Biomechanical problems: foot/spine relationships in youth.

It is accepted practice by the health professions to assess and treat many conditions as isolated problems. It is our intention to present to you a different approach to treatment. This is based on a total body assessment from analysing biomechanical faults and compensations in all body linkages. These biomechanical inadequacies are apparent at an early age and quite frequently at the initial weight-bearing stage. Sometimes the parents observe these changes but are frequently told the child will grow out of the odd shape and no total assessment or follow-up is carried out. Pain does not usually occur with these problems in the early stages and so there appears to be no reason for treatment. The opportunity for early assessment and treatment therefore, is often lost. However if the signs could be more widely recognized and at an early age and treatment instituted to correct any biomechanical faults then it should be possible for the health professions to make a real contribution in preventive health care and reduce the high incidence of many musculoskeletal problems which are so common and disabling in the community.