Victoria Park Podiatry specialises
in both sports and family foot care. Below is a list of
only some common conditions which we treat. If you believe
you or someone in your family may have any of the conditions
below, or if you have any concerns regarding you or your
family's feet, please feel free to
contact us. Our podiatrist
will carry out an appropriate assessment to provide you
with a diagnosis and treatment plan suited to your lifestyle
and needs.
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Ankle sprains are common
sports injuries, and are characterised by pain
following twisting or excessive force on the
ankle. It is also common to see bruising or
swelling around the ankle too.
Athlete's foot, commonly
known as Tinea, is caused by fungus in between
the toes. Signs and symptoms include dry skin,
itching, inflammation redness and blisters between
the toes. Tinea Vesiculare is another fungal
complaint of the foot that often presents with
small blisters under the arch of the foot. Seek
advise from our podiatrist on an appropriate
antifungal treatment suited to you.
A bunion is often described
as a lump on the foot at the base of the big
toe. Bunions refer to the deviation of the big
toe towards the outside of the foot. This deviation
occurs from the big toe joint and causes the
foot to become broader and affects the function
of the big toe. Bunions most frequently appear
in middle age, but can sometimes appear in childhood.
Bunions are more common in women, and generally
get worse over time. Many people think that
the cause of bunions is through footwear but
most bunions are caused due to the biomechanics
of the foot and the way we walk. Certain foot
types are more prone to developing this condition.
Some bunions cause no pain or symptoms while
others do. Symptoms include pain, inflammation,
redness, a burning sensation or numbness around
the site of the bunion. It is important to have
your bunions assessed by a podiatrist
to ensure a treatment regime suited for you.
Our podiatrist will carry out a thorough biomechanical
assessment to determine the cause.
A callus is an area of thickened
hard skin, which is formed in response to excessive
pressure applied to the area. Callus formation
can be due to a biomechanical abnormality or
tight fitting footwear and some people are more
prone to developing calluses than others. Callus
can be painful on direct pressure, especially
in shoes, and can create a burning sensation
in the area.
Corns are a more pinpoint area of hard thick
skin and usually have a deep seated core. Treatment
involves taking out the deep core of a corn
and/or debriding the dead callus away. Our podiatrist
will also be able to provide you with footwear
advice to reduce these pressure areas and prevent
the calluses/corns from returning as quickly.
In severe cases orthotics may be prescribed
to offload these high pressure areas.
Flat feet is a very common
condition seen in our clinic and can occur in
both children and adults. If your child develops
pain in the arches, ankles, or lower leg it
is important that they get their feet evaluated
by a podiatrist. We treat children from all
age groups starting at 18 months. It is never
too early to bring your child in for a biomechanical
examination especially if you start noticing
flat feet together with frequent tripping and
bruising.
Adults can also have flat feet known as the
adult-acquired flatfoot which arises due to
the weakening of the posterior tibialis positerior
muscle over time. If you are unsure what is
the cause of your flat feet see our podiatrist
for a complete biomechanical examination and
treatment plan for your foot type.
Fungal toenails (onychomycosis)
are thickened, discoloured nails with debris/buildup
beneath them. This is a very common complaint
amongst our senior clients. Seek advice from
our podiatrist on an antifungal treatment plan
suited to you.
Hammertoe is a deformity characterised
by the 2nd, 3rd or 4th toes being bent at the
middle joint, causing it to resemble a hammer.
Hammertoes start flexible but can become rigid
which may require surgery. It is common for
people with a hammertoe(s) to feel pain in their
toes and have difficulty finding comfortable
shoes. They many also suffer from corns or calluses
on the top of the middle joint of their toe.
It is important to seek advice from a podiatrist
on a treatment plan suitable for you and ways
to prevent further development of the deformity.
An ingrown toenail is a condition where
the toenail grows and a portion of the nail
forms a jagged edge (spicule) and begins to
protrude into the nail bed. Signs and symptoms
of an ingrown toenail include pain along the
edge of the nails, sensitivity to touch, redness,
or swelling. Ingrown toenails should be treated
immediately as they can become easily infected.
Whilst antibiotics may sometimes be required,
antibiotics alone are generally not a long term
solution for the problem. The nail spicule must
be removed. In persistent and severe cases nail
surgery or a partial nail avulsion may be required.
This is a minor surgical procedure conducted
under local anaesthetic in the podiatry consultation
rooms. If you experience any of the above signs
and symptoms, contact our podiatrist for advice
and treatment. Our podiatrist can also offer
advice on how to prevent ingrown toenails from
occurring again.
This generally occurs when the patella
(knee cap) does not move or ‘track’ correctly
when the knee is being bent. Symptoms include
aching/pain/tenderness in the knee, particularly
when bending and straightening the leg. Swelling
is common and walking up or down hills/stairs
exacerbates the pain. There are a number of
causes of patellofemoral pain syndrome including
overloading the joint with specific activities
such as running, over-pronation and other biomechanical
problems such as knock-knees and quadrecep muscle
imbalance. Our podiatrist can help treat your
knee pain. Treatment often includes
orthotics
and appropriate footwear to realign the lower
limbs and correct abnormal mechanics, and stretching/strengthening
exercises should be adopted.
Metatarsalgia is a
general term used to denote an inflamed ball
of the foot. This can be exacerbated by a poor
foot structure, for example, a dropped metatarsal
head or a collapsing arch. The onset is usually
due to excessive pressure over a long period
of time, such as regular use of high heels,
tight fitting footwear or poor running shoes.
Also as we get older, the fat pad in our foot
tends to thin out, decreasing the natural cushioning
in the foot and making us much more susceptible
to pain in the ball-of-the-foot. By determining
the cause of the pain our podiatrist can determine
a treatment plan for you.
A neuroma is an enlarged
growth of nerves, most commonly occurring between
the 3rd and 4th toes (Morton’s Neuroma). Neuromas
are usually associated with a hypermobile (excessive
flexibility) foot type and flat feet. Excessive
movement of the joints in the forefoot results
in bones rubbing the nerves and causing them
to get thicker. Symptoms usually include burning,
shooting pains in the toes or in the ball of
the foot and numbness. Pain is often worse when
wearing footwear and walking If you are experiencing
these symptoms it is best to see our podiatrist
for a full foot examination. It is important
to treat the foot hypermobility together with
the symptoms and our podiatrist will determine
a treatment plan suitable for you.
This condition is
the most common condition we see and treat.
This is caused by the stretching of the plantar
fascia (the ligament through the arch) due to
flat feet and incorrect support in shoes. This
constant stretching can result in a tear in
the soft tissue, most often at the heel.
Most people complain of pain in the heel bone
and arches when they first get up out of bed,
or after long periods of rest. The pain generally
settles when moving about but can get worse
toward the end of the day. It is common in those
with flattened arches as the stretching on the
plantar fascia is more significant but it can
occur in any foot type. If you have the above
symptoms it is important to see our podiatrist
for a biomechanical assessment. Our podiatrist
will determine a treatment plan suited for you
with short-term treatment including anti-inflammatories
and long-term treatment through orthotic therapy
and footwear to support the arches.
This is a painful
inflammatory complaint that affects the two
small bones directly under the big toe joint.
This is caused when the joint is exposed to
too much pressure and is a common complaint
amongst those that are physically active and
have high arches or a dropped first metatarsal
(big toe joint). Our podiatrist will provide
ways to reduce pressure under the big toe joint
through padding and footwear as a short-term
measure and long term treatment through orthotic
therapy.
Shin Splints is a
term given to a collective group of conditions
causing pain on and along the front and inside
of the tibia (shin bone). These conditions range
from simple muscle overuse to acute compartment
syndrome which requires emergency treatment.
Shin Splints is a common complaint amongst athletes
and those that are physically active. It is
commonly associated with flat feet and inadequate
support in shoes. If you suffer from shin splints
it is important to seek advice from our podiatrist.
They will carry out a full biomechanical assessment
and treatment plan through footwear and orthotic
therapy.
Verrucae pedis (plantar
warts) are benign lesions that occur on the
bottom of the foot in both children and adults.
They are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus
(HPV), which is one of the more common viruses
and is the same virus that leads to warts on
the hands and other areas. Plantar warts having
a cauliflowered appearance with tiny pigments
throughout and are often mistaken for corns.
They can be painful and feel like a rock under
the foot when walking if they are on a pressure
point of the foot. Common causes include walking
barefoot in public amenities, locker rooms and
swimming in public swimming pools. It is important
to seek treatment by our podiatrist immediately
before the wart enlarges or spreads.
No information contained on this page constitutes
medical advice.
Remember to consult
our podiatrist first to ensure a proper
diagnosis and
treatment plan tailoredspecifically to your
needs and lifestyle.
