MMI Therapy Staff Completes Biomechanical and Custom Orthotics Training
Has your office ever struggled in treating patients with Plantar Fascitis, Posterior Tib Tendonitis or heel pain? Have you ever wondered if a patient’s poor feet alignment could be a factor in their back, knee or hip pain? Is custom orthotics, off the shelf or a change of shoe the proper recommendation?
Static and functional dynamic evaluation techniques can help to sort these questions out. The physician staff at the Mid-Maryland Musculoskeletal Institute (MMI) division of The Centers, supports a team approach in returning their patients to optimum function. Whether this is returning the hand, upper extremity trauma patient or the lower extremity patient to full function. MMI therapists specialized in upper extremity, back or lower extremity use their continued knowledge to optimize recovery.
MMI foot and ankle specialist, Damian Roussel, DPM, frequently refers patients to our therapists with lower extremity knowledge base of biomechanics. Evidence based approaches provide a thorough approach to foot and ankle education as it integrates assessments across areas of specialists including physical therapy and pedorthics. This can include joint mobility, flexibility, and functional strengthening activities. Foot orthotics and specific shoe recommendations are frequently ordered.
Pain management and sports medicine will recommend biomechanical evaluation by a trained eye to better understand mechanical faults that may be limiting ones ability to walk or run. A proper biomechanical alignment assessment is the starting place for the physical therapists that treat these patients. Clinicians who deal with foot and ankle rehabilitation and custom orthotic intervention need a firm foundation on osteokinetics (physiological motions) and arthrokinematics (the component or accessory motions and manual joint play of the lower extremity joints). When structural deformities of the ankle and foot exist the compensatory motion of the ankle’s sub-taylor joint interferes with the foot’s ability to walk, run or jump.
To remain viable in this current arena of healthcare and reimbursement, our skill levels need to be optimized and continuously improved. Recently, the therapy staff at MMI Hagerstown furthered their skills in biomechanic evaluations and the manufacturing of orthotics. Structural deformities were studied and specific angles of orientation and measurements were outlined to enhance the effectiveness of shoe inserts while maximizing reimbursement.
MMI Hagerstown Therapy is pleased to offer specific biomechanical evaluations for foot, ankle, knee, hip, and low back patients. This is a sound starting place for impaired functional outcomes for many of the dysfunctions or impairments one may see in the orthopaedic office.