The study of movement and forces applied to the foot and ankle during walking, running, and other activities.
Anatomy of the Foot and Lower Limb: This topic involves studying the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments found in the foot and lower limb.
Gait Analysis: Gait analysis involves the study of the way a person walks or runs, and aims to identify and correct any abnormalities that may be contributing to pain or dysfunction.
Footwear: Footwear is an important factor in biomechanics, and learning about different types of shoes, their features, and how they can affect gait and foot function is essential to understanding biomechanics.
Orthotics: Orthotics are devices that are used to assist with alignment and support in the foot and lower limb. Understanding their function and how they can be used to improve biomechanics is an important part of learning about podiatric medicine.
Sports Biomechanics: Sports biomechanics involves studying the movement patterns of athletes and how they can be improved to enhance performance and prevent injuries.
Biomechanical Assessment: A biomechanical assessment involves analyzing a person's gait, posture, and movement patterns to identify any abnormalities that may be contributing to pain or dysfunction.
Pathomechanics: Pathomechanics involves studying the mechanical changes that occur in the foot and lower limb when injuries or pathologies are present. Understanding pathomechanics can help with developing appropriate treatment plans.
Balance and Proprioception: Balance and proprioception are important aspects of foot and lower limb function. Learning about how these systems work and how to improve them is essential for effective treatment.
Foot and Ankle Surgery: Foot and ankle surgery is a subset of podiatric medicine that involves treating conditions that require surgical intervention. Understanding surgical procedures and their biomechanical implications is important for podiatrists.
Pediatric Biomechanics: Pediatric biomechanics involves studying the foot and lower limb function in children. Understanding how biomechanics change as a child grows and develops is important for diagnosis and treatment.
Clinical biomechanics: The application of mechanical principles to the human body in a clinical environment. It involves the assessment of foot and lower leg function and the treatment of foot and lower limb disorders.
Athletic biomechanics: A subfield of clinical biomechanics focused on the analysis of athletic performance and the prevention of sports-related injuries.
Gait analysis: The study of human walking and running and the measurement of biomechanical parameters related to gait. Gait analysis is used to diagnose and treat gait abnormalities and to improve athletic performance.
Orthotics: The design and manufacture of custom-made foot and lower limb devices, such as arch supports and braces, to support or correct foot function.
Biomechanics of running: The study of the biomechanics of running, including the analysis of joint and muscle forces, the study of foot-strike patterns, and the effects of footwear on running mechanics.
Biomechanics of the foot: The study of the structure and function of the foot, including the analysis of foot mechanics during standing, walking, and running.
Rehabilitation biomechanics: The application of biomechanical principles to the design and implementation of rehabilitation programs for individuals with foot and lower limb injuries or disorders.
Biomechanics of footwear: The study of the effects of footwear design and materials on foot and lower limb function, including the analysis of shock absorption, stability, and motion control.
Pediatric biomechanics: The study of the biomechanics of children's feet and lower limbs, including the analysis of gait development and the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric foot and lower limb disorders.
Aging biomechanics: The study of the changes in foot and lower limb biomechanics that occur with aging, including the analysis of the effects of age-related changes on gait and balance.
Biomechanics of diabetic foot: The study of the biomechanics of the diabetic foot, including the analysis of alterations in gait, plantar pressure distribution, and foot structure, as well as the prevention and treatment of foot ulcers and other diabetic foot complications.