At ProMotion Physical Therapy, we specialize in the evaluation and design of custom biomechanical orthotic devices to address and alleviate lower extremity neuromuscular-skeletal disorders. These devices are not just generic arch supports but highly tailored solutions that promote optimal foot function, enhance mobility, and reduce pain throughout the body. Our expert-led team of physical therapists ensures that each orthotic device is specifically crafted to meet the unique needs of each patient.

Why Choose Custom Biomechanical Orthotic Devices?

Many injuries we treat are sustained or worsened by improper movement patterns or foot posture. Whether you’re standing, walking, running, or performing daily activities, foot mechanics play a critical role in maintaining proper alignment and preventing stress on muscles and joints. When the foot’s structure or function is compromised, it can lead to pain in areas beyond the feet, such as the shins, knees, hips, and lower back.

Our team has advanced knowledge in the biomechanics of movement and foot function. We are skilled at identifying abnormalities in how you move and how these contribute to pain or injury. This is where custom orthotic devices come in — they are designed to support your body’s unique needs and restore proper function.

What Are Custom Biomechanical Orthotics?

While many people think of “orthotics” as simple shoe inserts, custom biomechanical orthotic devices go far beyond that. They are medical-grade devices that are custom-crafted based on an in-depth analysis of your foot mechanics and posture. Here’s a breakdown of our process for designing these orthotics:

1. Comprehensive Assessment

The first step in orthotic therapy is a thorough evaluation of your walking mechanics, foot posture, and foot type. Our physical therapists, including Michael Kane — a nationally recognized expert in foot biomechanics — will assess how well your feet react to the movements of your legs, hips, and lower back. This comprehensive approach ensures that the orthotic device supports your entire kinetic chain.

2. Custom Foot Mold

Once the evaluation is complete, we take a neutral cast impression of your feet. This slipper cast provides a precise model of your foot structure, capturing every contour necessary to create a truly customized orthotic.

3. Orthotic Design & Fabrication

The mold is then sent to a biomechanical laboratory where the orthotic is custom-fabricated using advanced materials such as plastics, foams, graphite, or fiberglass. The materials and design are selected based on your specific needs, including your height, weight, activity level, and shoe wear preferences.

The result is a custom biomechanical orthotic device that is designed to optimize the function of your feet and lower extremities, reduce pain, and improve movement.

How Do Custom Orthotics Work?

Custom orthotics work by controlling abnormal stresses on the tissues in your feet and lower extremities. Here’s how they help:

1. Redistribution of Forces

Orthotics help to redistribute forces across the foot, reducing abnormal loads on injured or dysfunctional tissues. This allows tissues to heal while preventing further injury.

2. Biomechanical Correction

By altering the surface geometry, contour, and stiffness of the orthotic, we can correct abnormal motion, improve foot alignment, and optimize the forces generated by the muscles in your legs and feet. This, in turn, enhances overall movement mechanics.

3. Stress and Shock Reduction

Custom orthotics can be designed with various shock absorption properties to minimize the impact forces generated during activities like walking or running. This reduces the stress on your joints, muscles, and tendons, promoting a quicker recovery.

Benefits of Custom Biomechanical Orthotics

• Pain Relief: Alleviate pain in the feet, shins, knees, hips, and lower back.
• Improved Function: Promote proper foot and lower extremity function, optimizing movement mechanics.
• Injury Prevention: Reduce the risk of injury by correcting abnormal foot mechanics.
• Enhanced Mobility: Improve balance, gait, and overall mobility with a device customized to your unique anatomy.
• Durable & Versatile: Custom orthotics are built for long-lasting use and can be worn in most shoes without modification.

Why Choose ProMotion Physical Therapy for Custom Orthotic Devices?

At ProMotion, we have the expertise to design custom orthotics that go beyond simple foot support. Physical therapist Michael Kane is a nationally recognized leader in foot and lower extremity biomechanics and has over 20 years of experience designing and teaching courses on the application of biomechanical orthotic devices. His course, Orthotic Reaction: The Art and Science of Locomotor Biomechanics and Orthotics, has guided therapists across the country in designing effective orthotic solutions.

Our therapists understand how foot mechanics influence your entire body, and we work closely with you to design custom orthotics that target the root causes of pain and dysfunction. By incorporating physical therapy and custom orthotic design, we ensure a holistic approach to your recovery and long-term wellness.

Take the Next Step Toward Pain-Free Movement

If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort in your feet, legs, or lower back, custom biomechanical orthotics may be the solution you need. Contact ProMotion Physical Therapy today to schedule an evaluation and learn more about how custom orthotics can help you move better and live pain-free.

At ProMotion Physical Therapy we embrace innovative techniques to help our patients achieve their health and fitness goals. One of the latest advancements in physical therapy is Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Training, a method that allows you to exercise smarter, not harder. BFR training enables individuals to build muscle strength and mass while using lighter weights, making it an excellent option for a variety of fitness levels and rehabilitation needs.

What Is Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Training?

BFR training involves placing a specialized band or tourniquet around the upper portion of a limb (arm or leg) to restrict the blood flow leaving the area. This creates an environment where the muscle experiences fatigue and oxygen depletion more rapidly, even when using lower weights. As a result, your body responds as if you are lifting heavier loads, triggering the same physiological responses that lead to muscle growth.

How Does BFR Training Work?

Muscle hypertrophy (growth) occurs when muscles are stressed, typically by lifting heavy weights. However, BFR training allows you to achieve similar benefits with less weight by:

• Muscle Trauma: BFR still creates microtraumas to muscle fibers, initiating the body’s repair processes that lead to muscle growth.
• Oxygen Depletion: By limiting venous blood flow, muscles are deprived of oxygen faster, which promotes lactic acid buildup and stimulates hypertrophy.
• Cellular Swelling: BFR increases blood flow into the muscle, leading to cellular swelling, a key factor in muscle growth.

By creating a physiological environment similar to traditional strength training, BFR activates fast-twitch muscle fibers — those responsible for rapid strength gains and muscle size increases.

When to Use BFR Training

BFR training is not a replacement for traditional strength training but is a powerful complementary tool. It is particularly effective in:

• Active Recovery: Integrating BFR during lower-intensity weeks helps maintain muscle mass while giving your joints and tendons a break.
• Rehabilitation: BFR is ideal for patients recovering from surgery or injury who cannot lift heavy weights. It provides a way to maintain and build muscle mass without straining healing tissues.
• Individuals with Limited Strength: For those with conditions like osteoporosis, or those who are unable to lift heavy weights, BFR offers an effective method to promote muscle growth safely.

How to Use BFR Training

At ProMotion Physical Therapy, our certified therapists will guide you through the proper use of BFR bands to ensure safety and effectiveness. Here are a few key principles of BFR training:

1. Correct Placement: BFR bands should be placed around the top of your thighs or arms, never directly on the muscle itself.
2. Tightness: We customize the band’s tightness based on your specific needs, ensuring a restriction level between 30% and 80%, depending on the area.
3. Duration: To prevent complications, we recommend wearing BFR bands for 8 to 20 minutes per muscle group, with rest intervals between exercises.
4. Professional Guidance: While BFR can be done at home, using it under the supervision of a trained therapist ensures the technique is applied safely and correctly.

Benefits of BFR Training

• Faster Muscle Gains: Achieve the same results as traditional strength training with 20% to 30% less weight.
• Reduced Joint Strain: Less stress on your joints and tendons while still promoting muscle hypertrophy.
• Enhanced Recovery: Maintain muscle mass during periods of lower intensity or recovery.
• Prevention of Muscle Loss: Prevent muscle atrophy in patients who are immobile or recovering from injury or surgery.

Is BFR Training Safe?

BFR training is safe for most individuals when performed under professional guidance. However, certain conditions such as cancer, blood clotting disorders, bone fractures, infections, and pregnancy may make BFR training unsafe. At ProMotion Physical Therapy, our experienced team will assess your health history to determine if BFR is the right choice for you.

For more information on BFR technology, we partner with Owens Recovery Science, a leading provider of specialized BFR training equipment. To explore their products and learn more about how BFR can benefit you, visit their website at www.owensrecoveryscience.com.

BFR training is a game-changer in both rehabilitation and strength training, offering patients the opportunity to improve muscle size and strength without the heavy loads that are typically required. Contact ProMotion today to find out how you can integrate BFR into your physical therapy or fitness routine!

AlterG® Treadmill: A Breakthrough in Recovery for Lower Extremity Musculoskeletal Injuries

At ProMotion Physical Therapy we continuously adopt advanced technologies to optimize rehabilitation outcomes for our patients. One such innovation is the AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill, which is revolutionizing recovery for individuals with lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries. Using NASA-developed technology, the AlterG® treadmill allows patients to walk or run with reduced body weight, promoting faster healing while minimizing stress on the injured area.

What Is the AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill?

The AlterG® treadmill is a specialized treadmill that uses differential air pressure to lift the body and reduce the effective weight on your lower extremities. This allows you to exercise at a percentage of your body weight, easing the load on injured joints, muscles, and bones. By adjusting the weight-bearing percentage, patients can begin to move freely while limiting the pain and discomfort typically associated with regular weight-bearing activities.

How Does the AlterG® Treadmill Work?

The AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill creates a controlled, air-pressurized environment around your lower body. Patients wear neoprene shorts that zip into the machine’s chamber, sealing the lower body from the waist down. Once sealed, air pressure is gradually increased to lift the body, making you feel lighter and reducing the impact on your legs and feet. This allows patients to move with:

• Reduced Weight Bearing: You can reduce your effective body weight by up to 80%, depending on your injury and rehabilitation goals.
• Controlled Movement: The treadmill allows you to adjust both speed and incline to safely progress through rehabilitation exercises.
• Minimized Joint Stress: By reducing the weight load on your lower extremities, the treadmill decreases the stress on injured joints, bones, and soft tissues, allowing for pain-free movement.

When to Use the AlterG® Treadmill

The AlterG® treadmill is an ideal tool for patients recovering from a range of lower extremity injuries or surgeries. It is particularly useful in:

• Post-Surgical Rehabilitation: Following surgeries such as ACL reconstruction, hip replacement, or ankle surgery, the AlterG® allows patients to begin walking or running sooner by reducing the weight load on healing tissues.
• Injury Recovery: Whether recovering from stress fractures, tendonitis, or ligament injuries, the ability to walk or run with less impact helps speed up recovery while minimizing the risk of re-injury.
• Arthritis Management: Patients with osteoarthritis or other degenerative joint conditions benefit from the reduced impact on joints, allowing them to maintain mobility without exacerbating symptoms.
• Chronic Conditions: The AlterG® can also be effective for patients with chronic lower extremity issues, such as plantar fasciitis, who need a low-impact environment to improve strength and function.

How to Use the AlterG® Treadmill

At ProMotion Physical Therapy, our certified physical therapists will guide you through tailored sessions on the AlterG® treadmill, ensuring safe and effective rehabilitation. Here’s how it works:

1. Customized Weight Bearing: Based on your injury and rehabilitation needs, our team will adjust the machine to reduce your body weight by a specific percentage, allowing you to move with minimal discomfort.
2. Progressive Rehab: As your strength and mobility improve, we will gradually increase the weight load and intensity of your exercises to safely progress your recovery.
3. Safe Movement: The treadmill’s advanced technology ensures you move naturally while controlling the impact on your lower extremities, reducing the risk of re-injury.

Benefits of the AlterG® Treadmill

• Early Mobility: Begin walking or running earlier in your recovery with reduced risk of re-injury or pain.
• Controlled Rehabilitation: Progress through your rehabilitation at your own pace with the ability to adjust weight-bearing and intensity.
• Pain-Free Movement: Exercise without the discomfort or strain that often accompanies weight-bearing on an injured limb.
• Faster Recovery: The ability to engage in safe, low-impact movement helps promote healing and maintain cardiovascular fitness during recovery.

Is the AlterG® Treadmill Safe?

Yes, the AlterG® treadmill is designed to offer a safe, supportive environment for patients recovering from lower extremity injuries. It allows individuals to regain strength and mobility at their own pace while minimizing the risk of excessive joint or tissue stress. Our therapists will assess your condition and guide you through a tailored rehabilitation plan to ensure that the treadmill is used effectively and safely.

For more information about the AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill and how it can benefit your rehabilitation, contact ProMotion today to schedule an assessment. Visit www.alterg.com to learn more about the innovative technology behind the AlterG® treadmill and its applications in recovery.

The AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill offers a safe and effective way to speed up your recovery while reducing the risk of re-injury. Whether you are dealing with a recent injury, managing a chronic condition, or recovering from surgery, the AlterG® can help you regain mobility and strength while minimizing discomfort. Reach out to ProMotion today to incorporate this advanced tool into your rehabilitation plan!