Production of hormones during pregnancy have enormous effects on your feet. The most significant change to feet during pregnancy is relaxation of ligaments which may cause ankle and foot instability and bit you at a greater injury risk
·Weight gain which is an obvious expectation during pregnancy puts a greater load through feet and lower legs
·There is also a centre of gravity shift as your baby grows which alters posture of not only your body but your feet!
Nail surgery is a common procedure performed by most podiatrists to effectively treat an ingrown toenail: a nail that has pierced (or is pressing against) the adjacent skin of the toe causing pain and inflammation and sometimes infection.
Surgery may be required when an ingrown toenail repeatedly gets infected, is continually painful, when the patient is unable to wear shoes or the condition inhibits work, sporting or other activities.
Before surgery is recommended, your podiatrist will explore other, more conservative treatment options.
A ‘Partial Nail Avulsion’ (known as a PNA or nail root and matrix resection) is a minor nail procedure performed under local anaesthetic. The offending portion of the nail is gently lifted and trimmed away, generally without the toe being cut or stitched. Both sides or the entire nail may be removed this way. A chemical may also be used, at this point, to assist in preventing nail regrowth.
Prior to ingrown nail surgery your podiatrist will conduct a complete assessment, taking a medical history, a list of any medications that have been prescribed for you, as well as considering any other clinical factors that will determine whether or not this surgery is suited to you. An assessment will generally also include an examination of blood supply to the foot.
Ingrown nail surgery aims to permanently treat ingrown toenails The procedure is performed in the podiatrists’ rooms and takes around one hour. You will be able to walk immediately afterwards, however, you will need to have someone take you home after the procedure.
As with any surgical procedure there is some risk of complication, however, this procedure is known to be very safe and effective.
The most common side-effects are post-operative infection, in the short term, and the possibility of regrowth of the nail over time. The risks of infection can be minimised through good post-operative care and your podiatrist will advise and assist with your after surgery care.
Nurses have a higher incidence of lower limb musculoskeletal complaints compared to other occupations. Working on hard surfaces for long hours coupled with shift work are some of the contributing factors, however, footwear is a modifiable risk factor to reduce the incidence of injury in nurses. We recommend nurses change their footwear every 6 months and to consider the following when purchasing new shoes:
Total Care Podiatry now has two ‘TELEHEALTH’ options if you are unable to leave your home:
This will enable us to adjust your treatment plan from the comfort of your own home.
The billing for these will be the same as usual for NDIS and Veterans. For patients with a Chronic Diseases Management plan (for Medicare rebates) we are able to bulk bill with a new Item number provided by Medicare. For private patients the Fee is $30. Some health funds are providing a rebate for TeleHealth consultations. Check with your Health Fund.
If you’re not sure about whether TeleHealth is right for you please give us a call on 5223 1531 to discuss your situation.
If you have any questions, concerns or special requirements please give us a call on 5223 1531 and we’ll do our best to help you.
Call 5223 1531 to book
Is exercise ⛹️♀️ hurting your feet?
Walking is great exercise but sometimes your feet don’t appreciate it.
If you need orthotics, prescription is everything. A pair of off the shelf insoles are just not going to cut it.
Total Care Custom Orthotics are designed and prescribed specifically for you to improve the function of your feet and your body’s ability to compensate biomechanical misalignment.
Our In-House milling machine ensures the Same Day Orthotics service will reduce your visits out and about during the COVID-19 crisis.
For no extra charge our Same Day Orthotics offer includes:
?Comprehensive Initial Musculoskeletal consultation
?Plantar pressure and video gait analysis
?3D and 2D scanning of feet
?Custom prescribed orthotics CADCam designed and milled
All on the same day!
Mention this offer when you call ☎️ 5223 1531
Around 400 BC the Greek Physician said “Walking is man’s best medicine”
If your daily exercise now involves walking you should be comfortable! Here are some of our common tips and tricks to find a perfect pair of walking shoes:
1) Buy your shoes at the end of the day when your feet are more likely to be swollen.
2) Look at your old shoes for hints on the type of foot you have – if you are a pronator/supinator/neutral. This can help with finding your next pair.
3) Most people benefit from a small heel pitch – we recommend you see a podiatrist, but try a shoe with a 10mm heel pitch and see how you feel.
4) For a durable shoe you will need a durable upper – that is the part that covers your foot. Soft leather is a good option. The upper should also be flexible and bend easily where your toes bend – the shoe should not bend where your arch is.
5) It’s best to go and try the shoes on before buying or ensure the online shop offers returns if they are not right. The shoes should be comfortable, and you should be able to press your thumb between your longest toe and the end of the shoe.
Socks provide an interface between our feet and the shoes we choose to wear. Generally, closed in footwear is designed to wear a sock with, so choosing appropriate ones can make a great difference to how the shoe feels!
Understand the pros and cons of different materials, so that when you are looking at the sock ingredients, you know what you’re in for!
Injury can really impact you physically and mentally. It is important to take care of yourself when injured and allow your body to heal – be patient and be kind to yourself. If you have a lower leg injury that you cannot bear any weight on, we recommend you visit your local ED or GP as soon as possible.
If you can wait to see your podiatrist,the following points are very helpful for you to consider and bring to your appointment:
1) When did the pain start? Were you injured or has this happened over time?
2) What kind of pain is it i.e. sharp, dull, ache, pins and needles, numbness?
3) How intense does the pain get? (1-10 /10 scale, 10 being the worst pain)
4) Where is the pain? Does the location move or are you getting any referred pain?
5) What aggravates the pain? i.e. increase in walking, first thing in the morning, going up on tip toes?
6) What is the pain preventing you from doing?
7) What makes the pain better? i.e. ice, heat, rest
8) What is your overall goal?
If you can have a think about these questions before seeing your healthcare professional, it can really help us in the consultation. If you need to wait a few days before an appointment, we recommend you keep a pain diary for those three days so we can really knuckle down to why you are in pain and get started on treatment!
Whatever your level of activity or whatever age you are, EVERYONE will benefit from Calf Raise exercises.
Your calf complex is made up of your soleus and gastrocnemius muscles. They help us in every day activities including simply walking. Strong calf muscles enable us to jump, skip and run with more force and will prevent injury with these activities too!
Some basic calf exercises
Stand with your toes pointing straight ahead and feet slightly apart. Raise onto your toes for a count of 4, hold for a count of 2 and slowly descend for a count of three. Repeat for 2 minutes 3 – 4 times per week.
Stand with your feet at 45 degrees with the heels together. Raise onto your toes for a count of 4, hold for a count of 2 and slowly descend for a count of three. Repeat for 2 minutes 3 – 4 times per week.
Stand with your feet at 45 degrees with the Big toes together. Raise onto your toes for a count of 4, hold for a count of 2 and slowly descend for a count of three. Repeat for 2 minutes 3 – 4 times per week.
For a gold coin donation to Kids Plus, Total Care Podiatry provides a specific Paediatric Clinic that focuses on our little one’s feet and legs: from 6 months – 6 years old.
We have been seeing little people for over 30 years now at Total Care Podiatry and we’ve noticed lately that more and more people are looking for advice regarding their children’s feet and how they crawl or walk. In response, this monthly children’s clinic is designed to answer these questions in a one on one assessment of each child in a child friendly environment.
There are a lot of changes in the legs and feet during the first 6 years and most of these are perfectly normal. Sometimes, however, there are concerns which will need treatment. The key is understanding what’s normal development and what’s not.
If you are worried your child walks or crawls differently to your friend’s children and are concerned about whether everything looks okay, this 15 minute one on one assessment is very helpful