Common Conditions

SUFFERING FROM HEEL PAIN

Help is available from your Absolute Footcare Podiatrist

WHAT IS HEEL PAIN/PLANTAR FASCIITIS?

Heel pain is one of the most common conditions we see. The pain is under the heel of your foot and is often worse first thing in the morning or as soon as you stand up after resting.

It is caused by the inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia runs from the heel to the toes and creates the arch of your foot. The fascia stretches when you stand so early diagnosis and treatment is essential.

WHY DO YOU HAVE HEEL PAIN?

• Flat feet
• High arched feet
• Pronated feet
• Supinated feet
• Long periods of standing or walking during work
• Playing sports and being active
• Tightness in the calf muscle or arch
• Wearing shoes with poor arch support
• Standing on hard surfaces and walking barefoot

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?

• Sharp stabbing pain or dull ache in the heel or arch
• Worse in the morning as you take your first steps
• Worse after long periods of sitting
• Worse when standing for long periods of time
• Worse after activity, especially the following day

PLAN – HOW WILL WE HELP YOU?

We have a multi-faceted approach to helping you with your Heel Pain

TREAT

Most importantly we need to assess and address the cause of your heel pain.

FIX

We need to reduce the strain and strengthen your Plantar Fascia to reduce your pain and allow healing.

PREVENT

By treating the cause it can prevent the problem returning

SUFFERING FROM FLAT FEET?

Help is available from your Absolute Footcare Podiatrist

WHAT ARE FLAT FEET?

Flat Feet or Pronated Feet describes a lowering or collapsing of the arch in your feet when you stand. This is the most common type of foot our Podiatrists see and it increases your body’s amount of pronation (rolling in of the feet).

This can cause your ankles, knees, hips and lower back to twist/rotate out of alignment. This twisting/rotation of your joints is like the tyres on your car being out of alignment, they are ok for a while but over time can lead to excessive wear and tear.

WHY DO YOU HAVE FLAT FEET?

How you stand is part of who you are. Feet are genetic and you often have similar feet as your parents or grandparents. Your arch develops and reaches its mature height between 6-8 years of age and if flat feet run in the family it is advised they are assessed before this time.

The more active you are at work or playing sport the more strain and pressure you put on your feet, knees, hips and back

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?

Flat feet can cause pain or increase the risk of problems in the future. Problems can increase with age and usage and commonly affect your feet, knees, hips and back.

Common problems include:

• Heel & Arch pain
• Plantar Fasciitis, Heel Spurs
• Ball of foot pain
• Bunions
• Neuroma
• Capsulitis / Neuritis / Bursitis
• Shin splints
• Achilles Tendonitis
• Knee Pain
• Hip Pain
• Lower Back Pain

Early detection and prevention is vital

PLAN – HOW WILL WE HELP YOU?

The question we often get asked is “When is the best time to treat flat feet?” and the simple answer is NOW. You would always get a wheel alignment before your tyres are worn out, so why would you wait any longer when it’s your body that may be out of alignment?

Early detection and prevention is much easier and better than ever before. Take advantage of our new orthotic technology and specialist Podiatrists now.

TREAT

Orthotics will help reduce the strain and pressure on your feet, legs, knees, hips and back.

FIX

Orthotics are designed to support feet and correct how you stand, walk and run.

PREVENT

Orthotics help by treating the cause it can prevent many problems in the future.

SUFFERING FROM BALL OF FOOT PAIN?

Help is available from your Absolute Footcare Podiatrist

WHAT IS BALL OF FOOT PAIN?

Pain in the ball of the foot or forefoot area is extremely common and the most common 3 causes we see are:

NEUROMA / NEURITIS

Inflammation of the nerve in the ball of your foot that shoots into your toes.

BURSITIS / CAPSULITIS

Inflammation of the joints in the ball of your foot.

PLANTAR PLATE INJURY

Damage to the ligament that supports your toes.

WHY DO YOU HAVE BALL OF THE FOOT PAIN?

• Flat feet
• High arched feet
• Pronated feet
• Supinated feet
• Wearing high heels or tight fitting shoes
• Long periods of standing or walking during work
• Playing sports and being active
• Tightness in the calf muscle or arch
• Wearing shoes with poor arch support
• Standing on hard surfaces and walking barefoot

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?

• Burning, shooting, tingling or radiating pain in the forefoot or ball of foot
• Sharp stabbing pain or dull ache when standing
• Painful to touch or squeeze the forefoot
• Toes may start looking crooked
• Toes may start to spread apart
• Worse when standing or walking for long periods of time
• Worse in high heeled or tight shoes
• Worse in poorly supported or cushioned footwear

PLAN – HOW WILL WE HELP YOU?

TREAT

Reduce the pressure and strain on the ball of the foot to reduce your pain and allow healing

FIX

Correct how you stand, walk and run

PREVENT

By treating the cause it can prevent the problem returning

SUFFERING FROM ACHILLES HEEL PAIN / ACHILLES TENDONITIS?

Help is available from your Absolute Footcare Podiatrist

WHAT IS ACHILLES HEEL PAIN?

This very common and painful condition causes inflammation, strain or degeneration to the Achilles tendon. The Achilles Tendon is the connection of the calf muscles to the heel bone at the back of the heel.

WHY DO YOU HAVE ACHILLES HEEL PAIN?

• Flat feet
• High arched feet
• Pronated feet
• Supinated feet
• Long periods of standing or walking during work
• Playing sports and being active
• Tightness in the calf muscle or arch
• Wearing shoes with poor arch support
• Standing on hard surfaces and walking barefoot

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?

• Sharp stabbing pain or dull ache in the heel
• Worse in the morning or after rest
• Worse after long periods of sitting
• Worse when standing or walking for long periods of time
• Painful when walking up or down stairs or an incline
• Worse after activity, especially the following day

PLAN – HOW WILL WE HELP YOU?

It is important to treat this condition as soon as possible and in the early (acute) stages as late (chronic) stages can lead to permanent damage and even rupture.

TREAT

Most importantly we need to assess and address the cause of your Achilles Heel pain.

FIX

We need to reduce the strain and strengthen your Achilles Tendon to reduce your pain and allow healing.

PREVENT

By treating the cause it can prevent the problem returning

SUFFERING FROM ANKLE PAIN?

Help is available from your Absolute Footcare Podiatrist

WHAT IS ANKLE PAIN?

Ankle Pain includes Ankle Sprains and Arthritis and can be from inflammation, strain or degeneration in the ankle. The ankle connects the foot to the leg and is very important for walking and maintaining a healthy lifestlye.

ANKLE SPRAIN

A sprain is very common sports injury caused by ‘rolling’ over on your ankle. When you ‘roll’ your ankle you over stretch or even tear the ligaments that connect the ankle and foot bones together.

• Immediate pain and swelling
• Unstable to walk
• Requires strengthening and correcting any foot alignment issues

ARTHRITIS

Arthritis gradually becomes worse over time and the pain is usually at the front or back of the ankle.

WHY DO YOU HAVE ANKLE PAIN?

• Previous history of ankle injury is the biggest risk factor
• Lack of strength and stability of the ankle
• Playing sports requiring jumping, turning and twisting movements eg. Netball
• Flat feet
• High arched feet
• Pronated feet
• Supinated feet
• Long periods of standing or walking during work
• Playing sports and being active
• Tightness in the calf muscle or arch
• Wearing shoes with poor cushioning or support
• Standing on hard surfaces and walking barefoot
• Sports and activities with jumping, landing or plyometrics

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?

• Sharp stabbing pain or dull ache in the ankle
• Worse when standing or walking for long periods of time
• Swelling of ankle
• Feeling of instability
• Painful when walking up or down stairs or an incline
• Worse after activity
• Worse in the morning or after rest
• Worse after long periods of sitting

PLAN – HOW WILL WE HELP YOU?

We have a multi-faceted approach to helping you with your Ankle Pain

TREAT

Most importantly we need to assess and address the cause of your ankle pain.

FIX

We need to reduce the strain and strengthen your Ankle to reduce your pain and allow healing.

PREVENT

By treating the cause it can prevent the problem returning

SUFFERING FROM BUNIONS?

Help is available from your Absolute Footcare Podiatrist

WHAT ARE BUNIONS?

A bunion is a bony bump forming over the base of your big toe. The bump can be on top of the joint or on the inside and forms from excessive pressure from the way you walk.

WHY DO YOU HAVE BUNIONS?

• Flat feet
• High arched feet
• Pronated feet
• Supinated feet
• Wearing shoes with poor arch support
• Wearing high heels or tight fitting shoes
• Long periods of standing or walking during work
• Playing sports and being active

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?

• Sharp stabbing pain or dull ache in the big toe joint
• Redness or irritation from rubbing on shoes
• Worse in high heeled or tight shoes
• Worse in shoes with poor support
• Worse when standing or walking for long periods of time
• Worse when being more active, playing sports or at work

PLAN – HOW WILL WE HELP YOU?

TREAT

Most importantly we need to assess and address the cause of your Bunions.

FIX

We need to reduce the strain and pressure that causes your Bunion to reduce your pain.

PREVENT

By treating the cause it can prevent the Bunions from becoming worse.

An active lifestyle is a part of most Australian’s lives. From walking the dog to playing competitive sport many of us at some point will experience some sort of injury that will affect your daily living. At Absolute Footcare we can diagnose, treat and provide prevention advice on many lower limb sports injuries.

Some of which include:

• Shin Splints
• Achilles Tendinopathy
• Plantar Fasciitis (heel spur)
• Ankle Sprains
• Ball of foot pain
• Arch pain
• Calf pain
• Lower back pain
• Knee pain

SUFFERING FROM SHIN SPLINTS?

Help is available from your Absolute Footcare Podiatrist

WHAT ARE SHIN SPLINTS?

Shin splints are a painful inflammation of the muscle at the front of your shin (tibialis posterior). The tibialis posterior muscle attaches to the shin bone and runs down the inside of your foot. It holds the arch of your foot up and controls the pronation or rolling in of your foot.

WHY DO YOU HAVE SHIN SPLINTS?

• Flat feet
• Pronated feet
• Running, jumping or high impact activities
• Playing sports and being active
• Long periods of standing or walking during work
• General muscle tightness
• Wearing shoes with poor cushioning or support
• Standing on hard surfaces and walking barefoot

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?

• Sharp stabbing pain or dull ache
• Pain on the inside of the leg, ankle or foot
• Worse with increased activity, especially the following day
• Worse with running & playing sports
• Worse with long standing and walking at work

PLAN – HOW WILL WE HELP YOU?

TREAT

Reduce the strain on your Tibialis Posterior muscle to reduce your pain and allow healing

FIX

Correct how you stand, walk and run

PREVENT

By treating the cause it can prevent the problem returning

EARLY DETECTION AND PREVENTION IS KEY

With your child’s foot containing more than ¼ of the bones in their body it is essential that from the time they start to walk they are well supported.

Children’s feet are different from adults as the developing foot contains growth plates and soft cartilage which don’t completely form until 13 to 16 years of age.

It is within this time that the feet experience their most significant change and it is extremely important to monitor and maintain the healthy growth of your child’s feet.

Our Podiatrists have the experience and technology to thoroughly examine your child’s feet and determine if any treatment options are required. In most cases it is as simple as wearing Orthotics in their shoes, doing a few stretches or just wearing a different type of shoe.

WHAT SIGNS TO LOOK FOR

1. Do they walk straight?
2. Do they run awkwardly?
3. Do they have any pain?
4. Do they have a family history of knee, hip or lower back problems?

COMMON PROBLEMS

• Flat Feet
• In-toeing / Pigeon Toed
• Toe Walking
• Excessive Shoe Wear
• Severs (heel pain)
• Os good Schlatters (knee pain)

PLAN – HOW WILL WE HELP YOUR CHILD?

DETECT

Our experience and technology will give you the peace of mind that you are doing everything for your child

TREAT

We can support growing feet and correct how they stand, walk and run and reduce the risk of future problems

PREVENT

By treating the cause early it can prevent many problems in the future

SUFFERING FROM SEVERS?

Help is available from your Absolute Footcare Podiatrist

WHAT IS SEVERS?

Pain in the back of the heel in kids usually between 8 & 14 years old. It is an inflammation of the growth plate at the back of the heel bone where the Achilles Tendon attaches to the back of the heel.

The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel and is vital for walking, running and jumping.

It is without doubt the most common cause of heel pain in kids and we see it on a daily basis.

WHY DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE HEEL PAIN?

• Flat feet
• High arched feet
• Pronated feet
• Supinated feet
• Playing sports and being active
• Tightness in the calf muscle
• Wearing shoes with poor cushioning or support
• Standing on hard surfaces and walking barefoot
• Sports and activities with jumping, landing or plyometrics

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?

• Sharp stabbing pain or dull ache in the heel
• Painful to touch or squeeze the heel
• Worse after sport
• Worse when first standing or running
• Worse in the morning as you take your first steps

PLAN – HOW WILL WE HELP YOUR CHILD?

TREAT

Reduce the strain on the growth plate to reduce the pain and allow healing

FIX

Correct how your child stands, walks and runs

PREVENT

By treating the cause it can prevent the problem returning

SUFFERING FROM DIABETES?

Help is available from your Absolute Footcare Podiatrist

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SEE A PODIATRIST?

Diabetes is the new epidemic of the western world. Although it may seem harmless in the early stages, if neglected, it can lead to permanent damage within your feet and legs. Diabetes is the second largest cause of lower limb amputation in Australia and most cases can easily be prevented with regular checks with your Podiatrist. At Absolute Footcare we offer thorough neurological, vascular, dermatological and footwear assessments for our patients to achieve optimal foot health.

WHEN TO SEE YOUR PODIATRIST

• At least twice a year for a Diabetic assessment
• Corns/callouses
• Long/ingrown toenails
• Footwear advice/fitting
• Painful lower limb
• Tingling or numbness

PLAN – HOW WILL WE HELP YOU?

• Baseline Vascular and Nerve Testing: We check your sensation and blood flow which can help to detect early warning signs.
• Footwear and Orthotics: To reduce pressure and assist in maintaining correct foot function.
• Education: Self care, prevention and early detection are important factors in maintaining and managing your foot health.
• Palliative Care: Management of skin and nail issues can help prevent future problems including ulceration.
• Preventative Care: Pressure offloading insoles, exercise and stretching

SUFFERING FROM INGROWN TOENAILS?

Help is available from your Absolute Footcare Podiatrist

WHAT ARE INGROWN TOENAILS?

Ingrown nails are one of the more common problems that our Podiatrists see on a daily basis. Ingrown nails are often the result of abnormal nail growth or damage to the nail bed. When the nail grows out it is forced into the skin at the side of the toe and can be extremely painful.

Not treating or treating incorrectly at home can increase the risk of infection and make the problem much worse.

PLAN – HOW WILL WE HELP YOU?

NAIL CLEARING

In most cases our experienced Podiatrists will use special equipment and can remove the offending small piece of nail and relieve the pain almost instantly. This is often painless and the whole process is over and done with very quickly.

NAIL SURGERY

For re-occurring persistent ingrown toenails a very effective form of permanent treatment is nail surgery. It is a quick and gentle procedure that is done with local anaesthetic to numb the affected toe.

There are 2 main types of nail surgery and our Podiatrists are very experienced in both and will be with you every step of the way.

Partial Nail Avulsion: is where a piece of the side of the nail is permanently removed. This procedure is preferred mainly for aesthetic reasons and usually results in the nail looking perfectly normal after it heals up.

Total Nail Avulsion: is where the entire nail is removed and never grows back. This was a preferred procedure many years ago but is not very common these days due to cosmetic reasons.

To prevent re-growth we sterilise the area where the nail was removed and this stops the nail from growing back and causing the problem again.

SUFFERING FROM FUNGAL NAILS?

Help is available from your Absolute Footcare Podiatrist

WHAT ARE FUNGAL NAILS?

Fungal nail infections are very common in our warm climate and affect around 1.6 million Australians. One day your toenails are great and the next you start noticing small white or yellow spots growing. Before you know it you have thick, discoloured and crumbling toenails.

Nail fungus is a tiny living bug that thrives in warm, moist areas, making your foot and toenails the ideal place for an infection. With the Gold Coast being such a great place to wear open shoes or barefeet, combined with our love for the outdoors, it makes the infection very easy to catch.

WHY DO YOU HAVE FUNGAL NAILS?

The most common causes are sharing public showers, swimming pools, skin infections and nail trauma, although the reality is they are so common and so easy to catch. The infection is usually painless so it is easy to ignore the problem and then it becomes much more difficult to treat.

PLAN – HOW WILL WE HELP YOU?

Traditionally the most common treatment is anti-fungal drops which you often have to use for over a year. Absolute Footcare is now proud to be the only Podiatry clinic on the Gold Coast to offer the new state of the art PACT® system (Photodynamic Antimicrobial Therapy) from Germany.

This treatment is totally pain free as it uses light to safely and gently kill bacteria, viruses and fungus on both nail and skin surfaces. We apply a special gel on your nail for 10 minutes that selectively targets the fungal nail cells making them sensitive to light. We then expose your nail to the PACT light system which results in a chemical reaction that kills targeted fungal cells without damaging any healthy tissue.

Your feet are in contact with the ground more than any other part of your body. When you consider this fact along with the forces of body weight and gravity, it is no wonder many skin and nail problems develop.

Our team of Podiatrists at Absolute Footcare are highly trained to assess, diagnose and treat your skin and nail conditions.

Some examples include:

• Fungal nails
• Ingrown nails
• Callouses
• Corns
• Ulcers
• Plantar warts
• Tinea (athletes foot)
• Cracked heels

SUFFERING FROM TINEA PEDIS/ATHLETES FOOT?

Help is available from your Absolute Footcare Podiatrist

WHAT IS TINEA?

Tinea pedis, commonly known as Athletes foot, is a fungal infection affecting the skin on your feet or in-between the toes.

It commonly occurs in people who get sweaty feet from wearing enclosed shoes, especially in warm environments like the Gold Coast.

Fungus is a tiny bug that thrives in warm, moist areas, making your foot the ideal place for an infection.

WHY DO YOU HAVE TINEA?

The most common causes are an increase in sweat on the feet, inadequate drying in-between the toes, sharing public showers, swimming pools and is very popular in school children for these reasons.

The reality is Tinea is so common and so easy to catch and the infection is usually painless so it is easy to ignore.

Like everything, ignoring the initial signs makes it much more difficult to treat and it can spreads across the bottom of the foot and possibly infect the toenails and other members of the family as well.

PLAN – HOW WILL WE HELP YOU?

Your treatment may include a range of creams and conservative options along with individualised advice about preventative actions you can take to reduce and prevent re-infection.

Regular podiatry care for the skin and nails is also an important preventative measure that can be implemented.

Some occupations are more prone than others to foot and lower limb problems which can arise as the result of standing on hard surfaces for long periods of time. Professions such as nurses, hairdressers, retail and hospitality staff, military personnel, factory workers and tradesmen are examples of those likely to develop long term problems unless preventative measures are taken.

Podiatrists seek to address some of the issues responsible for foot problems and can advise on occupational foot health and safety. This can sometimes involve the prescription of orthotics, footwear advice, strengthening or surgical advice. Other areas of interest are post injury rehabilitation that may be a result of a work place accident.