Lesson 1Comprehensive subjective history: pain characteristics, occupational demands, running history, footwear, past injuries, prior treatments, red flagsExplains taking a full patient history for foot and knee pain, including pain patterns, work and sports demands, shoes, training load, past injuries and treatments, and red-flag questions to set examination priorities.
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 testingCovers strength and flexibility tests for hip, knee, and foot muscles like abductors, extensors, quads, hamstrings, calves, and foot intrinsics, linking weaknesses to load patterns, injury risk, and orthotic needs.
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 use assessment results to decide on orthotics, connecting pronation/supination, alignment, mobility, and pain causes to specific insole designs, postings, and materials for 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 heightLooks at posture and leg alignment in standing, covering weight symmetry, tibial twist, Q-angle, and hip levels, and how these relate to load patterns and orthotic planning.
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 assessmentsKey ankle stability tests like anterior drawer, talar tilt, inversion stress, and balance checks, with tips on doing them, reading results, and planning orthotic support and rehab.
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 toleranceFunctional tests like single-leg squat, step-down, hops, and timed walks or runs, focusing on movement quality, stamina, and pain response for rehab stages and insole prescription.
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 strikeGait and running checks barefoot and with shoes, looking at stride, pace, foot strike, and compensations, to sharpen diagnosis and insole choices 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 mobilitySpecific foot and ankle tests like navicular drop, arch height, stiffness, and ankle mobility, with measurement methods, reliability, and impact on orthotic design.
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 causesScreening for red flags and other causes of foot/knee pain like inflammation, nerve issues, referred pain, and body-wide problems, and when to refer or adjust plans.
Key inflammatory and septic arthritis signsNeurological and radicular symptom patternsVascular, metabolic, and systemic indicatorsScreening questions that trigger referralDocumenting and communicating red flags
