Are you experiencing any foot or heal pain? If you are, it might be worth making an appointment with a trusted Brisbane podiatrist.
In this blog we run through causes and treatment options for 6 common conditions a podiatrist can help to treat.
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Medial tibial stress syndrome (AKA Shin Splints)
- Osteoarthritis of the foot and ankle
- Sever’s Disease
- Tibialis Posterior Tendinopathy:
- Achilles tendinopathy
North West Physio has proudly partnered with The Pedalar Podiatry to ensure our clients can access high-quality podiatry care at our North Brisbane clinics. Get in touch with one of our friendly clinics here to find out more.
6 Foot Issues a Podiatrist Can Help Treat
- Plantar Fasciitis:
What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
The plantar fascia ligament is a soft tissue band that runs underneath the foot from the heel to the toes, to provide structural support.
Chronic inflammation of this ligament is known as Plantar Fasciitis.
Plantar Fasciitis Causes
Repeated stress and tension causes irritation and inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament.
Some examples of repeated stress and tension are:
- Long hours standing on your feet
- Intense or excessive exercise
- Unexpected or sudden weight gain
Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
Treatment varies and should be prescribed by a qualified health professional. Typically, it may include the following:
- Orthotics,
- Appropriate footwear,
- Icing,
- Massaging and
- Strengthening exercises.
- Medial tibial stress syndrome (AKA Shin Splints):
What are Shin Splints?
Medial tibial stress syndrome, commonly referred to as shin splint pain, occurs along your entire tibial bone shaft.
This condition is common in participants of sports with a lot of running or repeated jumping.
Medial tibial stress syndrome affects the bone predominantly, however can involve bone soft tissue and muscle tendons around the tibia.
How to Treat Shin Splints
Generally, treatment for shin splints can include:
- Activity modification,
- Custom orthotics and
- Exercise prescription to deload the structures involved.
If left untreated, this condition can progress to a true stress fracture, which requires a longer treatment time. So, we definitely recommend speaking with a podiatrist and physiotherapy.
- Osteoarthritis of the foot and ankle:
Osteoarthritis of the foot and ankle is characterised by loss of cartilage found at joints in these body parts.
Common causes for loss of cartilage can be caused by repeated trauma over a prolonged period of time or an acute injury.
Osteoarthritis Treatments
Treatment aims to provide mechanical support and stability and can include:
- Custom orthotics,
- Custom footwear, and
- Strengthening on the lower limb.
- Sever’s Disease:
What Is Sever’s Disease
Sever’s is similar to Osgood-Schlatter, however it involves the heelbone growth plate that is being irritated (rather than the knee) from constant traction and stress being applied by the calf muscle group (Achilles tendon).
Sever’s is likely to occur within children aged 9-14 who are going through a growth spurt.
Severs Disease Treatment
Treatment for this condition can include:
- Icing,
- Strengthening exercises,
- Appropriate footwear, and
- Custom orthotics to deload the strain of the Achilles tendon on the calcaneus.
- Tibialis Posterior Tendinopathy:
What is Tibialis Posterior Tendinopathy?
The Tibialis Posterior tendon is vital in control of the arch, and Tibialis Posterior Tendinopathy is an often-painful condition that causes discomfort around the inside of the ankle or foot or up the lower leg.
If this condition isn’t treated appropriately, a permanent foot deformity can be the result.
Tibialis Posterior Tendinopathy Treatment
Treatment for Tibialis Posterior Tendinopathy can include:
- Strengthening exercises,
- Custom orthotics and
- Appropriate footwear.
- Achilles tendinopathy:
What Is Achilles Tendinopathy
Achilles Tendinopathy refers to pain at the back of the heelbone or in the tendon at the back of your ankle.
This condition is generally related to some changes in tendon structure.
This tendon can take up to six times your bodyweight of force while active and may need load reduction or improved strength depending on the individual.
Treatment for Achilles Tendinopathy
A podiatrist can assist in identifying the level of progression and appropriate treatment depending on the current state of the injury.
Brisbane Podiatrist
It’s important to seek advice from a qualified health professional if you think you might be experiencing any of the above conditions.
North West Physiotherapy is your one-stop pain relief and healthy living practice in Brisbane. With six clinics across North Brisbane; Everton Park, Keperra, Eatons Hill, Nundah, Lutchwyche and Newmarket, our aim is to provide holistic healthcare solution to suit your specific lifestyle.
Our services include Physiotherapy, Sports Physio, Hydrotherapy, Pilates, Podiatry, Dry Needling, Massage, Womens Health, and Seniors Strength and Balance Classes. Please note that services vary across our clinics.
Contact your local clinic to book an appointment.
Click here to get in touch with our team here to find out more or to make an appointment with a Brisbane podiatrist and/or our qualified physiotherapists.
