Do you suffer from persistent foot, ankle, knee, hip, or back pain that just won’t go away? The source of your discomfort might not be where you think. The way you walk—your gait—is the foundation of your body’s movement, and even a slight imbalance can cause a chain reaction of pain and dysfunction throughout your entire body. At ECRC Physical Therapy, we understand this connection, which is why we specialize in a comprehensive approach that includes an assessment of your gait including: the Range of Motion (ROM) of your spine, hips, knees, ankles and feet; the strength in your core trunk muscles and the strength in the muscles that support your weight in all major joints of both legs. We will also look at your gait pattern, that is the alignment of your spine and extremities as your feet hit the ground (with and without shoe wear), how each leg supports your weight in mid stride and how well you push off the floor. This assessment will lead to the provision of custom-made orthotics. With two convenient locations in eastern Connecticut, Lisbon and Killingly/Dayville, we’re here to help you get to the root of your pain and walk with confidence again.
What kind of assessment do we provide?
The manner that we perform our gait assessment is educational and focuses on the whole body as sophisticated evaluation of your walking or running pattern. It’s a powerful diagnostic tool that allows our physical therapist to identify abnormalities and adaptive compensations that affect your posture and in how your body moves. Think of it as a blueprint for your body’s biomechanics.
At ECRC Physical Therapy, we use varied orthotic constructions that will meet the needs of our clients/patients. We offer a variety of effective strategies to address gait deviations. For example:
- In Lisbon, we utilize a state-of-the-art pressure-sensitive computerized platform. You simply stand on our Foot Leveler platform that captures precise data on how your feet conform to your weight distribution over the three major arches in your feet. The technology within the platform system provides an incredibly detailed map of your foot’s mechanics, revealing imbalances and areas of excessive pressure..
- In Killingly/Dayville, our therapists use a casting imprint with measurements of your foot position with two methods. This involves taking a non-weight-bearing cast of your feet, which captures their exact shape and arch structure in their natural, uncompensated state. Either of these casting methods provides a perfect mold from which your custom orthotics will be crafted.
The use of varied methods and our detailed assessment will provide the critical data needed to create a truly customized device that addresses your unique needs, from the ground up. By understanding exactly how you walk, we can better identify the abnormalities that affect your gait and possible sources of pain with a targeted solution.
What are Custom Orthotics and How are They Different?
You’ve likely seen or viewed in various informational video outlets, what we call over-the-counter shoe inserts. While these can provide some basic cushioning, they are a one-size-fits-all solution. Custom orthotics, on the other hand, are medical biomechanical devices specifically designed to fit the unique contours of your feet. They are engineered to provide precise support to the three arches of your foot (the medial, lateral, and transverse arches) and balance your foot in a corrective manner in the ankle and foot joints that also impact the alignment of your knees, hips and spine, creating a stable foundation for your entire body.
At ECRC Physical Therapy, we partner with Foot Levelers, a leader in the industry, to create the foot plate assessment system and customized devices. We also use Sole Support, Langer and PAL orthotic systems. Together with Foot Levelers our focus is to affect the entire kinetic chain, not just the feet. Their custom orthotics are designed to address imbalances that can lead to pain in the ankles, knees, hips, and even the lower back.
Who Can Benefit from Gait Assessment and Custom Orthotics?
Anyone experiencing persistent pain or discomfort, especially in the lower body, should consider a gait assessment possible use of customized orthotics. These orthotics can be a game-changer for a variety of common conditions, including:
- Plantar Fasciitis: By providing arch support, orthotics reduce the strain on the plantar fascia, alleviating heel pain.
- Shin Splints: Imbalances in your gait can lead to excessive stress on the lower legs; orthotics can help correct this.
- Knee Pain: Improper foot alignment, like overpronation (feet rolling inward), can cause the knees to turn in, leading to pain. Orthotics correct this alignment.
- Back and Hip Pain: A misaligned foundation can cause a chain reaction of compensations up the spine, leading to chronic back and hip pain.
- Bunions and Hammertoes: By improving foot alignment, orthotics can help prevent the progression of these painful conditions.
- Athletes: From runners to golfers, athletes can use gait assessment and orthotics to improve performance, increase efficiency, and prevent overuse injuries.
Will Insurance Cover Orthotics Physical Therapy?
While the benefits of custom orthotics are undeniable, there is limited financial coverage from insurance companies, and although orthotics have been around for many, many years, coverage and payment for customized orthotics is inadequate for the services and expertise we provide. At both ECRC Physical Therapy locations in Lisbon and Killingly/Dayville, we offer gait assessment and custom orthotics as a cash-based service only. We have kept our charges well below many other providers of similar services so that is accessible to most of our clients/patients. This cash-based service ensures you have direct access to this technology without the complications and limitations of insurance coverage. This allows our therapists to provide the highest quality, most individualized care without being restricted by insurance company policies. We will be transparent about the cost upfront so there are no surprises.
How Do Customized Orthotics Integrate with Physical Therapy Treatment?
Custom orthotics are usually not a standalone solution; they complement and enhance your physical therapy treatment. Here’s how they work together to provide a holistic and lasting recovery:
- A Solid Foundation: Your physical therapy exercises are designed to strengthen and improve the mobility of your muscles and joints. If your body’s foundation—your feet—are misaligned, with either improper shoe wear or collapsing arches, these exercises may not be as effective. Correcting this foundational issue, allows the rest of your body to move in a more efficient and effective manner which may reduce pain.
- Reinforcing Gains: After a physical therapy session, your body is more aligned and balanced. Wearing custom orthotics helps “hold” this alignment, preventing you from returning to old, problematic movement patterns. This reinforces the gains you make in the clinic, leading to faster and more sustainable results.
- Enhanced Support: Unlike a therapy session that lasts an hour, your orthotics work for you all day, every day while you are weight bearing. Every time you stand, walk, or run, they are providing continuous support and correction, helping to alleviate pain and improve function.
- Prevention: For many patients, orthotics aren’t just about treating current pain; they are about preventing future problems. By correcting biomechanical imbalances now, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing chronic pain or injuries down the road.
At ECRC Physical Therapy, our licensed therapists are experts in both manual therapy and biomechanics. We use our hands-on skills to address soft tissue and joint restrictions, then we use gait assessment and custom orthotics to provide the long-term, structural support your body needs. This combination of manual therapy and custom orthotics is the key to a truly comprehensive and effective recovery.
Ready to get to the root of your pain? Find out if your gait is the culprit.
Whether you’re looking for expert gait assessment, or custom orthotics, ECRC Physical Therapy is here to help you stand taller, move better, and live with less pain.
Book Your Gait Assessment and Customized Orthotics Appointment Today!
ECRC Physical Therapy – Lisbon, CT [Phone: 860-376-2564]
ECRC Physical Therapy – Killingly/Dayville, CT [Phone: 860-779-0150]
