Lesson 1Comprehensive subjective history: pain characteristics, occupational demands, running history, footwear, past injuries, prior treatments, red flagsOutlines how to take a thorough subjective history for foot and knee pain, covering pain behavior, sport and work demands, footwear, training load, prior injuries and treatments, and red-flag questions that shape 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 testingDescribes strength and flexibility testing for hip, knee, and foot muscles, including abductors, extensors, quadriceps, hamstrings, calf, and intrinsic foot muscles, and links deficits to loading 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 featuresExplains how to synthesize assessment findings to guide orthotic decisions, linking pronation or supination, alignment, mobility, and symptom drivers to specific insole design features, posting strategies, and material choices 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 heightCovers systematic observation of posture and lower-limb alignment in standing, including weight-bearing symmetry, tibial torsion, Q-angle, and pelvic levels, and explains how these findings relate to loading 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 assessmentsExplores key ankle stability tests, including anterior drawer, talar tilt, and inversion stress, plus proprioceptive assessments, with guidance on test performance, interpretation, and implications for orthotic support and rehabilitation planning.
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 toleranceCovers functional and sport-specific tests such as single-leg squat, step-down, hop tests, and timed walk or run, emphasizing movement quality, endurance, and symptom response to inform rehab staging and orthotic 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 strikeFocuses on gait and running analysis in barefoot and shod conditions, examining stride, cadence, foot strike, and compensations, and shows how dynamic findings refine diagnosis and orthotic insole prescription for different 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 mobilityProvides a focused approach to foot and ankle tests, including navicular drop, arch height index, arch stiffness, and talocrural mobility, explaining measurement techniques, reliability, and how results influence orthotic design choices.
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 causesDetails structured screening for red flags and differential diagnoses in foot and knee pain, including inflammatory, neurological, vascular, and systemic causes, and clarifies when to refer, co-manage, or modify orthotic and exercise plans.
Key inflammatory and septic arthritis signsNeurological and radicular symptom patternsVascular, metabolic, and systemic indicatorsScreening questions that trigger referralDocumenting and communicating red flags
