Gait Analysis and Custom Orthotic Insoles at Cheshire Lasers

What is Gait Analysis?

Gait analysis involves the assessment of the way a person moves. It provides valuable insights into a person’s movement patterns and can help diagnose and treat musculoskeletal issues and pains.

Why does this matter?

If you’re feeling pain in your feet, knees, hips, back or even headaches, then how you walk or run could be the reason. Gait analysis helps determine what’s causing the pain so we can plan to make you feel better.

You may have flat feet. Chances are, it impacts your knee alignment; however, it’s not necessarily about your feet. You may have no foot pain, but be unsure of your balance. You might feel hesitant when walking, perhaps worried your knee will give way. Perhaps the back of your pelvis hurts at the gym?

Have you been told that your pelvis was higher on one side? If so, this can throw off your body’s balance and cause issues with walking or running. Gait analysis helps understand how this imbalance affects your movement. Insoles can then be customised to help compensate for this imbalance and improve your overall biomechanics.

Gait analysis helps show you a colour-coded pattern of what happens when you walk to address the root cause of your pain, from headaches to plantar fasciitis and bunions.

Who Performs Gait Analysis and Custom Insole Assessments?

At Cheshire Lasers, Osteopath Ariana Torti of Signature Health performs gait analysis and assessments for insoles.

What Does the Analysis Involve?

The following things are assessed:

How Your Feet Touch the Ground when standing still: We look at how your heel, forefoot, and toes touch the ground.
How Your Feet Touch the Ground when Walking: The pattern may differ when you walk, so we look at the difference in weight distribution between standing still and walking.
How Your Joints Move: We watch how your ankles, knees, and hips bend and move while you’re walking.
Where Your Feet Apply Pressure: We check which parts of your feet feel the most pressure when you take a step.
How steady you walk: We observe the steadiness and direction of travel and how hard your feet and ankles work to stay “on track”.

What Treatment may I need?

After your gait assessment, Ariana may prescribe custom insoles made to measure for each of your feet. These are not adapted, nor chosen out of a few options such as trainers sold in a store. Like your eyes, your insoles will only suit you and will be unique to each of your feet for the purpose that we will have discussed as part of your prescription. For example, practising street dance, walking to the shops, running for a marathon.

Osteopathy and lifestyle changes, such as food habits and exercise routines, will help make a difference. Ariana can advise on all these aspects in a more in-depth consultation (be sure to book a 60-minute appointment). This could even help you save money by minimising the number of treatments you require.

When Might I Need Custom-Made Orthotic Insoles?

Insoles can help with a range of problems here are a few:

Feet Rolling Too Much Inward or Outward: This can cause knee, calf, ankle or foot pain. Insoles can help keep your feet in a better position.
Flat Feet: This can lead to arch, forefoot or heel pain. Personalised insoles give support where needed.
High Arches: Insoles can help cushion your feet and prevent pain in the balls of the feet or stress fractures.
Plantar Fasciitis: When the heel area becomes inflamed and painful. Insoles with arch support and cushioning can ease the pain.
Achilles Tendinitis: If the tendon at the back of your ankle is sore, insoles with extra cushioning in the heel can help reduce the strain.
Knee Pain: Sometimes, how your feet move can cause knee pain. Insoles that correct your foot position can take pressure off your knees.
Hip Pain: Problems with how you walk can also lead to hip pain. Insoles that improve your foot alignment can make your hips feel better.

The gait analysis assesses your needs so Ariana can prescribe individual insoles to suit your needs.

How do I arrange Gait Analysis?

You can book an appointment for a gait assessment or a 60-minute osteopathic consultation, in which Ariana can perform a gait analysis as part of the assessment at no extra cost.

How much is a Gait Analysis?

Gait Analysis is free of charge for patients who have booked a 60-minute Osteopathic Consultation which is: £100

Gait Analysis: New patients: £37 prepaid at the time of booking.

This can be redeemed towards the purchase of custom orthotic insoles.
You will also get £10 off your first osteopathic consultation (£90 instead of £100) should you wish to discuss your health, get a comprehensive musculoskeletal MOT and receive osteopathic and K-Laser treatment.

Gait analysis: Referral from Cheshire Lasers Podiatry: £17 prepaid at the time of booking.

Non-refundable. Can be redeemed towards the purchase of your custom orthotics.

How Much are Custom Orthotic Insoles?

The insoles provided by Ariana are custom orthotic insoles:

Each insole is made bespoke to your individual needs following your gait assessment.

These custom-made, state-of-the-art medical orthotics are made to a high calibre with long-wearing aviation foam.

These orthotics normally retail at £300 – £350.

There are plenty of cheap insoles, and it’s a minefield to choose what is best for you. Ariana is happy to impart her free advice regarding this.

Existing patients or those who have booked an Osteopathy appointment with Ariana:

One pair: £199.
Second pair ordered at the same time for the same patient: £149

The second pair could be a prescription for different shoes or a different purpose, such as running and pottering at home.

Gait analysis patients who have not had an Osteopath Consultation with Ariana:

One pair: £249.

Second pair ordered at the same time: £199.

Please be aware each insole is bespoke to your individual needs following your gait assessment; therefore, once ordered, they can not be returned or refunded.