Congratulations! You have taken the first step to finding out if your feet are healthy feet.

God designed our feet to walk on the earth. We walk on paved surfaces that are not earth. Therefore our feet suffer. Some suffer worse than others. It is proven that those who exercise suffer less than those who don’t. This does not mean that people who are extremely active, as in the case of a dancer, skater, athlete,  or other type of performer that practices and exercises for hours every day will have healthier feet. This is considered overuse and can cause even more pain issues.

Gait is the way in which we move our whole body from one point to another. Most often, this is done by walking, although we may also run, skip, hop etc. A foot-gait analysis is a method used to assess the way we walk or run to determine if biomechanical abnormalities exist. Only 95% of the public has a bio-mechanically proper gait. A proper gait consists of the foot walking from lateral heel strike to medial toe load with proper tension on the arch. This means that when your heel strikes the floor it does so on the outside of the heel. As you place one foot on the ground and the other foot is in the swing phase getting ready to take another step.  The original foot is pushing or propelling you forward with the heel lifting and the forefoot loading the bodies weight at the Hallux or the 1st metatarsal-phalangeal (or big toe) joint.  Most people load their forefoot more toward the 3rd, 4th, or 5th  metatarsal joints and not the 1st one due to misalignments in the hind foot. This is considered bio-mechanically out of balance.

Gait analysis can determine if you overpronate or oversupinate or have a neutral stance. The subtalar joint is the ankle joint and is responsible for the movement of pronation and supination which are necessary movements for the foot to be able to walk. Bio-mechanical inefficiencies occur when the subtalar joint is either too flexible as in the case of overpronation or not flexible enough as in oversupination. A neutral gait is a healthy foot with strong ligaments, tendons, and muscles; and will pronate and supinate just enough and at the right time for the foot to maintain bio-mechanical effectiveness. This should, if no other deformities are present, maintain proper knee and hip functions as well.

Overpronation is the most common problem attributing to foot, knee, hip, and low back pain.  The outer part of your heel is a large bone mass and is where you should strike the ground with your foot. The 1st metatarsal-phalangeal joint or the big toe joint is the largest joint of the forefoot and also designed to carry weight, therefore this is the joint that should be engaged during the final phase of your step. Balance happens the opposite side from which it starts. So if you strike on your outer heel (where you should) but roll to quickly or too far to the inside of your heel before your foot traverses to the propulsion phase of your gait (as in the case of an overpronator) your forefoot will load into the outer or smaller metatarsals of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and/or 5th metatarsal joints.  This is to be considered bio-mechanically backwards and will lead to conditions like plantar fasciitis, Morton’s Neuroma, hammer and/or claw toes, bunions and other foot deformities, a risk of 5th metatarsal fracture, and general foot, knee, hip, and low back pain if not treated.

Oversupination is less common but can still be a source of foot pain and other joint issues. In the case of oversupination, the heel strikes the ground on the lateral side and does not move inward. The subtalar joint is inflexible so therefore it continues to carry the bodies weight along the outside of the entire foot placing too much stress on the cuboid bone and the smaller 4th and 5th metatarsal bones and joints. As this foot ages it is at extreme risk of 5th metatarsal fracture, as these bones are small and are not designed to carry that much weight throughout life. The bio-mechanical inefficiencies of the oversupinated foot over time may create conditions like hammer toes, tailor’s bunions and other foot deformities, Morton’s Neuroma, repeated ankle sprains and strains, knee, hip, and low back pain. This type of foot is more difficult to treat than the overpronated foot. However if flexible, it will still respond well to a properly guiding custom orthotic like the bio-mechanically designed ezWalker® Performance Insole.

For your FREE FOOT GAIT ANALYSIS simply fill out the form below. You will be responsible for the shipping and handling of your Foot Gait Analysis Kit. As soon as your order is received you will be shipped 2 sheets of pressure stat paper complete with instructions on how to make your foot’s print. Return your prints to The WalkEZstore.com using the original mailing tube and your provided return label, and you will be sent your evaluation report via the method you choose on the form.

If you have further questions you may contact customer service .