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Biomechanical Podiatry Sports Podiatry

Heel Pain or Plantar Fasciitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia – a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot, connecting the heel bone to the toes.

Causes of Plantar Fasciitis

  • Repetitive Strain: Regularly participating in activities that put stress on the heel, like long-distance running.
  • Foot Structure: Having a high arch, flat feet, or an abnormal walking pattern.
  • Age: More common in people between the ages of 40 and 60.
  • Weight: Extra weight can put more pressure on the plantar fascia.

Symptoms

  • Sharp pain at the base of the heel.
  • Pain that’s worse in the morning or after prolonged sitting.
  • Increased pain after exercise (not during).

Treatment Options

1. Custom Orthotics

Custom orthotics can provide the necessary support and alignment for the feet. Find out more about how custom orthotics can help.

2. Shockwave Therapy

A non-invasive treatment that can stimulate healing. Learn more about shockwave therapy at Elite Foot Care.

3. Foot Mobilisation

This therapy involves manipulating the foot to ensure all bones and joints are aligned and moving correctly. Discover the benefits of foot mobilisation.

4. Biomechanical Analysis

A deeper look into one’s gait and foot structure can provide insights into underlying issues. Read about our biomechanical analysis service.

Our Podiatrists Discuss Laser Therapy for Fungal Nail Infections

Conclusion

Plantar fasciitis can be a painful condition, but with the right care and treatment, you can find relief. We offer a range of services to help address heel pain and other foot-related issues. If you’re experiencing symptoms, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation by booking online or calling us on 5328 3588.

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Biomechanical Podiatry General Podiatry Sports Podiatry

Common Causes of Heel Pain and How to Treat Them

1. Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis or plantar fasciopathy is the most common cause of heel pain. It is caused by degeneration of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that runs from the heel to the toes. Plantar fasciitis is typically caused by overuse and can be exacerbated by standing for long periods of time or running on hard surfaces. The pain is usually felt in the bottom of the heel and can be quite severe.

Treatment: Stretching and strengthening exercises can help alleviate the pain of plantar fasciitis. Custom orthotics or shoes with good arch support can also help. Radial shockwave therapy is often used to increase blood supply to the affected area and repair damaged tissue.

2. Heel Spurs

Heel spurs are bony growths that form on the heel bone. They are usually caused by long-term strain on the muscles and ligaments in the foot. The pain is typically felt at the bottom of the heel and can be quite sharp.

Treatment: Heel spurs are typically treated with offloading – taking all pressure away from the effected area. Orthotic inserts or shoes with good arch support can also help. In some cases, surgery may be necessary.

3. Achilles Tendinopathy

Achilles tendinopathy is caused by degenerative changes of the Achilles tendon, which runs from the calf muscles to the heel bone. It is typically caused by overuse and can be exacerbated by running on hard surfaces or wearing shoes with poor support.

Treatment: Strengthening is key in Achilles tendinopathy – ensuring the tendon is strong and capable of handling all day to day requirements. Shockwave therapy is used to regenerate the tendon. In some cases, custom foot orthotics can be utilised to reduce the load going through the Achilles tendon. Wearing shoes with good arch support can also help.

4. Bursitis

Bursitis is caused by inflammation of the bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that cushions the joints. It can be caused by overuse or injury and is typically felt as a sharp pain in the heel.

Treatment: Custom foot orthotics and shockwave therapy can help alleviate the pain of bursitis. In some cases, steroid injections may be necessary.

5. Stress Fractures

Stress fractures are small cracks in the bones of the foot, typically caused by overuse. They are typically felt as a dull ache in the heel.

Treatment: Rest is the best treatment for stress fractures. In some cases, a cast or walking boot may be necessary.

Conclusion

In conclusion, heel pain can be caused by a variety of factors, and it’s important to determine the cause in order to receive the proper treatment. Strength and stretching exercises as well as wearing shoes with good arch support can also help prevent future problems. If your heel pain persists or is severe, it’s important to see a podiatrist for an evaluation.

If you’re experiencing heel pain, don’t wait any longer to seek treatment. Visit our website at www.elitefootcare.com.au to make a booking or call us on 5328 3588 to schedule an appointment with one of our podiatrists. Don’t let heel pain keep you from enjoying your daily activities – let Elite Foot Care Podiatry help you get back on your feet.

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Biomechanical Podiatry Diabetes Sports Podiatry

The Benefits of Custom Orthotics for Foot Health

How Custom Orthotics Work

Custom orthotics are designed to support and align the feet properly. They work by redistributing pressure on the feet and correcting any abnormalities in foot structure and function. They are made of materials such as foam, plastic, and leather, and are designed to fit comfortably inside the shoe.

Benefits of Custom Orthotics

Alleviate Foot Pain

Custom orthotics can help alleviate foot pain caused by a variety of conditions, including plantar fasciitis, flat feet, and heel spurs. They provide extra support and cushioning to the feet, which can help reduce pressure and prevent pain.

Improve Athletic Performance

Custom orthotics can also help improve athletic performance by providing better support and stability to the feet. They can help reduce the risk of injury and improve balance, which can lead to better performance in sports such as basketball, running, and netball.

Correct Foot Abnormalities

Custom orthotics can correct foot abnormalities such as flat feet, high arches, and overpronation. They can help realign the feet properly, which can improve foot function and prevent foot problems.

Improve Posture and Body Alignment

Custom orthotics can also improve posture and body alignment by providing better support to the feet. When the feet are properly supported, it can help improve the alignment of the entire body, which can prevent pain and injuries in other areas of the body such as the knees, hips, and lower back.

How to Get Custom Orthotics

At Elite Foot Care we use a state of the art 3D laser scanner to capture your feet. This creates a high detail computer model of your feet which is used alongside computer aided modelling software to design your orthotic.

A Custom Foot bed is then created with the appropriate padding and design to be fitted in all of your shoes so you are supported all day every day.

Conclusion

Custom orthotics are an excellent option for improving foot health and preventing foot problems. They can help alleviate foot pain, improve athletic performance, correct foot abnormalities, and improve posture and body alignment.

If you’re interested in learning more about custom orthotics or other foot health treatments, please visit Elite Foot Care or call us on 3528 3588. Our team of experienced podiatrists provides a wide range of services, including custom orthoticsbiomechanical analysis, and treatment for conditions such as heel pain, leg pain, sports injuries, diabetes, and shin splints.

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Biomechanical Podiatry General Podiatry Sports Podiatry

Choosing the Right Shoes for Your Feet: Tips and Recommendations

At Elite Foot Care, we understand that choosing the right shoes for your feet is crucial to maintaining good foot health. Wearing improper shoes can lead to foot pain, discomfort, and even injury. Here are some tips and recommendations to help you choose the right shoes for your feet.

Tips for Choosing the Right Shoes

  1. Know Your Foot Type: Knowing your foot type is essential when choosing the right shoes. If you have flat feet, you need shoes with good arch support. If you have high arches, you need shoes with extra cushioning.
  2. Measure Your Feet: Get your feet measured by a professional to ensure you are buying shoes that fit properly. Our podiatrists at Elite Foot Care can help you with this.
  3. Look for Shoes with Good Arch Support: Shoes with good arch support help to distribute your weight evenly across your feet and reduce the risk of foot pain and injury.
  4. Make Sure the Shoes Fit Properly: Shoes that are too tight or too loose can cause foot pain and discomfort. Make sure the shoes fit well and do not rub or pinch your feet.
  5. Choose Shoes Based on Your Activity: Different activities require different types of shoes. If you are a runner, you need running shoes. If you play basketball, you need basketball shoes. Our podiatrists can recommend the best shoes for your specific activity.
  6. Replace Your Shoes Regularly: Over time, shoes wear out and lose their support. Replace your shoes regularly to ensure you are getting the support your feet need.
  7. Don’t Sacrifice Comfort for Style: While it’s tempting to choose shoes that look stylish, it’s crucial to prioritise comfort over fashion. Wearing ill-fitting shoes can cause foot problems such as blisters, calluses, and corns.

At Elite Foot Care, we offer a range of shoes that provide excellent support, comfort, and style. Our shoes are designed to alleviate foot pain and prevent foot problems. We also offer custom orthotics that can be fitted into any shoe to provide extra support and cushioning.

Some of the shoe brands we carry include:

In addition to shoes, we offer a variety of foot care services, including:

If you’re interested in learning more about podiatry recommended shoes or other foot health treatments, please call us on 5328 3588 or book online.

Categories
Biomechanical Podiatry Sports Podiatry

Shin Splints in Netball

Bone or Muscular

Shin splints all have varying degrees of severity. Due to the forced placed on lower legs during netball (sudden stopping, jumping, changing angles), micro tears may occur in the connective tissues attaching the muscles to the shin bone. This is the typical presentation of shin splint issues in players. 

In more severe cases, stress fractures may develop on the shinbone. This causes intense pain and can result in the player finding it difficult to run. 

Shin splints occur when:

  • Training intensity is increased
  • After a long break, training is commenced at 100%
  • Wearing old/worn out shoes
  • Improper warming up
  • There is underlying foot issues: Over supination (foot rolls outward) or over pronation (foot rolls inward)

A combination of these things increase the risk ever further.

How to treat shin splints?

This depends on the severity and cause of the injury. Rest can be the best treatment for mild shin splints in their early stages. More severe cases may call for halting activity all together. 

Treatment of shin splints

Conventional treatment methods should be followed regardless of the injuiy’s intensity

  • R.I.C.E – Rest, Ice, Compression and Evaluation
  • Checking in with a podiatrist who works with sporting injuries – which we do here at Elite Foot Care. 

At Elite Foot Care we will also:

  • Complete an evaluation of your foot-type and footwear, and determine if the shoes you currently have are fit for your foot type. This is important as the wrong shoe can lead to injury. 
  • Determine if your food rolls inward or outward

Note: Podiatrists can effectively treat faulty foot biomechanics. Other practitioners may be able to diagnose, but not correctly treat. 

  • Determine if orthotics are required (this is not always the case!)
  • Explain all areas of possible treatment including shockwave therapy, acupuncture, or ultrasound. 
  • Show you how to correctly and safely stretch, to help prevent further injury

Preventing shin splits

Understandably, nobody wants shin splints (especially if you already know how much they hurt). 

Correct footwear for your foot type is pivotal in preventing shin splints, as is keeping track of how old the shoes are getting. Shoes that are well looked-after on the outside will still likely be too worn on the inside after a certain period of time. 

Warming up before exercise is a must. This includes some light stretching on a comfortable surface.

Knowing when to stop (when the pain first starts) is paramount to avoid the injury worsening and potentially becoming chronic. Running through the pain NEVER fixes anything, shin splints can worsen rapidly. 

If you are suffering from shin splints or other lower limb sporting injury, please come and see us at Elite Foot Care. We treat dozens of athletes with shin splints every year, which has proven that early treatment is always the best options. 

Categories
Biomechanical Podiatry Sports Podiatry

It’s Tennis Season! 

No doubt, if you aren’t already playing tennis regularly, then watching some of our Aussie champions smash 190 km + serves, has encouraged you to dust off the racket and hit your local courts.  

Stability, grip, and cushioning are the focus when selecting the correct footwear. 

When playing tennis, you are using quick side-to-side movements, rather than the regular running motion of forward from heel to toe. Without great stability, you are at high risk of spraining your ankle. When trying on tennis shoes carefully roll your feet in and out and move side to side to get a feel for how well the shoes will support you.  

Accompanying the side-to-side motion as you’re playing your best tennis, your shoes need the correct grip. The grip will prevent you from slipping and sliding around the court as you hit the ball back and forth. Keep in mind the type of court you are playing on.  

You may play tennis on softer courts, such as clay and grass, or tougher concrete courts. Tougher courts will wear out your shoes faster, so you may need more durability through a tougher sole material and added cushioning to help absorb the shock. Softer courts call for shoes that focus on the grip as they tend to be more slippery. 

Tennis puts a lot of force through your feet and legs, so having a good amount of cushioning will help reduce the force and strain on your muscles and tissues. This means you won’t tire as quickly, you’ll be less prone to injury, and your feet will feel better after a big day on the court. 

Because you’ll be going backwards and forwards to get to the ball, make sure there’s plenty of room at the toes in case your toes slide forward slightly. Players often drag the front of the shoe when moving backwards, so having a durable material or additional reinforcement at the toe box is often a good idea. 

If you want to know more about tennis shoes or are having any problems with your feet, legs or your tennis game, come in and see our team at Elite Foot Care. Give us a call on 07 5328 5388. 

Categories
Biomechanical Podiatry Sports Podiatry

Knee, Hip & Foot Pain from Lawn Bowls

Knee, hip and foot pain are common injuries caused by Lawn Bowls. Lawn bowls is a very common game played across Australia, with statistics showing over 500,000 Australian’s will play lawn bowls every year. Lawn bowls is a great way for people to develop their skills, coordination and fitness. As we all know – it is very important to remain fit, active and social as we grow into our wiser years. 

At Elite Foot Care we will often have patients coming in with bowls-related injuries. The most common injuries we see as a result of lawn bowls include:

How can we reduce our risk of bowls related injuries?

  • Warm up and stretch before play to improve joint range of motion, promote elasticity of tendons and ligaments and prevent muscular strain.
  • Wearing appropriate footwear and support: Not all feet are the same. Make sure your shoes are well suited for what you need – and most of all, are comfortable!
  • Undertake balance training and exercises to strengthen the lower extremities, back and neck, to help prevent falls.
  • Technique is key. Talk to fellow bowlers or coaches and ensure you’re not placing unnecessary strain on muscles and tendons.
  • Cool down after play to prevent stiffness and cardiovascular complications. Yes a nice cold beverage is always needed – however make sure you spend some time gently stretching your muscles. 

How can Elite Foot Care help with your pain?

Our team are qualified in managing high-level musculoskeletal injuries from the hip to the big toe. Elite Foot Care is fitted with high performance technology which can be utilised to assess your force production and strength of all muscles of the lower limb. 

Patient education is valued highly within our clinic, as we prioritise all patients leaving our clinic with a strong understanding of the issue and how we will best manage the condition. 

Our podiatrists utilise treatments including:

  • Shockwave therapy – regenerating tendon and muscle injuries
  • Custom foot orthotics – redistribute pressure and offload the soft tissue which is overloaded
  • Dry needing and mobilisation – reduce muscle tension with hands on treatment 
  • Exercise therapy – provide tailored exercise programs to ensure your injury does not return

Our podiatrists are well educated in the physical requirements of lawn bowls and are well-suited to help you with any niggles you have acquired.  

If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment, please telephone us on (07) 5328 3588 and one of our friendly team will assist you as best the can. 

Categories
Biomechanical Podiatry Sports Podiatry

Issues Caused by Limb Length Difference

Do You Have A Limb Length Difference?

At Elite Foot Care we will always check for the possibility of a limb length difference as part of our assessment.

In addition to this, we will also determine if it’s a true structural limb length difference or what we refer to as a functional limb length difference. 

What’s the difference?

A structural limb length difference means the actual bones in the lower leg, when measured, are different lengths, whereas a functional limb length difference means the bones in the legs are the same length, however when you stand it looks like one leg is shorter than the other, and the hips are visually uneven.

A functional limb length difference can be caused by a range of things, including muscles tightness in the lower back hips, spinal scoliosis or other soft tissue issues around your core and hip structures.

There is a high level of importance regarding determining whether your limb length difference is structural or functional – as the recommended treatments vastly differ.

The Best Way to Measure

Simply looking at the level of the hips while you are standing or looking at x-rays of the hips is not an accurate way to determine if a limb length exists.

A best way, and what we do at Elite Foot Care is to manually measure the right and left legs by picking a particular point in the front of the hip, and a second point on the inside of the ankle bone.

This method will give a more accurate guide as to determining if there is a true limb length difference exists. If they measure the same length, but visually your hips look uneven, then we can confidently say that you have an apparent limb length difference.

If we are unable to accurately determine your limb length difference, we may utilise a full-length x-ray to provide a very detailed assessment of your leg length and alignment.

Benefits of Podiatry

Here’s where our skill as podiatrists comes into play and what sets us apart from every other health profession. A patient can have both, meaning the legs can be different lengths and there can also be muscle tightness in the lower back. 

If a structural limb length problem is identified, a simple heel lift can be made, to the appropriate height requirement, and placed within the shoe.

A heel lift, up to 10mm can easily be made on the spot during a consultation, or the heel lift can be added to an existing orthotic insole device. Heel lifts greater than 15mm may need to be added to the outside of the shoe.

If you have a functional limb length difference, long-term use of heel lifts is not a good idea as it can lead to further muscular problems in the back. Once again, highlighting the importance of a proper assessment from our podiatrist.

If you’ve had ongoing foot, knee, hip and back problems that have not responded to other therapies, please consider seeing one of our highly trained podiatrists to see if a limb length difference exists. 

Our Senior Podiatrist Discusses Limb Length Difference

To make an appointment at Elite Foot Care, please phone (07) 5328 3588 and one of our friendly team will find a suitable time for you. 

Categories
Biomechanical Podiatry Sports Podiatry

Podiatrists Working in Sport

How can podiatrists benefit athletes and sports teams?

  1. Prevention

Injury prevention plays a very key role in both individual and team performance. Large sporting bodies including UEFA (soccer) have scientifically proven that teams with less injuries will have greater success when compared to other teams.

Our podiatrists have experience in screening and implementing preventative protocols for all lower limb injuries – including hamstring injuries, knee injuries, ankle injuries and much more. With a thorough understanding of the most up-to-date research we are able to formulate our prevention programs to the highest of qualities.

What is included in our injury prevention models?

  • Quantified strength assessments: We utilise modern validated methods to quantify your strength and compare our findings with normative values. We will establish any strength deficits which may contribute to injury risk.
  • Gait (walking and running) assessments: With our video gait analysis we are able to record and accurately review your gait patterns – with considerations on whether this may influence your risk of injury or reduce your performance.
  • Flexibility assessments: Range of motion is very important. We will always include thorough range of motion testing from the hip joint to the big toe!

The findings of your assessment will allow a personalised and tailored program to ensure the risk of injury is minimised.

  1. Maintaining Peak Performance

Everyone enjoys results. All our hard work is often reflected on our 5km time, our throwing distance or how far we can jump. Podiatrists can work with other health professionals to ensure you remain your best one step at a time.

Similar to our screening and prevention assessment, our podiatrists undertake a needs analysis of you and your sport – ensuring we have a full understanding of what is involved. This may include the strength and conditioning demands, the high impact movements involved or the busy training and playing schedule which you have ahead.

As mentioned previously, working as a team is pivotal. We acknowledge the importance of liaising with coaching staff, your strength and conditioning coaches or other key personnel (physiotherapists, chiropractors or doctors).

  1. Injury Diagnosis and Rehabilitation

Hip to the toes, our podiatrists have seen it all. Working with the lower limb every day allows us to refine and improve our knowledge on all lower limb sporting injuries. Our podiatrists will see niggling hip injuries, acute hamstring injuries or ankle and foot injuries all within a day in the clinic.

An accurate diagnosis is important when optimising your personalised injury rehabilitation. Podiatrists have the ability to refer for imaging (if necessary) to ensure we identify the severity of an injury. Once established we will take the time to inform you on the condition. We take pride in having our patients leave our clinic well informed with no question leaving unanswered.

Exercise-based rehabilitation has become a mainstay in ensuring the most optimal recovery of soft tissue or joint injuries. Any muscle strain, or joint sprain can create a significant impact on strength and tissue health. If the injury is not addressed appropriately, athletes have a higher risk off re-injury.

Stay tuned over the upcoming months as our podiatrists begin to breakdown common sporting injuries, how we can address these injuries and how to prevent these injuries reoccurring.

Our Podiatry clinics are located within Sippy Downs and Woombye. Our podiatrists look forward to seeing you in the clinic, keeping you fit and active one step at a time.

Categories
Biomechanical Podiatry Sports Podiatry

What Is A Gait Assessment?

Simply watching someone walk down a hallway is simple and should not be used as the only assessment tool, especially if you’ve had an accident or long-term injury. 

Using video to evaluate a patient’s gait is more accurate, especially when it is used in conjunction with a treadmill. In most circumstances one camera is used, and it is set up at the rear of the treadmill.

This video information should be recorded and then reviewed frame-by-frame using specific software, which can accurately measure various angles. 

A more professional set up though is using two video cameras so your walking or running pattern can be evaluated from both rear and side viewpoints, and these images are synced for a better overall assessment.

When a Podiatrist performs a gait assessment, emphasis will be placed on the lower limbs, and so it should be if you’ve been having foot and lower limb issues, and ongoing injuries.

Your Podiatrist will pay special attention to your foot position, ankle range of motion and your knee and hip positioning. 

As part of an overall assessment though, the upper body is also viewed, and if an abnormality is identified you may be referred to your Physiotherapist or Chiropractor for further assessment and treatment if necessary.  

At your assessment, make sure you take your old and current footwear, because specific foot-types will show different wear patterns, and this will vary between footwear styles.

Video, can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of particular running shoes, and can easily identify if one style of running shoe is better than another. This is important if you’ve used different running shoe brands and you’re considering changing brands.

If a problem is identified, our highly-trained Podiatrists will offer various treatment options.

Yes, some patients do require orthotics, however others may simply benefit from professional footwear advice, stretching and strengthening, or one of our other treatment protocols.

We’ll only know what is best for you after you’ve had a proper gait assessment, and at Elite Foot Care we have the team and the equipment necessary to achieve this outcome.  

If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment for an assessment, please telephone our clinic on (07) 5328 3588, and one of our friendly team will be able to assist you.