Balance Foot Studio

How good is this!!!! Over $110,00 raised 😍Well done to everyone involved and the community who so generously donated 💛

$110,775 Raised and Climbing!!

We have officially reached our target for 2024 with 11days to go. What a tremendous effort from everyone 🩷

With around 10 Tasmanians diagnosed with cancer every day, the impact on our community is significant. Fundraising for Cancer Council Tasmania means we can continue to provide supportive services and prevention programs all at no cost.

Be proud everyone, be extremely proud!!
I wonder what we will reach come October 1st?

https://www.womens5k.org.au/

Thank You to our generous sponsors; Harcourts Launceston St. Luke's Health City of Launceston Official The Examiner Newspaper, Launceston INTERSPORT Launceston My Gym Balance Foot Studio Buckby Motors Dr. Ruthy Hernandez

Purchase tickets before the end of August to secure the standard ticket price, before they increase from 1st September.

www.womens5k.org.au

Bib Collection opens next week at St.LukesHealth Launceston

Merchandise available for purchase at INTERSPORT Launceston

Have your best foot forward, check in with the team at Balance Foot Studio

Get physically prepared for the 5km route, join a class at My Gym

This event would not be possible without the generous support of our amazing Principal Sponsor Harcourts Launceston - who have been supporting Cancer Council Tasmania for over 15years!

🩷HELP US RAISE MONEY TO FIGHT CANCER!!!🩷

🎗Kicking off our fundraising efforts for the Cancer Council Tasmania . Please help us raise funds for this important charity, which is vital for people going through cancer and their loved ones. We all know someone affected by cancer, whether it's a loved one, family, or friend. 🎗

We have decided this year to do silly fun tasks to raise money. The more money we raise, the bigger the task will be. We will don these pink moustaches every time we do something fun!! If we raise $1500 Sinéad will NOT TALK for 24 hours!! Anyone who knows her will know this will be near impossible 😂

Help us get to our first $200, and we will do our next stupid task, and one of us will get egged 😂

DONATE HERE:
Please follow the link to donate. Any small amount can go a long way!!

https://www.womens5k.org.au/fundraisers/BalanceFootStudio437

So excited to be sponsor again for this wonderful event. Come join us on the 5km walk/run!!

Thank you to Balance Foot Studio for returning this year as a Premium Sponsor.

They take a balanced approach to foot health, valuing each person as an individual and priding themselves on providing exceptional and respectful care throughout all aspects of podiatry.

Their goal is to diagnose the underlying cause of your foot related issue and get you back on your feet. Your feet provide the foundation to your overall movement, independence, and well-being. Along with expert diagnosis and care, they will provide tailored treatment plans for each individual to help empower you to take charge of your health.

As their name implies, they believe balance is key. Whether your aim is to walk or run the Women’s 5km, Balance Foot Studio will bring better podiatry care to your sole.

Happy Shorts Day SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY works to promote positive mental health and prevent su***de by normalising conversations about mental health and encouraging people to seek help when they need it. SPEAK UP Stay ChatTY

Happy shorts day!! Brave the cold and brave the conversation about mental health. SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY works to promote positive mental health and prevent su***de by normalising conversations about mental health and encouraging people to seek help when they need it.

𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝙍𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘿𝙖𝙮!

As we recover and DOMS (delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) sets in from the weekend’s McGrath Launceston Running Festival, we celebrate Global Running Day!

Today is a worldwide celebration of running that encourages people of all ages and abilities to get moving.

This day plays an important role, reminding us of the positives that running can offer to our physical and mental health and the power of unification.

Let's run together on Global Running Day to celebrate our love of running and take strides toward healthier and more active lives!


📸

Go Mia!!! We're proud of you!

⏰ SPONSORS HOUR ⏰

Here is Mia! She is one of our 19’s sharp shooters for season 2024.

Mia is proudly sponsored by Deloraine Hotel and Balance Foot Studio. Thank you both for supporting this young gun and Cavs!

💛🖤💚

🌟 Happy International Women's Day! 🌟

Today, we celebrate the strength and achievements of women worldwide! 💪✨

The Women's 5km Walk/Run wouldn't be possible without the team of fabulous women who participate, volunteer, sponsor, attend and fundraise - we thank them and you all for your ongoing support!

Cancer Council Tasmania Balance Foot Studio Flowers on Riverside My Gym

📝 Back To School!
It’s just around the corner!

🦶It’s important to make sure your child has the right shoes to start the year off on the right foot!

Here are a few tips:

1️⃣ Make sure the current shoes fit properly!

✅Children’s feet grow quickly, so it’s pivotal to check the fit often.
✅If they need new shoes, shop at the end of the day when the feet are swollen and at their largest!

2️⃣ It’s crucial to consider the importance of a fixation point within the shoe. A fixation point is essential for ensuring stability and support, which are crucial for growing feet.
✅Make sure the shoe holds onto the foot, rather than the foot doing all the work and holding onto the shoe instead! This can create long-term issues like clawing of the toes!

3️⃣ Consider the shoe material. Breathable materials like leather or mesh can help keep feet cool and comfortable.

4️⃣ Ensure the shoes have a cushioned sole to provide shock absorption and support.

5️⃣ Allow your child to wear the shoes in before the first day of school. This will reduce the risk of irritation or blistering.

6️⃣ Check the shoes regularly for wear & tear!

📝Read our “Back To School” blog (see the link in our bio or the blog section on our website) to ensure your child’s feet are taken care of as they head back to school!

Happy birthday to the world's best receptionist!!! Thanks for keeping everything working smoothly. Not only are you excellent at your job, nothing is ever too much trouble. We would be lost without you!! Here's to having the best birthday!!! Also works well with humans!!

Thanks to everyone who supported this year's woman's 5km. The event had 1,980 participants, which is the hieghest attended fun run in Launceston!! The event racked up an incredible $113,089 for the Cancer Council Tasmania. This money all stays in the state and helps provide crucial services and education programs. This has included 280,000km of transfer2treatment program and 500+ wigs for people experiencing hair loss, among other invaluable programs. Thanks to everyone involved, who participated and donated. We can't wait to do it all again next year. We hope to see you there!!!

Are you a passionate marathon runner or considering taking up the challenge? 🏃‍♂️

Whilst marathons are an incredible test of endurance, they can also take a toll on your feet, including toenail injuries & blisters, like Megan (pictured) experienced in her first marathon on the weekend at the Melbourne Marathon.

Let's explore how to keep your feet in tip-top shape for those long-distance runs!

👟 The Right Fit:
Wearing the correct running shoes is essential! Ill-fitting shoes can lead to a myriad of problems!

🔥 Blister Prevention:
Preventing blisters is crucial! Invest in moisture-wicking socks to reduce friction and apply lubricants or blister-specific products to problem areas before your run. If a blister forms, don't pop it; apply a blister pad or bandage instead. Your Podiatrist can “de-roof” the blister to drain the clear blister liquid (serous exudate) using sterile equipment to avoid further discomfort and prevent infection and further damage.

💉 Subungual Hematoma Care:
Black toenails from subungual hematomas can be painful. If it is loose, consult a Podiatrist for proper care.

🌊 Hydration Matters:
Staying hydrated is key, not just for your overall health but for your feet too. Proper hydration helps prevent cramps and can improve overall foot comfort during your runs.

👣 Pre-race Checkup:
Before the big day, consider a pre-race checkup with a Podiatrist. They can assess your foot health, address any concerns, and provide valuable advice to achieve and maintain comfortable feet.

🏁 Post-marathon Foot Care:
Congratulations on completing your marathon! Your feet deserve some TLC. Speak to your Podiatrist about specific foot care if required.
Remember, your feet carry you through every mile of your marathon journey. Give them the love and care they deserve! 💪👣
*Shared with consent

𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
Still unsure what scope of practice a Podiatrist covers?

To quote the Australian Podiatry Association:

Conditions managed by Podiatrists can include sports and musculoskeletal disorders, injuries, growth and development conditions, chronic disease such as arthritis & diabetes, dermatological pathologies, cardiovascular & neurological diseases.
 
Podiatrists manage a wide range of conditions, such as stress fractures, muscle sprains and strains, ingrown toenails, and joint conditions.   They use a combination of medical, surgical, and other techniques to provide personalised care to alleviate pain, restore mobility and improve a person’s quality of life.  

Podiatrists can independently request radiological imaging, administer local anesthetic and perform minor surgical procedures. A podiatrist’s work can involve advanced wound care, referral for advanced assessments, exercise prescription and manufacturing orthoses.
 
Podiatrists can undertake credentialed study pathways to focus on areas such as paediatrics, sports, prescribing medicines as an Endorsed Prescriber and even performing advanced surgical procedures, such as a specialist Podiatric Surgeon.

The scope of practice is considerable and if your feet or lower limbs need attention, a Podiatrist should be your first point of contact.
 
Regardless of your reason for seeing a podiatrist, you don’t need a referral.

Wishing our colleagues from good luck on today's Melbourne Marathon and 10km. 💪🦵🤩

𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯

Happy Allied Health Professionals Day!

This year’s theme is “Stronger Together”, focusing on the value of multidisciplinary care in achieving better results for patients.

Working closely with the Physiotherapists at Seaport Sports Physiotherapy, we are committed to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients together.

𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯

Your feet hold the key to so much more than you may realise. The feet are an excellent indicator of the overall health of your neurological and circulatory systems.

Since health conditions can affect the feet (and even show up there first), Podiatrists are often the first health practitioners to identify an issue.

Cardiovascular diseases, such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), can often present initially in the feet. PAD is when narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the lower limbs. As you can imagine, this causes all sorts of problems.

Fiona is conducting a Doppler ultrasound which checks arterial flow/supply.

Performing this non-invasive, painless testing may lead to a referral for further investigation, diagnosis and treatment.

This testing is important, particularly as some people may show no symptoms otherwise of a cardiovascular disease such as PAD.

Foot health is about much more than your feet!

Podiatry Week 2023
Did you know - a big part of Podiatry involves rehabilitation in the lower limb through strength & conditioning?

After we’ve completed a biomechanical assessment (see our post yesterday) and gathered all other relevant information, we establish an individual treatment plan. This is different for everyone as no two set of feet are the same.

When you come to us with an injury or pain, we will almost always trial some short term treatments to ensure we are providing you with the best possible plan.

This will often take the form of strapping, in-shoe padding, advice on footwear, load management and a strength exercise program.

After the short term treatments have been implemented, we will want to reassess how things are going - the timeframe will vary from person to person. We reassess your symptoms, what has helped, reevaluate previous testing and how your exercise program is progressing. This will shape our longer term treatment plan which will often involve developing your strength exercise program.

With any of our treatment plans, a large portion involves educating our patients so that they have the knowledge & know-how to feel empowered to reach their goals.

𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
Biomechanical Assessment

A Podiatrist will conduct a “biomechanical assessment” if you are experiencing pain, discomfort, an injury or neurological symptoms (numbness, tingling, pins & needles or a burning sensation).

This is a comprehensive examination of the bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments of the feet, ankles & legs. We perform these examinations to establish how, and if your lower limb 'biomechanics' have played a role in causing your symptoms.

We do this by testing joint range of motion, palpation, muscle strength testing, other specific testing and looking at how your lower limbs are positioned when you’re standing, seated and walking (sometimes running).

The aim is to establish if your lower limb biomechanics play a role in why you’ve come to see us in the first place. We identify possible causes of injury &/or pain, with the goal of optimising lower limb function to keep you moving comfortably and effectively.

We should mention, this is just the start of your initial assessment which also includes looking at the person as a whole. After all, there’s a whole body attached to your feet & lower limbs!

Biomechanics ALONE is never to “blame” for symptoms we see our patients experiencing. Biomechanics are contributing factors, along with health conditions, training errors, tissue capacity, footwear, changes in work and lifestyle (to name a few). As always, we approach our consultations holistically.

𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
This year’s theme is:
“Podiatry, more than you think”.

What do you know about Podiatry?

This week we will share some aspects of Podiatry that you may not know about.

Here’s a glimpse into why we love Podiatry:

As Podiatrists, we manage a wide range of conditions. From stress fractures, muscle sprains & strains, ingrown toenails, joint conditions, Diabetes and conditions affecting children (amongst others!).

We never quite know what we will be dealing with when someone walks through our doors. Podiatry has a large scope of practice that keeps us on our toes (thigh slapping pun intended 😉).

*Pic - National Podiatry Conference Brisbane June 2023

👣 International Podiatry Day!

🌏 A day to raise awareness and promote the profession on a global scale. The importance and recognition of foot health, the value of Podiatrists, and access to quality care.

🎩Our hats are tipped in respect, admiration and appreciation to our colleagues and all that they do in our profession.

👀 Keep your eyes peeled for Podiatry Week 9th - 15th October. We will shine a light on the diverse scope of practice Podiatrists can support your health.