Biomechanics is concerned with preservation, restoration and development of the function of the foot and its associated structure. Biomechanics refers to an understanding of the mechanics in the body and podiatrists use this to diagnose and treat the lower limb. This is a subject that interests a lot of practitioners and covers a number of areas of practice.

One area of clinical practice that focuses on biomechanics is sports injuries. There is currently a big demand for podiatrists to treat sports injuries. Most of those working in this area are self-employed private practitioners. The work can involve working with individual athletes or working for sports teams e.g. rugby or football clubs.

There are many biomechanical investigations podiatrists use to help them assess and evaluate the patients they treat. A lot of biomechanical problems are treated with orthotics. These are custom made insoles specifically for each patient that aim to improve function and reduce symptoms. Some podiatrists manufacture orthotics themselves but many will use commercial of NHS orthotic labs where orthotic technicians produce the device based on the prescription written by the podiatrist.