Your doctor will be trying to make that correlation. The muscle testing portion of the examination is performed in order to determine muscle groups which may be excessively weak or tight and to determine their part in the overall cause of the injury, symptoms, or biomechanical problem. X-ray evaluation of joints may also be indicated in selected cases. Due to the individual expense of each of these procedures, examinations are recommended only if your doctor feels the information provided by a procedure is needed for a proper diagnosis. Along with the gait evaluation correlating gait to injury, an impression cast of each foot is taken.
Neutral position is where the foot is in correct alignment with the ankle and lower leg.
This serves as a Reference Point to all modifications. However, at times, other casting methods are utilized for specific purposes, ie. When making an appointment to be evaluated and casted for orthotic devices, please inform the receptionist that you are coming in for a casting appointment so that sufficient time will be allowed. The negative casts are then sent to the orthotic laboratory accompanied by a prescription written by your podiatrist indicating not only the specifications for the correction of the positive casts, but also the materials to be used, the dimensions, and the individualized additions to be used in the manufacture of your foot orthoses. The manufacture of functional orthotics is thus a multi-step process involving detailed and intricate cast correction, orthotic fabrication, and application of many other additional items prescribed by your podiatrist for the treatment of your specific condition.