During this, the last week of 2023, it may be a good opportunity to look back on the strides we have made during the past year and begin to look forward to the additional advancement in the field of lower extremity biomechanics in 2024. The process of evaluation, action and re-evaluation is a time tested course of action in almost all endeavors worth undertaking. Successfully treating lower extremity conditions is no exception. The depth and breadth of knowledge in this field is ever expanding, and it is the responsibility of each individual practitioner to have a firm knowledge base of the technical and theoretical aspect of their chosen profession. The act of human, bipedal locomotion, is a miracle, highly complicated, and yet imperfect. A lifetime of study is not enough to truly master all the critical aspects involved in the scientific field of biomechanics, yet even if it were possible, it is still not enough.
Pursue excellence, not perfection. Since the object of our work is not perfect, the science behind our work cannot be perfect either. This is where the “art” of practicing biomechanics comes into play. KevinRoot Medical is highly dedicated to elevating the educational and technical standards in the field of biomechanics, 2024 should be a benchmark year in this regard. I behoove all of you reading this to participate in the process of elevating your biomechanics game. I also implore you to take the time to re-evaluate your own standards. How can you take that knowledge base and utilize it to its greatest potential? My answer is, to do it every day, every patient, over and over again. “Imagination is more important than knowledge”. -Albert Einstein. Figure out what you don't already know. You just made a great orthotic device, the patient is happy, all is good, but is it really? Imagine an improvement. Envision the future. Take the time to deeply analyze, and don't be afraid to change course whenever necessary. Leave your comfort zone. Adjust to the prevailing conditions, they change, so should you. Listen to your typical Tuesday morning’s patient history, do a great subjective exam, gait analysis, an accurate scan or cast, write a great prescription, assure accuracy and effectiveness of your dispensed device, do it smart, be thoughtful, have feelings. Self access. Be better.
One of the greatest things people do on two feet is dance. Life as a biomechanics practitioner is to help keep the world dancing. Two steps forward, one step back.
