Biomechanical exam for children
Biomechanics: The Study of the mechanical properties of the human body that affect its movements.
What is a biomechanical exam?
A biomechanical exam is a comprehensive assessment of how the body of the child functions while walking. It can be performed as soon as the child begins to walk. Problems such as toe walking, intoeing, outoeing, feet that excessively roll in and flatten out (overpronation) can be identified early and are easiest to treat at the earliest stages of development.
Which children should get a biomechanical exam?
Any child with:
- Family history of foot problems.
- Poor posture.
- Frequent falls.
- Intoeing or pigeon toeing.
- Outoeing
- Excessively flat feet or feet that appear to roll in too much (overpronation).
- Difficulty keeping up with other children during activities: fatigue, not able to run as fast as others, loss of interest in sports and physical activity. Children may often not complain of pain but, instead, avoid activities that lead to pain.
- “Growing pains.”
- Crooked ankles or knees.
- Bunions or hammertoes (crooked toes).
- Athletic children who want to improve their performance and help prevent injuries
- Excessive wear and tear of shoes.
Benefits of a biomechanical exam include:
- Early identification of biomechanical abnormalties.
- Identify the underlying causes of problems instead of treating symptoms.
- Help prevent problems from persisting over time.
- Support the development of a treatment plan based on the underlying biomechanical issues.
Children can encounter different symptoms during their development but underlying mechanical issues do not go away by themselves. They do not “grow out of it.” Such issues can persist and lead to issues in adulthood.
