TOG GaitScan Introduction

What are orthotics?; Functional Orthotic Therapy; TOG GaitScan; Dynamic Assessment

Despite the huge importance of foot function to health, until very recently there has not been any way of measuring exactly how the foot functions as we walk.

Although custom orthoses have been used as a tool to control foot function for many years, their prescription has relied on indirect methods of assessment like plaster casts of the foot and video gait analysis. These assessment methods were simply not able to collect data on how the foot functions as we walk, and as a result, the prescription of custom orthoses relied exclusively on the skill and experience of the podiatrist.

Using indirect methods means it is not easy to get the orthotic control right first time, and adjustments are inevitably required before a good fit and results can be achieved. In some cases, the orthotics just don't work well. Unfortunately, many patients who have tried orthoses prescribed in this way have not had much success, and this has put them off using orthoses again.

New Technology Delivers The Answers

In the closing years of the 20th century, a small group of people were busy developing a new technology that would transform our ability to see how the foot functions when we walk. The result of this research was a software product and associated pressure-sensitive mat that together was capable of assessing and showing in full colour 2-D, 3-D and graphical detail the weight and pressure distribution of each foot that stood or walked over the mat.

Several companies were involved in this research, and once this technology had been created, it was used as the basis for a series of gaitscanning packages.

At the time of writing four systems have been developed and marketed: RSScan, Footmaxx, Adidas FootScan and TOG GaitScan. Although all systems share the same underlying technology, each has been developed into a specific product marketed at different consumers.

The digital gaitscanning technology alone is only a diagnostic tool that graphically represents the changes in the pressure distribution and timing of the foot through each step. To be able to understand the results of each scan and to prescribe an appropriate orthotic that properly controls the function of the foot requires a thorough understanding of biomechanics, foot function, postural assessment, an awareness of the common presence of misalignments of one or two bones in the feet and how foot function adapts to compensate for this inbuilt abnormality.

Furthermore, even if a prescription for an orthotic is perfect, if the orthotic is made out of inappropraite materials (ones which are too soft, too bulky, too flexible or not sufficiently hard-wearing), then the benefit of the orthotic will be lost.

TOG GaitScan

The Orthotic Group launched TOG GaitScan in May 2002, and of all the systems available, it is currently considered by healthcare practitioners to represent the best combination of software technology, technical support and quality of orthoses that The Orthotic Group (TOG) manufacture. For this reason, it is currently referenced on Root2Being.

A New Look At An Old Problem

Digital gaitscanning technology allows us, for the first time to truly understand how pressure and timing distribution across the foot happens as we walk. By comparing the results of scans against "ideal" foot function exmaples, in addition to having an in-depth understanding of biomechanics, common bony misalignments of the foot, postural assessment and other health and lifestyle factors that are relevant to the patient, it is now possible to prescribe a high quality, semi-rigid thermoplastic 100% memory orthotic that gently and consistently places the foot in a more netural alignment with every single step.

Indeed, where bony misalignments within the foot are the cause of abnormal foot function (as is considered to be the case for around 70% of the population), a gait scan assessment is able to pick up problems even before resultant pain and dysfunction develop. By controlling and optimising foot function even without existing pain and dysfunction, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing some of the many related health problems later in life.

Getting your childrens foot function assessed could be one of the most important things you can do for their long-term health. Younger bodies have more elastic soft tissues that can more easily accomodate the changes created by prescription orthoses than older people. In addition, their bodies haven't suffered as much damage, and hence don't need as much time or effort to recover from the effects of abnormal foot function.

Digital gaitscanning technology is a new, exciting and revolutionary tool that is assisting those qualified healthcare practitioners to more accurately identify and control abnormal foot function and in turn reduce the amount of unnecessary pain and suffering of millions which has so far been impossible to cure.

What are orthotics?; Functional Orthotic Therapy; TOG GaitScan; Dynamic Assessment