Often Podiatrists will see patients coming through with the idea that they are sporting the best available footwear on the market, and often they are not far off the mark. A lot of these so called “good” footwear options may be 2 to 3 years old, worn out and to be honest may be causing […]
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Osteoarthritis affects 2.2 million Australians. The condition costs our health system $2.1 billion per year. People with osteoarthritis are frequently provided misinformation via friends, family, social media and other health professionals. Exposure to misinformation changes the decisions people make in relation to their health care and it is our responsibility as physiotherapists to address […]
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Firstly let’s address the difference between a Podiatrist and a Physiotherapist. A podiatrist role in managing lower limb injuries is based around addressing causative factors through biomechanical analysis, footwear advice or incorporation of orthosis. Whereas a physiotherapist helps patients to restore, maximise and maintain their physical strength and function through identifying potential physical or biomechanical […]
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Chilblains are damage to the skin caused by changes in temperatures typically affecting the hands and feet. The small blood vessels that supply the skin dilate and contract in response to changing temperature, fast changes can cause the leaking of fluid and chemicals under the skin causing swelling and injury to the skin. Chilblains are […]
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One of the most frequently asked questions I get in the clinic from patients are the concerning sounds like clicking, popping, snapping produced my movement. These noises can be concerning to the patient therefore leading to think that movement is aggravating and damaging the affected area. As we age, these types of sensations become more […]
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Ingrown toenails are the most common cause of painful nails. The medical name for ingrown toenails is onychocryptosis and the first signs include swollen skin around the nail, tenderness to touch, and formation of granulation tissue, which can progress to become infected in some cases. They are very common among teenagers and young adults because […]
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As that time of year fast approaches where training re-commences for physical winter sports, all those niggling injuries from last season and over indulgence over the holidays can cause problems. A good, solid and progressive pre-season training regime is vital to maximise performance and minimise injuries. Here are three key benefits of completing a structured […]
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Our nervous system sends information via electrical and chemical pathways to the brain and spinal cord and then distributes these signals to the rest of the body. When the nerves are damaged and this signalling is working we call this neuropathy. This can occur when no message is sent, like a broken wire, signally when […]
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Intoeing is when the feet turn inwards during gait and is commonly known as being pigeon-toed. This is often seen among children and in most cases will resolve without treatment as the child grows. This is why it’s less commonly seen in adults. Intoeing may initially cause a child to trip but should reduce over […]
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So many of us try from year to year try to get in shape for the warmer months, but for some of us we go too hard, too fast and this is normally the calling card for shin splints! You’ve probably heard of them but what actually are shin splints? Shin splints is a term […]
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Insulin is a hormone that is released into the bloodstream by the pancreas to collect sugars and take them to the cells for fuel. When we consume certain foods particularly carbohydrates and sugars, they are broken down into glucose and released into the bloodstream – this is referred to as blood glucose. Type 2 […]
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Athletes in every sport dedicate enormous time and energy to perfecting their sport-specific technique. Without continual technique improvement an athlete will never reach their true potential. We all want to be able to run faster or further and most people focus on this in their training while ignoring their technique. Few runners ever schedule time […]
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The Anterior Cruciate Ligament or ACL is an important ligament that stabilizes the knee. The role of the ACL is to prevent the tibia or shin bone from moving forward relative to the femur/thigh bone and to prevent buckling of the knee. We need our ACLs to control pivoting movements, ruptures occur when too much […]
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Every day I hear people come in with at least 2 or 3 excuses as to why exercise just doesn’t fit into their lifestyle. So what are these reasons and how do we use simple strategies to overcome them? 1. My favourite is “I dont have time” There are 24 hours in a day and […]
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Type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition which occurs when to the body loses its ability to regulate how much sugar is in the bloodstream. It loses this ability when the body becomes insensitive to insulin. Insulin is a chemical the body produces to control how much sugar is in the bloodstream. […]
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Manage the load Load refers to the volume or intensity of the stress that we put on our body. Many sports injuries could be prevented by better controlling the load placed on our body. One of the biggest mistakes is increasing load too quickly and not allowing time for the body to adapt. e.g. not […]
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Each year in NSW, Falls and associated injuries lead to 27,000 hospitalisations and 400 deaths. Falls injuries have the highest costing to the NSW health system over any other incident, including road trauma. One in three people over the age of 65 and one in two people over the age of 80 are at risk […]
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Osteoarthritis is one of the most common chronic conditions of an entire joint resulting from a gradual loss of cartilage. Cartilage is the protective cushion between the bones and when this breaks down, bone overgrowth occurs and fluid filled pockets called subchondral cysts result in inflammation and stiffness within the entire joint. The most common […]
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In last week’s article, I discussed how pregnancy can affect your skin and nails. Today we will look at the biomechanical and musculoskeletal issues which can arise during and after baby arrives. Ligament Laxity: As hormone levels change, ligament laxity can occur. This means that our ligaments become more mobile to allow changes within joints. […]
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In line with our Pregnancy information night coming up, ‘The Ins and Outs of Post Natal recovery’, I wanted to write about how pregnancy can affect your feet and what Post Natal care may be required. This will be broken up into two columns, and this week will outline how pregnancy can affect you dermatologically. […]
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