A DICTIONARY DEFINITION: Orthoses n. – from Greek ortho, to straighten. Custom-designed external devices used to control or counteract the effect of an actual or developing deformity.
I only provide orthotics if they are appropriately indicated. There are many types of orthotic materials that I have tested with THOUSANDS of kilometres of use over varied terrain plus in race conditions on road, on the track and cross country and in bike shoes. I have run, raced and won many athletics events, including Outright 1st place in a Marathon, Interclub Athletics Finals, State Championships, Age Group wins in athletics and triathlon events. Based upon training and race success, I recommend accurate slipper casting as a first step. Then after discussing specific needs, an orthotic material is selected and the orthotic shells will be vacuum formed. The orthotics that I provide are not computer milled. They are individually made and hand finished. “Soft Orthotics” when indicated, can be made and are heat moulded, shaped and ground then trimmed to fit. My goal is a good fit of functional orthotics into your shoes. CAD CAM and 3D Printed orthotics utilise emerging technologies and the long-term efficacy is not proven. My comments arise from years of experience academic, professional and sporting. I engage an orthotic laboratory that only uses best quality materials.
Footwear is forever changing and it can be difficult to find suitable shoes.
I can recommend local shoe retailers that will listen, help and advise on everyday footwear and specific footwear for work and orthotics. These helpful small businesses are focused on individual fitting and personalised service. Running shoes and sport shoes utilise emerging technology, not necessarily best practice. There is plenty of persuasive talk and marketing. There are sporting footwear retailers also focused on fitting and excellent service. I believe that the role of small business is important and shoe fitting is a significant example.
Feet are for life. It is important to identify any developmental issues that children may have with their feet. Lower leg and foot problems may arise without causing pain. Some signs of developmental foot problems are flat feet, “rolling in”, “tired” legs, feet that turn inwards/outwards, a bouncing gait and/or toe walking. Children may have leg pain, calf pain, knee pain, heel pain or shin pain that arises from their foot posture and or musculo-skeletal factors. I can provide assessment, diagnosis, advice plus treatment for lower limb and gait problems with consideration of the child’s age, stage of growth, plus their sport and recreational activities.
Ingrown toenails, a common problem that may occur for a number of reasons. The corner or edge of the nail may puncture the skin. This can arise from incorrect cutting and cause an infection which can often be managed conservatively. A familial pattern of toenail growth may be the cause of a recurrent curving of the toenail, leading to problems.
If an ingrown toenail is particularly bad or recurrent, a permanent corrective procedure can be performed. This decision is made after discussion with the patient.
Warts are a common skin lesion that may affect the foot. Plantar warts are on the sole of the foot and sometimes misdiagnosed as corns.
These two lesions are completely different and need to be treated accordingly. A correct diagnosis is important. A plantar wart is caused by a virus that affects skin. They may occur singularly or form clusters if they remain untreated. They can be easily spread, becoming large and painful, so they are best treated promptly. The wart affected tissue can be treated in a variety of ways. To restore normal skin without scarring is best practice. One treatment plan (Marigold Therapy) uses a natural organic remedy which is painless. This is very useful for diabetic patients and children where chemical treatment may not be appropriate.
As a Podiatrist, I have many years of experience caring for diabetic patients. This condition may affect the circulation and nerve function of the legs and feet and can cause a variety of problems. We can provide conservative care for “at risk” feet, the removal of corns and callus, the management of difficult thickened nails. Neurovascular assessment with the reduction and offloading of pressure areas can redistribute pressure to prevent ulcers and assist healing of wounds.
As part of diabetes management We can liaise with your Doctor and other health professionals. If you are diabetic, this treatment may be part of a diabetic team care arrangement that can prepared by your doctor via Medicare.
We can provide advice based upon exercise physiology for general fitness, remedial purposes and competition fitness. To help you realise your goals, We can assist you with advice on footwear, stretching, muscle strengthening and conditioning, revision of training methods and orthotics.
If necessary We can arrange referrals to other health professionals to investigate and collaborate in managing injury problems, training plans and trauma management.
As a podiatrist, runner and triathlete, We have developed a special interest in bike fit with specific reference to Duathlon and Triathlon.
Bike Fit starts with musculoskeletal and biomechanical evaluation. We can provide a comprehensive bike fit to address problems being experienced with cycling, plus improve your performance and the enjoyment of cycling. A bike fit includes measuring power output at the pedal and may extend to peak power output related to cadence and heart rate.
The adjustment of riding position to improve performance plus a corrective strength and stretching exercises program may also benefit running.
