Pain at the heel is one of the most commonly treated podiatry complaints. There are a variety of different conditions that may cause heel pain. The most common being plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis can be very painful and is usually worse when you first step out of bed. Other conditions that can affect the heel are spurs, bursitis, and Achilles heel pain – more commonly known as Achilles tendonitis or Achilles tendinopathy, this is especially common in runners.

What causes pain in the heel of the foot?

Feet with flat or high arches are at particular risk due to the traction of the thick tendon called the plantar fascia located at the bottom of the foot. This tendon is responsible for shock absorption when we walk, run and jump.

The plantar facial tendon inserts at the calcaneus (heel bone) and attaches at the ball of the foot. When we stand for long periods of time our feet become fatigued, causing tight muscles which results in micro tears and stress in the plantar facial tendon. Long-term stress on the plantar fascia can cause chronic pain and inflammation.

Common heel pain causes

• Incorrect biomechanics (pronation, supination)
• Acute injury or tearing of the plantar fascia similar to an ankle sprain
• Recent weight gain can contribute to overloading
• A new exercise training program
• Incorrect footwear with no support
• High arched/rigid feet may also experience abnormal tractional forces on the plantar fascia
• Nerve entrapment

The Foot Smart Podiatry can offer evidenced-based treatment plans to help with all your heel pain

• Custom foot orthotics
• Foot mobilisation
• Deep tissue massage
• Dry needling
• Taping
• Correct footwear
• Personal stretching and strengthening program tailored to your condition
• Gait retraining

For more information on Heel Pain refer to this link.

For all your nail care needs the team at the Footsmart are here to help. Call us today or Book Online.

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Why do we get them?

• Improper cutting can alter the growth of your nail causing it to grow into the tissue of the toe
• Footwear – Poor fitting footwear that squeezes your toes together, or footwear with poor fixation that allows your foot to slide around – eg. no laces, straps, too tight or shoes that don’t fit well, can all prevent normal nail growth and place excess pressure on the nail bed leading to ingrown toenails.
• Genetics – A family history of ingrown toenails can increase your chances of acquiring an ingrown toenail.
• Injury – Kicking or dropping something on your toe can result in the nail growing into the tissue.

How can Footsmart treat your Ingrown Toenail?

Our Podiatrists can remove the offending section of nail conservatively. We will also show you the correct way of addressing (trimming) your nails without causing damage to the surrounding tissue.

If your ingrown toenail is recurring  Footsmart can offer permanent removal of your ingrown toenail with non-invasive nail surgery. This procedure is simple, painless and assures that the nail causing your pain will not return.

For all your nail care needs the team at the Footsmart are here to help. Call us today or Book Online.

The post What causes Ingrown Toenails and how to treat them appeared first on Footsmart Podiatry.

Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men due to the declining levels of oestrogen during menopause. When oestrogen levels drop this affects the level of minerals in the bone such as calcium and this can affect bone density. Women lose approximately 2% of their bone density per year after menopause. (Osteoporosis Australia, 2017)

Loss of bone density can lead to an increased likelihood of fractures. Even the smallest bump might cause a fracture with osteoporosis. Fractures can lead to chronic pain, disability and even premature death. In 2012, the total costs of osteoporosis and osteopenia in Australians over 50 years of age were $2.75 billion. (Osteoporosis costing all Australians, 2013)

To prevent fractures caused by osteoporosis, a multi- disciplinary approach is required by GP’s, occupational therapists, nutritionists, physiotherapists and podiatrists. Podiatrists can advise patients on balance and strengthening exercises as well as advise appropriate footwear and orthoses to help prevent falls.

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