Footprint study: what is it, what is it for and how is it done?

Your feet support the weight of your body on a daily basis, influencing it to the point that poor posture can cause pain in other parts of your body. For this reason, it is important that you know if you have the right footprint or if you have a systemic condition that can cause you pain.
So, today we want to talk about the study of the footprint, a study that will give you very useful information to take care of your feet as they deserve.  

What is a footprint study?

A gait study is an analysis that analyzes the way you walk and how it can affect your posture or the rest of your body. To do this, they not only analyze your foot, but also its relationship with your hips, your spine or your knees, among other structures of your body.
In the end, your whole body is connected and a bad footfall can influence your pain in other joints or parts of your body.  

What is the purpose of a footprint study?

Mainly, the study of the footprint serves to prevent injuries associated with inadequate support of your foot when walking that can cause ankle sprains, excess muscle load, metatalsargia or tendonitis.
Thanks to this study you will have the information you need to know what is wrong with you or why your feet or other joints hurt, and receive the treatment for your specific case.  

How is a footprint study performed?

A footprint study follows different phases in order to obtain the most complete information possible about the patient.
It is not necessary to perform all of them in all cases, since they can detect the problem with the first tests and it would not be necessary to perform the rest.
Even so, we are going to see them one by one so that you know which tests could be performed in case you decide to have a footprint study.  

Personalized interview

As in any medical appointment, the most usual thing to do is to start by getting to know yourself and finding out why you have requested a footprint study. They will ask you:

• Some basic information about you such as your weight, your age or your family history.
• Information about your daily life such as your usual activity or the shoes you usually wear.
• Injuries you have suffered in the past.

It is important that at this time explain well what hurts and how it hurts.

Studio on a stretcher

The study is usually started by examining you on a stretcher in order to to be able to perform different positions and assess your muscular and joint condition.

Load study

Once the previous study has been completed, you will be asked to stand up in order to perform a load study, that is, with the weight of your body on your feet.
You will undergo different tests while standing still or moving to obtain information about your musculature or your elasticity, among other things.  

Pressure platform study

In order to know your plantar footprint and to know if you are standing correctly, you will be tested on a pressure platform .
This study is usually done both stationary and in motion in order to be able to see how you support yourself in each case, your center of gravity or your posture, among other things.

Analysis and report of results

With all this information, the specialist will tell you what is wrong and what treatment you should follow to correct your problem.
This treatment may be the prescription of orthopedic Insole or that you do some stretching or exercises periodically, depending on your specific case.  

Who performs a footprint study?

A biometric footprint study should be performed by a podiatric professional in a specialized clinic or center. In some stores or pharmacies you can find scales that perform a less complete study to tell you what are the best shoes or orthopedic insoles for your case, as you can do the Smou scale of which I speak later in detail.
These scales only advise you of what you need and help you to know if you need to perform a complete study of footprint with a professional to diagnose you properly.  

When is a footprint study necessary?

Ifyou have low back pain, overloads, ankle instability or any other pain associated with a bad footprint, you should have a footprint study.
It is also interesting to have a tread study if you detect that there is uneven wear in your footwear.  

Does Social Security cover the cost of footprint studies?

Social Security does not include a footprint study and neither do most private health insurances, although you should consult yours to make sure.  

Smou scale for your footprint study

The Smou scale analyzes your plantar pressure to tell you what type of feet you have and which Smou insole is best for you. You simply step on it to discover the information through an easy-to-use interactive guide.
In addition, it also calculates:

• Fat mass.
• Your weight.
• Your height.
• BMI.
• Your blood pressure.

If you want to have all this information always at hand on your cell phone, you can download your app to save the data, andyou can find the scale at your local pharmacy. It is important to know that this is not a substitute for having a foot study done by a specialist if you have foot pain, but it helps you to have the information you need to start taking action to alleviate that pain until you can go to the right professional.