Foot Mobilisation: What is it and where did it come from?

The practice of FMT is a specifically developed form of manual therapy aimed at improving your foot and leg functionality. FMT targets joints of your foot and ankle, which may be stiff, poorly aligned or dysfunctional, and aims to restore the way they work gradually. This is achieved via a series of hands-on treatment sessions in conjunction with a specific exercise regime that we prescribe for you.

Where did FMT originate?

Used extensively in the areas of physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy, FMT originated from a type of treatment called manipulative therapy.

Foot mobilisation techniques have evolved from combining the podiatric biomechanical understanding of foot and leg function with the manual therapeutic experience of physiotherapy and chiropractic.

Dr John Martin Hiss from North America was the pioneer of manipulative techniques for feet and ankles. With the help of a collaborative team of MDs, osteopaths, podiatrists and chiropractors, Dr Hiss set up clinics across the US in the 1920s to treat foot pain.

A student of Dr Hiss, Dr Harvey Lampell further refined the technique and taught the improved version to Ted Jedynak. Jedynak worked extensively with Lampell before refining the technique still further and introducing FMT to Australia.

At Sydney Foot Solutions, our practitioners have worked and studied with Ted Jedynak to learn these techniques. Daniel and Lachlan are now involved in teaching the techniques to other practitioners. We use these together with a variety other mobilisation techniques learnt from a number of musculoskeletal physicians. We are the only clinic in NSW to specialise in foot mobilisation therapy and have over 15 years’ experience in this area. The proof is in the pudding, as they say, and our excellent results speak for themselves. Unlike other podiatry-based practices, we work exclusively in the area of FMT, and treat foot and associated pain such as; heel pain, plantar fasciitis, foot pain, ball of foot pain, morton’s neuroma, Achilles tendonitis, clawed toes and bunions.

Our unique approach differs to other podiatrists in the following ways:

• Our practices were established solely to deliver FMT to you; no other clinic in NSW does this.
• Our practitioners apply FMT to work with the cause of your foot and leg pain. We provide long-term care solutions, which require treating the origin of your pain.
• No surgery, medication or orthotics are employed in your treatment.
• FMT promotes your body’s natural repair process. Because there are no orthotics, you don’t need special shoes, artificial soles or shoe inserts, which limit your choice of footwear.
• We provide post-treatment care involving useful information and easily implemented exercises that maintain the repair process and prevent future pain and problems.
• Because the treatment environment is also a key component to the effectiveness of your care, our centres have a warm, relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Find out more about FMT. Contact us now for a personal consultation. In fact, we believe in our treatment so much that we are offering the first 10 people to contact the clinic a free assessment in response to this article.