Practice details
This practice aims to provide the best possible treatment and advice in treating lower limb injuries by maintaining an awareness and use of the latest technical and research advances associated to podiatry.
What is podiatry?
Podiatry is the profession that focuses on the care of the foot and ankle and the relationship between the function of the foot on lower limb injuries. There are two main areas of Podiatry. These include treatment of lower limb and foot injuries and general foot care.
Focus areas of this practice
Difficult lower limb and foot problems
Orthoses for sports
Post-operative care
Running training
Running technique
Footwear for walking and running
What are the most common problems treated in this practice?
Shin pain
Knee pain
Tendon pain of the ankle and Achilles
Fractures
Corns, callous and nail problems
Heel pain
Joint and bunion pain
What are orthoses?
Orthoses are insoles that correct foot alignment and pressure areas to assist in alleviating pain and to correct the alignment of the lower limb.
Orthoses in this practice
Orthoses are used conservatively in this practice due to:
Individual adaptation to alignment and compensations.
Most problems are improved with small to moderate changes.
Forces during walking and running are large and repetitive, so small to moderate changes have a large effect.
The Podiatrist needs to learn how and if intervention can help positively.
The Podiatrist needs to learn how an individual tolerates any change in alignment.
See the downloadable handouts in the Useful Info section for information.
Post-operative care
Often there are three stages where Podiatry may assist.
1. massage, mobilising and to begin weight bearing as soon as possible.
2. stand and walk with even weight-bearing as soon as possible and to overcome any compensations.
3. correct any asymmetry or mechanical anomaly with footwear, insoles and orthoses if required.
Running training
Advice regarding running training is important for the return from injury and for injury prevention. This is a major aspect of this practice in the management of injury histories.
Running technique
Review of running technique is a strong focus of this practice due to the significant effect on lower limb loading and injury prevention.
Footwear
This practice has a strong focus on the use and effects of footwear in treating lower limb problems. Footwear in sports is a priority and an awareness of latest trends and models is maintained by keeping close contact with retailers and shoe companies.
General foot care
This involves management of nail and skin problems. General foot care involves nail care and the debriding of skin lesions including callous and corns. Ingrown toenails are also treated and often a small procedure to partially excise the nail is required.