This should be a simple question to answer – Can orthotics help my balance? As with most things in life, it’s not always black and white. What academics all agree on is that as we age, focusing on improving your balance is important to longevity and quality of life.

What is balance?

Perhaps surprisingly, those who deal with it have struggled to settle on a single definition. At it’s most simple, it can be defined as the ability to distribute your bodyweight over your base of support. However, balance is much more complex than this. It involves the interplay of several different body parts of the body including the nerves in our muscles, joints, eyes and ears. Often people talk about the “water level” in their ears – this is a far more complex network of nerves that make up our vestibular system – a sense that didn’t make it into the 5 senses song we learned in kindy. In combination with all of this is a feedback loop of balance and surroundings known as our proprioceptive system. It is responsible for sensing the body’s position in space, and is why you can put your finger on your nose with your eyes closed. Your proprioceptive system heavily relies on feedback from the feet. Any disruption in this feedback loop can compromise balance and stability.

Now that we are clear on balance, let’s look at the research about orthotics. The following articles outline the role of orthotics and balance in different populations. Read more

Shoes – such an integral part of our daily lives. But how often do we really think about what our footwear can do for us? Or more importantly, how our footwear can be hurting us. When we’re young, often we get our feet sized and shoes fitted appropriately. But how many of us can say that we’ve checked our fit once we’re adults? 

We carry our shoe size in our mind’s compendium of life’s important numbers. But unlike other numbers, like our date of birth, our shoe size is not as fixed as we may believe it to be. A shoe size is as variable as the sizing of a pair of pants. Each brand can have a different interpretation of sizing to another. Then let’s factor in the conversions between European, US and UK sizing – yikes!

What can happen if we wear the wrong size shoe? 

If you’re wearing the wrong size shoe, you will quickly find out how footwear can hinder foot health. Perhaps you’ve already experienced this yourself. Everyone has that pair of shoes in the back of their closet that they don’t wear because they cause blisters. There’s a high chance those shoes don’t actually fit you. Blisters are our number one indicator of whether our shoes are fitting or not. 

Ignore a poor fit and you’re likely to get a build up of hard skin called a callus, or worse, a corn. Going deeper than that, a tight-fitting shoe can bind your foot so much that you damage your nerves. If you’ve ever experienced burning, tingling or numbness when you wear your shoes, there’s a high chance you’re wearing the wrong shoes. 

Appropriately fitted footwear can be a game changer for your foot health. To learn more about what you’re looking for when fitting your own shoes, book in with one of our podiatrists in your local area.  Read more

Diabetes-related foot disease is a widely feared complication among people with diabetes. Once diagnosed with diabetes, people often quickly become aware and concerned about the risk of amputation, without fully understanding how to reduce their risk. 4400 Australians have an amputation associated with their diabetes every year, and 85% of these amputations would have been preventable with early intervention and appropriate care (diabetesaustralia.com.au). Whilst across Australia, and indeed the world, the rate of diabetes-related foot disease is increasing, so too is the research and understanding of podiatrists and other health professionals in how to avoid complications. As a seasoned podiatrist, I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating impact that poorly controlled diabetes can have on foot health. However, I also know that foot complications, such as ulceration and amputation, are avoidable. In this blog, we’ll explore how diabetes can affect foot health, delve into preventative measures, and, of course, sprinkle in a few puns to lighten the mood. Read more

Plantar warts, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), can be a painful and persistent problem for many individuals. It is estimated that plantar warts have a 12% annual incidence within the general population and that up to 40% of the population is infected with HPV. Plantar warts are especially common in children and adolescents [1].

As podiatrists, we see firsthand the discomfort and frustration these warts can cause. Fortunately, advancements in treatment options have made managing and eliminating plantar warts more effective than ever before. In this blog, we’ll explore the latest treatments available, including common topical treatments, the innovative SWIFT therapy, and surgical options. Read more

A common question, oft heard around podiatry clinics, is “what can I do about my sore toenails?” Whether it is piercing the skin and infected, constantly breaking, or just curvy and unsightly, twisted toenails are pesky and persistent. While seemingly small, ingrown toenails can cause significant discomfort, inconvenience and can hinder day-to-day living. In this blog, we’ll unravel the mysteries of ingrown toenails, exploring causes, symptoms, and most importantly, effective and exciting new interventions when treating ingrown toenails to keep your feet happy and pain-free.

The Culprit: Ingrown Toenails

Causes:

Ingrown toenails are a common, and often painful condition. Ingrown toenails occur when the edge of a toenail grows into the surrounding skin, leading to pain, redness, swelling and potential infections (Park & Singh, 2012). Common culprits include improper nail trimming, excessive pressure to the nail plate such as tight footwear, skeletal abnormalities, obesity, diabetes and arthritis (Guler et al., 2015).

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