With the school holidays winding down, many parents will be starting the back to school countdown. This will almost always include purchasing new school shoes - with the rate of growth in children, most will require new shoes at the start of the new school year. So what should you look for when you are purchasing school shoes for your child? Allow 1cm between the LONGEST TOE and the end of the shoe- note that often the big toe is not...
A bursa is a fluid filled sac whose function is to reduce friction between structures. Heel bursitis is caused by inflammation of one of the bursa found within the heel. This can either involve the retrocalcaneal (back of the heel) or subcutaneous Achilles bursa (Under the Achilles insertion). Trauma to the ankle, incorrect or poor fitting footwear and repetitive aggravating motion of the ankle can all cause irritation and inflammation to the bursa. Signs and symptoms: Noticeable pain during your end range...
How can you fix an ingrowing toenail without surgery? At Darwin Podiatry, you can! Is there a painless way to stop a nail from curling into your skin? At Darwin Podiatry, there is! Onyfix is a painless nail correction system used by certified professionals to treat ingrowing or involuted toenails. The principle of the Onyfix nail correction system is to bring an involuted or ingrown nail back into a natural shape through normal growth without any tension or pain. Application, usage, and...
Do you constantly roll your ankles? Forever injuring your ankles in sport, or at work? Do you find yourself hesitant to trust your ankle stability when exercising? Darwin Podiatry are proud stockists of the Brace for Innovation EXO-L and EXO-L Up ankle bracing systems. The EXO-L ankle brace is an external ankle ligament. As Brace for Innovation explains, the brace acts as a seat belt to protect you at the moment you are about to roll your ankle – without compromising your range...
What is that lump on my foot? Do I have a corn? Or is it a wart? It is common to misdiagnose corns, callus and warts, as they can appear similar to one another, and often cause similar pain symptoms. So how can we tell the difference? Can you see the subtle differences between all three? Corns The lines on your skin (call skin striations) will continue through the lesion Generally smaller/round/well defined Contain a central plug which is very hard Do not bleed on debridement...
Why does the outside of my knee hurt? The iliotibial band (ITB) is a continuation of the tendon portion of the tensor fascia lata (TFL) muscle, with some contribution from the gluteal muscles. Iliotibial band syndrome is a common injury affecting the lateral (outside) of the knee. This is an overuse injury caused by repetitive friction of the ITB over the lateral femoral epicondyle (a bony prominence in the outside of your knee). The ITB moves anterior (forward) to the epicondyle...
COMMON RUNNING INJURIES, THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS, AND HOW DARWIN PODIATRY CAN HELP YOU: Running injuries typically occur from the interaction of numerous contributing factors. When training loads exceed the body’s physical capacity to handle it for a prolonged period, a running injury can occur. LOAD vs CAPACITY TO HANDLE LOAD over a prolonged period of TIME = the result of an INJURY LOAD is the total amount of physical work completed (external load) and the body’s physiological and perceived response to it (internal...
What is an Ingrowing Toenail? An ingrowing toenail occurs when the edge of the nail impacts into the skin surrounding the nail. This skin is called the sulcus. There are numerous reasons why an ingrowing nail might occur: TRAUMA: bumping, knocking, or damaging the nail at the nail plate where the nail originates form can cause changes to the way the nail regrows. The nail may regrow thicker, or it may regrow a different shape. Often, a traumatized nail will grow involuted...
What is Laser Therapy? Laser Therapy incorporates technology known as photobiomodulation that penetrates deeply into the tissues to treat an array of musculoskeletal and pain conditions. Photobiomodulation was previously known as Low Level Laser Therapy. Low Level Laser Therapy has been well researched, and clinical applications have been documented for many years reporting benefits in reducing acute/chronic pain and accelerating tissue repair. Darwin Podiatry use a laser machine called the K-Laser. K-Laser technology is a powerful laser that applies red and near infra-red...
What is Shockwave therapy? A shockwave is a sonic pulse wave that transmits energy into areas of pain – such as soft tissue injuries with acute or chronic conditions. The wave of energy promotes cell regeneration and begins the repairing process of the tendons, muscles, and other tissues within the area. The shockwave is created using compressed air, which hits the metal applicator – this produces pressure waves which travel into the tissue. Medical Effects of Shockwave Therapy: Use of shockwave therapy provides...
