Our equipment

We use sophisticated gait analysis equipment usually only found in Universities routinely as a part of our assessments and diagnosis. This allows us the luxury of analysing your feet like no other podiatry clinic in New Zealand can do. This equipment allows us accurately pin point abnormalities and take the guess work out of your condition or injury.

A video analysis system called Silicon coach software (www.siliconcoach.com) is used routinely. When videoed walking or running, the digital video footage is measured accurately and in slow motion. Using frame by frame analysis we can see if your foot or lower limb movements move beyond what is considered normal. This can be performed in a matter of seconds and the video clip viewed from large LCD screens in each consulting room. You whole footfall from heel contact to toe off can be analysed, thus we can review your footage with you and highlight any problems observed. We can also copy video footage for you and almost always use a pre and post intervention video.

Silicon coach video software in use

RS Scan pressure plate

Sometimes the use of video is not enough to determine the cause of your condition. We also have an RS Scan pressure plate system (www.rsscan.com) that maps areas of high pressure beneath your feet. Using this we can measure areas of excessive load, compare loading through left and right limbs, as well as the loading patterns during foot movement. This is a versatile system where we can often immediately identify the cause of callus formation, joint pain or arthritis, diabetic ulcerations, stress fractures, post surgical outcomes and many more. We also use this system to measure postural sway or balance and can for example evaluate ankle instability in chronic ankle sprains. This is much more discrete than measuring balance by eye. Click on the youtube video links below to see how this system shows pressure differences. Red areas are regions of greatest pressure.

Tekscan mat scan and Tekscan mobile system

Sportsmed podiatry also boasts a “Tekscan Matscan” and “Tekscan mobile” pressure measuring system (www.tekscan.com). The Mat Scan is a more sophisticated version of the RS Scan plate whereas the Mobile system is an “insole” pressure measuring system as opposed to walking barefoot on a pressure plate. Very thin insoles are placed inside your shoes to record pressures while you walk, run, cycle, or just about any activity you wish to perform. As well as measuring foot forces inside your shoes as opposed to barefoot we can also compare the effectiveness of orthotic devices, different running shoes, and under different conditions. We have used this system in measuring children’s gait anomalies, elite runners, diabetics, pre and post surgical patients, and many others. We have even used this on NZ Winter Olympic skiers and snowboarders, NZ cricketers when bowling, and All Blacks when scrummaging. This is a sophisticated system that is found in Universities and the laboratories of athletic shoe companies. Click on the youtube link below to see the video output file for the Tekscan mobile system.

Tekscan mobile system synched with video

The use of this equipment assists us in our clinical decision making and helps diagnose the cause of your pain or condition. More complex assessments take longer to perform as much data is obtained and needs to be interpreted. We will discuss with you the value of a more thorough assessment should we consider this appropriate for your condition.