Sever’s Calcaneal Apophysitis Calcaneal apophysitis (commonly known as Sever’s disease) is a condition that affects the growth plate (apophysis) in your child’s calcaneus (heel). It can be a very painful and debilitating condition as it will regularly prevent children from participating in their favourite activities: whether that be football, netball, basketball, dancing, or any other …
Why Does Diabetes Affect Your Feet? Diabetes is a group of different conditions characterised by the body being unable to convert blood glucose, (type of sugar in the blood), allowing blood sugar levels to vary greatly. Uncontrolled glucose builds up in the blood leading to high blood glucose levels which cause the health problems linked …
Cracked Heels Cracked heels are a common condition, which present as fissures around the rim of the heel. Many people with cracked heels may not notice any pain or discomfort, but if the cracks are deep they can become quite painful and can also cause bleeding. If not cared for properly, the wounds can also …
What is a Pre Pointe assessment? Dance schools will often assess your ability to start pointe, however it is important to have your feet medically cleared by a qualified professional to ensure that your feet are physically prepared for the demands of pointe work. Pointe is a beautiful art however it is not a normal …
They Always Need New Footy Boots We all go through it, we dust off last seasons footy boots, get the kids to try them on and find out there foot has grown astronomically and they need new boots. Football boots are often low profile (flat), lightweight and flexible which usually results in less cushioning and …
Anatomy of the Achilles Tendon The Achilles tendon is one of the largest and strongest tendons in the human body, and can tolerate loads greater than our own body weight. The Achilles tendon is a continuation of two muscles known as the ‘Calf’ muscle which is comprised of the Gastrocnemius and Soleus. The Achilles tendon …
Some Simple Lacing Tips To Help You Get The Most Out Of Your Runners. With shoes there are a number of different variations to tying up laces. It’s not as simple as the bunny loop system but is now replaced by many different lacing techniques. It is fascinating to see how a simple adjustment can …
What is Hammer Toe? A hammertoe is a deformity of the proximal interphalangeal joint of a toe, which causes the joint to be permanently bent down in a rigid position over time. Hammertoe usually affects the second, third or fourth toes. Book Now What causes hammer toe? Hammertoe is often caused by wearing poorly fitting …
Running Shoes Need Regular Replacing Most people wait far too long before replacing their running shoes and risk overuse injuries as a result. Generally running shoes should last between 600 and 1000 kilometres, although this depends on your body weight, how often and far you run, the terrain you run on and your running style. …
Running Shoes – How Often Should You Replace Them ? Read More »
Here’s Some Advice I Often Give to My Patients: Have a Goal in Mind Do you want to enter a certain event, walking daily, or run around with the kids? Have a goal that is clear, realistic and concise. Start Low & Go Slow If you have not exercised for quite some time, do not …
How Does Pregnancy Affect Your Feet? Pregnancy triggers many different changes in a woman’s body. What happens is that during pregnancy there is an increased release of a hormone within the body called relaxin. Relaxin is important in preparing the body for childbirth and is responsible for relaxing the ligaments. However, this hormone has an affect …
What is Intoeing? In-toeing or ‘pigeon toes’ is very common in young children and is when a person’s feet turn inward (instead of pointing straight ahead or outward). In-toeing may not cause any problems however, in severe cases in-toeing can cause clumsiness and falls where intervention should occur. What Causes Intoeing? There are three main …
Feet in the Cooler Weather Caring for your feet is very important, especially during the cooler months. The cooler weather can present multiple challenges in maintaining foot health, with the risk of numbness and decreased circulation dramatically increasing. Check Your Feet Daily It is important to check your feet daily looking for breaks in the …
What is Hikers Wool? HikersWool is made from lambs’ fleece which is soft, lanolin rich and durable. It helps with prevention of blisters and irritation spots between toes and on the soles of your feet by preventing friction from occurring. The wonder of wool wicks away moisture and perspiration allowing your feet to breathe. It …
Managing Injuries in the Lower Limb Injuries to the lower limb are very common so it is important to recognise and seek early management of an injury to reduce the recovery time. After early detection of an injury, an appointment with a podiatrist will involve diagnosing the injured structures and determining the cause of injury …
Falls Can Change Your Life Forever Falls – The Facts A fall is defined as having an unexpected event in which the person comes to rest on the ground. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospital admission in people aged 65 years and older. At least one third of community dwelling older adults …
Later Knee Pain ITB Friction Syndrom, Biceps Femoris Tendinopathy, Joint Pain. Lateral knee pain (pain on the outside border of the knee) is most commonly the condition Illiotibial band (ITB) friction syndrome (ITBFS). The suggested cause is an increase in compression in the layer of fat and connective tissue that separate ITB from the lateral …
Is Your Child Sitting in a W-sitting Position? W-sitting is when the pelvis is lowered to the floor between the legs, knees bent with the feet behind. There are many reasons why this sitting position should be changed. If this is the main position used then the muscle and soft tissues may tighten around this …
Replacing your children’s shoes With kids being so active and the rush to get back to school it is easy to forget to check the quality of your child’s shoes. Their feet may have grown right to the end of their shoes before replacement, or they may have worn out the integrity in the shoes. …
Why Consider Running Form? Everyone has their own running style that differs from others due to many different factors. However, there are few situations where you should actually change your running technique. A good running technique will simulate better muscle recruitment and motor patterning. This will help improve your running efficiency and reduce the risk …
What causes tingling toes? Have you ever experienced tingling toes? Tingling in the toes is a common condition people experience during exercise and even wearing day-to-day shoes. This tingling sensation often occurs from compression against a nerve which can be a result of tight fitting footwear or increased swelling in the foot and ankle. There …
What are Plantar Warts (Verrucae)? Verrucae (warts) are the main viral infection on the foot caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). They are typically found under the point of highest pressure, such as the ball of the foot. Early on they appear as a …
