After any increased activity levels, there may be an increased risk of injury or pain.
If your children’s legs or feet are hurting – or perhaps your child is not keeping up with peers in physical activities – please see a health professional such as a podiatrist – we are the foot health experts after all!
*Source foothealthaustralia.org.au
Follow these 6 steps when shopping for school shoes for your child:
If you are unsure, come into the clinic – we offer a free back to school check pre term, for school children with any queries or concerns about their legs or feet. Call 5223 1531 to book.
Pain can be a subjective experience, yet no matter how it is packaged it shouldn’t be ignored. To avoid pain it is important to have shoes that fit well and are comfortable, since pain in your feet can trigger a ‘chain effect’ of pain elsewhere such as in your hips or knees.
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*Source foothealthaustralia.org.au
Correctly fitted shoes can make a big difference to your foot health. In fact, up to twice your bodyweight in force is applied through your feet and legs with every step. And did you know that your longest toe may not necessarily be your big toe? Bear this in mind when being fitted for shoes.
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*Source foothealthaustralia.org.au
Bruising of the toenails is very common. It can occur because of an injury (i.e. dropping something on it) or from repetitive stress to the area. This is frequently occurring in ballet dancers and football players due to the nature of their activities.
– If it causes any pain
– If the nail breaks, thickens, cracks or lifts from the nail bed
– If the bruising is not going away
– If the bruising has defined borders or occurs in a strip
– Cut and file the nail
– Monitor it for changes
– Offload the area with paddings and/or orthotics
– Provide footwear recommendations
– Activity modifications
Car accident and the lower limbs
Trauma to the lower limbs will cause varying degrees of symptoms and/or disability depending on the location and severity of the injury. In some causes a nerve may be heavily injured which will result changes to sensation and muscle function. This is particularly evident in injuries to the outside knee. There are very vulnerable nerves in this location which innervate the muscles of the lower limb. This may lead to muscle inactivity and/or weakness.
What can podiatry do?
We look at the muscle strength and the impact any changes will have on lower limb function. Depending on individual circumstance, the presentation may require a foot or ankle orthotic, strengthening program or footwear recommendations and alterations.
Most often injuries like this involve a multi-disciplinary team approach with occupational therapists, physiotherapists and/or exercise physiologist.
We strive to help achieve the best possible outcomes for the patient and focus on improving quality of life.
High heels place increased load on the forefoot. Over time this can lead to blisters and the development of callus beneath the foot. Soft tissues along the forefoot also can undergo enormous pressure. Increased load may cause stress to these tissues which may lead to injuries such as stress fractures or inflammation to the area.
Additionally, with extended use of high heels, muscles along the posterior of the legs can tighten and reduce the range of motion of joints such as the ankle. This will mean, that when you return to flat shoes, the tendons and other soft tissues undergo a lot of tension and the risk of injury increases.
There are two small bones under the hallux (big toe) of both feet called sesamoids. These bones are designed to create a mechanical advantage for the muscles, take some weightbearing and elevate the metatarsal bone off the ground. These bones are relatively small and due to their location, can be easily overloaded. This can occur from an acute injury or from a chronic overloading.
An ankle sprain may relate to ligament damage to the medial (inside), lateral (outside) or syndesmosis (‘high ankle sprain’) of the ankle.
Sprains result from over-extension joint, putting high levels of load through the ligaments to resist these forces. Most commonly these injuries will occur during high impact activity with different sports carrying higher risk for some injuries.
Symptoms
Treatment
Phalanges have many attachments such as muscles (via tendons), ligaments and other soft tissue.
Fractures of the toe bones are almost always traumatic fractures. Treatment for traumatic fractures depends on the break itself and may include these options:
Some people say that “the doctor can’t do anything for a broken bone in the foot.” This is usually not true. In fact, if a fractured toe or metatarsal bone is not treated correctly, serious complications may develop. For example: