We know walking is good for us and monitoring our steps can help us become more active, but it can also be very hard on our feet. In a study compiled by the American Council of Exercise, of all the industrial countries surveyed Australians walk the most, taking an average of 9,695 steps each day whereas Americans stroll the least with 5,117 steps each day. With so much time on our feet, it is no wonder we often feel pain and discomfort in our feet and ankles.
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Custom Orthotics
There are some big myths surrounding orthotics, including that they weaken foot muscles, you may have to throw out your regular shoes and that they simply don’t work. It’s not a one-size-fits-all assessment and why at Swan Podiatry we take the time to assess your specific foot condition. Orthotics can only form part of the treatment plan with changes to activity, footwear and strengthening exercises often required. Encouraging people to buy more appropriate shoes is highly encouraged before recommending orthotics. If necessary, we then use state of the art 3D digital scanning equipment to take exact measures of your foot to help prescribe the most appropriate custom orthotic.
Diabetes
One of the most common symptoms of diabetes is damage to the nerves in the feet. In a recent study conducted by the Queensland University of Technology, the world’s diabetic footprint is on the increase. The report states that the diabetic foot is the leading cause of all global disability with 131 million people – that’s 1.8 per cent of everyone in the world – having a diabetic foot complication (either neuropathy, ulcers or amputations).
Foot care is critical for people with diabetes, and fortunately, many foot problems are actually preventable before the damage turns into a severe condition. According to Diabetic Foot Australia (DFA), 80 per cent of diabetes-related amputations are preventable with correct treatment and management plans. If you have any question about diabetes, contact us for information on our comprehensive foot care treatments and strategies.
Skin and Nail Checks
Most people may think you’ll only need to see a podiatrist when you have a severe issue, but many common skin and nail complaints can also be helped with a visit to a podiatrist. Just like regular check-ups at your dentist for your teeth, general podiatry can help with an assortment of issues such as painful corns, hard callus, cracked heels, plantar warts, fungal skin and nail infections, sweaty skin and deformed toenails.
And in the case that a curved or involuted nail has grown into a more significant issue, such as an ingrown nail, minor nail surgery may be necessary. At Swan Podiatry we can assess the best option of nail surgery, and it can be performed in the clinic room under local anaesthetic.
Sports Injury Plans
Sports injuries come in all types with the most common being plantar fasciitis, shin splints, Achilles tendonitis, knee pain, and ankle sprains. Podiatrists are trained to assess your biomechanics and to identify potential problems to reduce any risk of injury in the future.
Whether you have injured yourself playing sport or have painful feet in general, a biomechanics assessment can specify the bony or soft tissue structure involved in causing the pain in your feet or legs. After an initial consult assessment, a video gait analysis and physical examination is typically needed.
Video gait analysis is performed on a treadmill with the use of specific video analysis software, and we’re more than happy to discuss exactly how this works and the different phases of the gait cycle in your assessment, or contact us for more information.
If you believe you require one of our plans, checks or assessments, one of our podiatrists in Darwin will assess your feet and make recommendations on how to put your best feet forward.
Author
Cable Mills
Cable Mills is the Senior Podiatrist at Swan Podiatry and Orthotics in Darwin.
He studied Podiatry at Charles Stuart University and has worked in busy podiatry practices in Darwin and Melbourne since graduating in 2011. He has a passion for sport and biomechanics and finds it rewarding to be able to make a difference to people’s lives.
Cable opened the first practice of Swan Podiatry and Orthotics at the beginning of 2016. His areas of expertise are sports injuries, orthotic therapy, general treatment, nail surgery, fracture management and diabetic care.
