortunately, XRay does not provide much insight into foot mechanics, nerve entrapment and other issues that are most often the cause of foot pain. Consequently, patients end up being underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, and are given generic treatment protocols that do not resolve their problem.

At NYDNRehab, our high resolution diagnostic ultrasound equipment gives us crystal-clear images of the structures of the foot in real time, with the foot in motion. This allows us to visualize how the structures of the foot interact, and to compare the injured foot to its uninjured counterpart. Ultrasound lets us scan long bodies like bones, nerves and muscles along their entire path, in motion, to detect mechanical anomalies that contribute to foot pain and dysfunction.

In addition to ultrasound imaging, we conduct a 3D gait analysis, to measure multiple movement parameters like joint angles, weight distribution, muscle firing patterns and other factors that determine the efficiency of walking and/or running gait. Our high-tech equipment enables us to measure gait in the transverse plane, where most gait injuries occur. With hard data in hand, we are able to establish a baseline and monitor the effectiveness of your treatment plan, to ensure that progress is being made and healing is taking place.

We also conduct a biomechanical analysis of your foot and lower kinetic chain, to observe how your structures interact. We have found that foot pain often arises from mechanical issues farther up the kinetic chain, and pain won’t go away until other issues are addressed.

Avoiding Foot Pain and Dysfunction

Your feet and ankles work overtime to get you from one place to the next, day after day, providing stability for your entire body and sending messages to your brain about your body’s position in space. When you add physical activity into the mix, the force loads absorbed and mediated by your feet reach exponential proportions. Given the magnitude of their function, it’s a wonder your feet don’t hurt more than they do.

There are several things you can do to avoid foot pain:

1. Maintain a healthy weight — excess body fat is deadweight that intensifies the forces that cause foot pain.
2. Exercise regularly — strong muscles throughout your body help to manage force loads during physical activity, diverting them from your feet.
3. Wear supportive shoes that absorb shock. High heels, flimsy sandals, and shoes with flat soles force your feet into unnatural movement patterns that make them work harder.
4. If you’re athletic or physically active, get a gait and/or biomechanical analysis to ensure your feet are not being overworked by faulty movement patterns.