Lesson 1Comprehensive subjective history: pain characteristics, occupational demands, running history, footwear, past injuries, prior treatments, red flagsExplains taking a detailed patient history for foot and knee pain, including pain patterns, job and sports requirements, shoes, training intensity, previous injuries and treatments, and red-flag queries to prioritise examinations.
Clarifying pain onset, pattern, and irritabilityOccupational and daily load profilingRunning and sport training historyFootwear, surfaces, and equipment reviewPrevious injuries, treatments, and red flagsLesson 2Strength and flexibility testing: hip abductors/extensors, quadriceps, hamstrings, calf complex, intrinsic foot muscle testingDetails strength and flexibility assessments for hip, knee, and foot muscles like abductors, extensors, quads, hamstrings, calves, and foot intrinsics, connecting weaknesses to load patterns, injury risks, and orthotic requirements.
Hip abductor and extensor strength testsQuadriceps and hamstring strength checksCalf complex strength and endurance testsIntrinsic foot muscle function testsKey flexibility tests for lower limbLesson 3How assessment findings guide orthotic decisions: linking pronation/supination, alignment, mobility and symptom drivers to orthotic featuresShows how to analyse assessment results for orthotic choices, relating pronation/supination, alignment, mobility, and pain causes to specific insole designs, postings, and materials suited to each patient.
Mapping impairments to orthotic goalsChoosing rearfoot and forefoot postingManaging mobility with shell stiffnessPressure redistribution and offloadingIterative orthotic adjustment over timeLesson 4Postural and lower-limb alignment assessment: static standing, weight-bearing symmetry, tibial torsion, Q-angle, pelvic heightExamines posture and lower-limb alignment in standing posture, covering weight distribution symmetry, tibial twist, Q-angle, and pelvic levels, and how these relate to loading and orthotic strategies.
Static standing observation checklistWeight-bearing symmetry and shift patternsMeasuring Q-angle and tibial torsionPelvic height, tilt, and leg length cluesRelating alignment to pain mechanismsLesson 5Ankle ligament and stability tests: anterior drawer, talar tilt, inversion stress, proprioception assessmentsCovers essential ankle stability tests like anterior drawer, talar tilt, inversion stress, and balance checks, with tips on conducting, interpreting, and applying to orthotic support and rehab plans.
Anterior drawer test: setup and cuesTalar tilt and inversion stress testingHigh ankle sprain and syndesmosis checksProprioception and balance test optionsLinking instability to orthotic featuresLesson 6Functional and sport-specific tests: single-leg squat, step-down, hop tests, timed walk/run toleranceIncludes practical and sport-related tests such as single-leg squats, step-downs, hops, and timed walking/running, focusing on movement quality, stamina, and pain response for rehab and orthotic guidance.
Single-leg squat quality and controlStep-down and stair negotiation testsSingle-leg hop and triple hop optionsTimed walk and run tolerance testsUsing tests to guide return to sportLesson 7Gait and dynamic observations: barefoot and shod walking, running analysis, stride, cadence, rearfoot vs forefoot strikeAnalyses walking and running barefoot or with shoes, looking at stride length, step rate, foot landing, and compensations, to refine diagnosis and tailor orthotic insoles for various activity levels.
Barefoot versus shod gait comparisonStride length, cadence, and step widthRearfoot, midfoot, and forefoot strike patternsIdentifying dynamic valgus and trunk swayVideo-based gait analysis essentialsLesson 8Foot and ankle-specific tests: navicular drop, arch height index, arch mobility stiffness tests, talocrural joint mobilityFocuses on foot and ankle assessments like navicular drop, arch height, stiffness, and ankle joint play, with measurement methods, reliability, and impact on orthotic design decisions.
Navicular drop test: method and normsArch height index and arch profilingArch mobility and stiffness assessmentTalocrural joint mobility testingIntegrating measures into orthotic planningLesson 9Red flag and differential diagnosis screening: inflammatory, neurological, referred pain, systemic causesOutlines screening for serious issues and alternative diagnoses in foot/knee pain, covering inflammation, nerve, vascular, and body-wide causes, and when to refer or adjust orthotic/exercise plans.
Key inflammatory and septic arthritis signsNeurological and radicular symptom patternsVascular, metabolic, and systemic indicatorsScreening questions that trigger referralDocumenting and communicating red flags
