We’re podiatrists – and we’re parents too! Social distancing or not, making sure our kids get enough physical activity is a priority for us because we know the impact it has not just on their strength, coordination, flexibility and posture, but on their confidence too. With many social distancing protocols still in place across Australia, we’re sharing the ways that we are keeping our kids active when they’re at home.
The gym is closed and now that you can’t hit the treadmill, you’re planning on hitting the road. Running outside certainly has some great advantages – fresh air, time to yourself and a change in terrain. For those of you who do the majority of your runs on a treadmill, however, starting to run outside may feel a little daunting to start with. Here are some tips and things to stay mindful of when preparing for more outdoor running.
Working from home can feel exhausting, especially when our daily step count has plummeted since leaving our workplace. This is when stretching can come in handy. It’s easy, free, only takes a few minutes – and is highly beneficial. Stretching can [1]:
Foot pain can be excruciating. When it affects your performance at work, it can be even worse. Our jobs can take a large toll on our bodies, which isn’t surprising given how active many of us are throughout our workday. An Australian study looking at steps taken per day over different occupations found that on average [1]:
Australians spend a lot of time on their feet. On average, you walk over 2.7 million steps every year, equating to 7400 steps per day. That number will be even greater for those rising up to the 10,000 steps per day challenge! You can bet that all these steps add up and take their toll – not just on your body, but on your shoes and orthotics, too.
If you have seen a child on a Jolly Jumper (also known as baby bouncers or jumperoos), you might know the look of delight on their face whilst they bounce away. In recent years, however, Jolly Jumpers have come under scrutiny as to whether the may potentially do more harm than good when it comes to healthy lower limb development and reaching developmental milestones.
This is a question many of our team members are asked by new parents with concerns as to whether they should use one with their child. To help parents make an informed decision, we have explored the current research and facts about jumpers and walkers from a foot and leg health perspective.
If you’ve recently had a baby, then we want to start by saying a massive congratulations! Your body does incredible things during pregnancy – and that’s just before baby arrives! Whether you knew it, or not:
With your little one here, you may be wondering when you can throw on your running shoes again – and what your body can handle. To help, we’ve put together a guide on what you can expect when it comes to getting back into exercise in your first three months.
Foot pain is frustrating. Foot pain with a new baby to care for can seem hopeless. Unfortunately, many mums are vulnerable to foot pain throughout their pregnancy due to the increased stress on their bodies, combined with a surge of ligament-relaxing hormones.
We see and treat many new mums who put off their appointment for months because they don’t have the time or energy to come in (plus a part of them was hoping the pain would get better on its own!). If this sounds like you and you haven’t made it in to see your podiatrist yet, we’ve put together some easy and gentle foot and leg exercises that you can complete at home while looking after your little one.
No equipment needed and nothing strenuous – just simple movements to get the limbs moving, slowly improve flexibility and strength, and get the blood pumping to assist your body’s repair process. This way, when you do make it in to see us, you’ll already be one step ahead on your road to recovery.
To learn more about how pregnancy affects your feet and legs, click here.
Katrina Richards interview with ABC News from Australian Podiatry Association on Vimeo.
In a recent interview, President of the Australian Podiatry Association, Karina Richards, talks about the growing prevalence of infections coming from visits to nail salons.
Mrs Richards comments on the increased numbers of fungal nail infections, infections around the nail, and skin infections currently being seen and treated by Australian podiatrists. She describes them as being “painful, disfiguring and distressing” for patients, which mirrors what patients at My FootDr tell us when they seek help for a nail or skin infection.
While the instruments used for nail care in podiatry clinics must comply with strict hygiene and sterilisation protocols at a government level, nail salons remain largely unregulated. This means that salons are free to use the same instruments from one foot to the next. You don’t know if the person before you had a fungal infection, or if their nail service resulted in bleeding, meaning you are exposing yourself to potential harm.
See your podiatrist. We are qualified to diagnose and treat fungal infections of the skin and nails, and can help you differentiate between fungal nail infections and other causes of nail discolouration like trauma and psoriasis.
Our treatment options for fungal nails include laser treatment, which has shown to have higher efficacy than both over-the-counter pharmacy medications and oral tablets [1].
Book your appointment online here or call us on 1800 FOOTDR
The way that a woman’s body changes during pregnancy is amazing. The way that women adjust to these changes may be even more so. Our centre of gravity shifts forward, the way we walk changes with a wider hip stance, the pressure on the muscles and tissues in our feet and legs skyrocket – and we haven’t even started on everything that’s going on inside – hormones and all!
With these changes often comes pain, and the hips take a particular toll. To help mums understand what they can expect – or are currently going through, here are the top four causes of hip pain we see during pregnancy.