Moreland Podiatry

Blisters, those tiny pockets of discomfort, often result from friction between your skin and shoes. To prevent them, start with proper footwear that fits well and minimizes rubbing. Opt for moisture-wicking socks to keep your feet dry and friction-free. If a blister does appear, avoid the urge to pop it, as it could lead to infection. Remember, giving your feet a break can make a big difference in preventing blisters. Should a blister become painful, infected, or show no improvement, consult our podiatrists for expert guidance. Your foot health matters, and we're here to keep you stepping comfortably. 👣

High heels alter the biomechanics of your feet, pushing body weight forward and placing excessive pressure on the toes and ball of the foot. This can lead to discomfort, corns, calluses, bursitis and even Morton's neuroma. Additionally, heels can shorten calf muscles and Achilles tendons, affecting your natural gait. Prolonged wear may cause instability, ankle sprains, and stress fractures. Consider lower heels and supportive insoles to minimize negative effects. Prioritise comfort and foot health to prevent long-term issues.

Did you know? 🏃‍♀️👟 Running shoes don’t last forever! 🕒 On average, regular running shoes are good for around 500-800km of running. 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ As the cushioning in your shoes wears down, your body takes on more impact, which can strain your joints, ligaments, and tendons. 😟 To steer clear of injuries and maintain a healthy body, make sure to pay attention to your shoe’s cushioning. And remember, it’s a smart move to have your running shoes professionally fitted! 👍👟 Stay safe, stay active! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️💪

Shin splints refers to sharp pains down the inside edge of the shin bone or tibia. This pain is a result of the inflammation of the muscles, tendons and bone tissue around the tibia caused by overworked muscles and repetitive physical activity.

Shin splint may be the result from the following:
- Sudden increase in exercise, the duration or the intensity of that exercise
- Poor biomechanics such as flat feet or high arches
- Exercising with ill-fitted footwear
- Runners, Sports People, Dancers and Military Recruits are at highest risk for developing shin splints due to the nature of their activities.

The most common symptom of shin splints is isolated pain along the shin bone. It can be accompanied by mild swelling and the pain felt may be a sharp, razer-like pain or a dull, throbbing pain. It can occur during or after exercise and the area is painful when touched.

To diagnose shin splints your Podiatrist will examine your lower leg biomechanics and often may need to refer for diagnostic imaging to rule out stress fractures, tendonitis and chronic compartment syndrome, which have similar symptoms.

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned it is important to seek advice from your Podiatrist to avoid further injuries.

When it comes to ingrown toenails the best advise we can give anyone is to not try to remedy the situation at home. The sooner you can get to a Podiatrist the better.

An ingrown toenail is caused when the corners/edges of the nail grow into the skin. The nail embedded in the soft flesh leads to pain, inflammation and if untreated, infection.

Ingrown toenails can be caused by a number of different factors. These include:
- Incorrect nail clipping technique
- Unusual nail curvature
- Trauma to the area
- Improper footwear ie: high heels, steel capped boots
- Tight fitting socks or stockings
- Hereditary / family history

At Moreland Podiatry we assess the severity of the ingrown toenail, the root cause and the frequency of reoccurrence. Treatments range from general nail care to a simple surgical procedure. Whatever option is recommended by our Podiatrist during your consultation you will be able to walk out with minimal disruption to your day to day life.

A person’s gait is often analysed to determine any abnormal foot biomechanics. A Podiatrist will observe, measure, record and assess the way you move and the impact of this movement on your feet, hips, lower back and legs. This will allow correct diagnosis and treatment for the pain.

So, when should you have your gait assessed? If you experience any recurring foot pain, bunions, heel pain, recurring calluses, or general hip, knee or ankle pain, your Podiatrist may assess your gait to gain insight into why these issues are occurring.

What Does it Involve?
When a Podiatrists assesses your gait, they consider the structure and function of your entire chain of movement. That’s why the assessment is so detailed and includes;
- Previous injuries, family history, surgeries, accidents
- Range of motion in the joints
- Evaluation of alignment problems
- Stability of hip and pelvis
- Knee, ankle and foot function
- Limb length measurement
- Balance and function
These tests will identify overactive and underactive muscles to highlight biomechanical problems leading to a range of pain and functional issues.

How Your Gait Can Inform Your Podiatrist?
A gait analysis can provide your Podiatrist with an insight into how you move. For example, over pronation can lead to arch pain, plantar fasciitis or stress fractures, and under pronation can lead to shin splints and ankle sprain.

By analysing your gait, your Podiatrist can determine how your muscles are compensating to keep your body mobile.

If you have any ongoing pain in your feet, hips, legs or lower limbs, it is important to have your gait assessed by a Podiatrist to determine what is causing the pain.

Any joint in your body can be affected by arthritis. Although, arthritis of the foot can be particularly difficult as it can decrease your ability to move and your quality of life. Joint pain, swelling and stiffness are all associated with arthritis, however there are ways that can help you manage the pain and continue to stay on your feet.

There are several types of arthritis that can impact your feet and these include;

Osteoarthritis, also referred to as degenerative joint disease and is the most common. It involves the wear and tear of joints and often affects the inner mid-foot bone, heel bone, big toe, foot bone and ankle joint.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease and targets the membrane that lines the joints, causing pain and swelling. It is regarded as a more serious form of arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic, auto-immune form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in and around your joints and occurs with the skin condition Psoriasis.

Post-traumatic arthritis is the result of an injury such as a dislocation or fracture. It can develop slowly over time.

Due to the range of arthritis that can develop, symptoms of foot and ankle arthritis can vary and include;

Tenderness of the foot
Foot pain
Trouble walking or placing weight on it
Stiffness or swelling
Pain after resting
Arthritis Treatment

Depending on the type of arthritis you have and your symptoms, your Podiatrist might prescribe the following;

Orthopaedic Footwear
Orthotics or Soft Insoles
Foot Mobilisation
Foot and Lower Limb Exercises
Shockwave Therapy
Laser Therapy
Padding for your shoes

Arthritis of the foot can be painful and debilitating, however if you seek expert advice for Arthritis Treatment and make some minor changes to your lifestyle, you can continue to enjoy an active lifestyle.

There are many reasons to see a Podiatrist, yet many wait until their symptoms are interrupting their lifestyle before they seek help.

When daily foot pain occurs, it could relate to a foot injury that hasn’t healed, a fracture within the foot, inflammation to the plantar fascia or poor biomechanics of your feet that hasn’t been addressed. Without correct care and diagnosis this pain will continue and can become chronic.

It’s that time of year again when kids are back at school and uniforms and school shoes are high on the shopping list. Below are some tips to help you make the right decision with school shoes.

- Take school socks with you, the thickness of the sock will affect the fitting of the shoe so bring a pair of school socks with you when shopping for shoes to avoid an ill-fitted shoe.

- Shop for shoes later in the day as feet can swell.

- Shoes should feel comfortable immediately. There is no need to “break them in”.

- There should be a child’s thumb width between the child’s longest toe and the end of the shoe while they are standing. Keep in mind that the longest toe isn’t always the big toe.

- The heel shouldn’t slip - Have your child try both shoes and walk around in them. The shoe should fit so that the heel does not slip up and down. Too large a shoe can lead to slips, trips and falls.

- Get fitted by someone that is knowledgeable and trained.

- When your child gets home, get them to take off their shoes. They should have as much time as possible without their school shoes on to help strengthen their foot muscles.

Enjoy 2023!

There's no evidence that the shape of your foot indicates what part of the world your ancestors walked through, and no research that proves foot shape is connected to personality traits. Human feet are highly individual. Your right foot and your left foot aren't even identical.

With children returning to school and starting to play sport again, it is important to monitor if they complain of any foot pain.

Your child has probably gone through a growth spurt in the past few months of being home, and their inactive feet and legs now have to adapt to a sudden increase in daily activity. Also, children returning to sport at 100% capacity in a short period of time must be monitored for any foot pain.

Sometimes ignoring symptoms can lead to other lower limb injuries, so it is best to see a Podiatrist if your child shows any signs of foot pain so that effective treatment can give them a quick return to the activities they love best.

For those of you who haven't met me yet, I love a chat. I'm an extrovert at work and an introvert at home; ask my wife! If I'm not talking about my beloved Adelaide Crows or my family, you'll find me talking about the thing I know best; feet!

I moved to Melbourne over 20 years ago and made my home in Brunswick West, where my wife, Patricia and I started our family and business.

The first few years in Melbourne were hard. I worked seven days a week in a mixture of private practice, community health and nursing homes. I gained the confidence to grow my business and started employing other Podiatrists.

I am the proud owner and founder of Moreland Podiatry and Millers Road Podiatry. Over the years, we have grown, and now I employ 16 exceptional Podiatrists and support staff. Through continuing education, expert diagnosis and commitment, my team has built a reputation as one of Melbourne's most reliable and trustworthy Podiatry clinics.

Although our clinics see all kinds of cases, I specialise in managing and treating chronic and recurring conditions that have previously not responded to other therapies. My years of experience have seen me turn hopeless situations into new pain-free lifestyles and people returning to activities they love.

If you're in the area, pop in for a chat!

**Disclaimer: I took this photo before the lockdown. You should see me now; my hair is a mess and in dire need of a haircut.

The ankle faces a massive task during everyday use. It supports your body weight and gives you the ability to walk, run and remain mobile. Ankle injuries can happen to anyone at any age and are not always due to sporting injuries.

An ankle injury occurs when the ankle joint is taken too far out of its normal position. Here are some ways common ankle injuries occur:
- Sports activities
- Trips & falls
- Arthritis
- Walking or running on uneven surfaces
- Working on hard surfaces
- Wearing shoes with poor support
- Twisting or rolling the ankle
- Landing awkwardly after a jump
- Flat feet or high arches

The key to treating an ankle injury is an accurate diagnosis. Only then can the best rehabilitation plan be provided.

Are you, or someone you know suffering from an ankle injury? Let us know in the comments if we can help you.

Looking forward to seeing you all. We're back starting Wednesday 28th July. Book online www.morelandpodiatry.com.au or call us on 93836633.

To make it easier for you, we have late night and weekend appointments available. Book online through our website or call us on 93836633.

When it comes to children's feet, early intervention will always deliver the best possible outcome.

Most children with flat feet have no symptoms, but as they get older, the flat foot puts strain on muscles and ligaments, resulting in sore and tired feet and legs.

Unfortunately, this new Stage 4 Lockdown announced by the Victorian Government on Friday 12th February, means Moreland Podiatry must shut down for 5 days. If you have a booking with us in the next 5 days, we will contact you to reschedule. Our clinic will open again on Thursday, 18th February. Although we are unable to see you face to face, we are still able to be contacted on 9383 6633 or you can book online at www.morelandpodiatry.com.au

School Shoes! Getting kids ready for school is so exciting. Uniforms are sorted, books are covered, and school shoes are the last thing to organise. Let us give you a few tips when shopping for school shoes this week.

1. Shop for shoes later in the day as feet can swell.

2. If you wear orthotics, make sure you take them with you.

3. Try on school shoes with your school socks.

4. Shoes should feel comfortable immediately. There is no need to 'break them in.'

5. Try both shoes and walk around in them. The shoe should fit so that the heel does not slip up and down. Too large a shoe can lead to slips, trips and falls.

6. There should be a thumb width between the child's longest toe and the shoe's end while they are standing. Keep in mind that the longest toe isn't always the big toe.

7. Shoes should be lace-up, velcro or buckle.

8. Get fitted by someone knowledgeable and trained.

To make an online appointment head over to our website by clicking on the link in our Bio.
Or go to www.morelandpodiatry.com.au

Ingrown toenails are common and can be very painful. There are many cases where an ingrown toenail has been present for months. In the end the only option is to seek expert help from an experienced Podiatrist.

Ingrown toenails can be very deceptive; it may look manageable on the outside but underneath is a big painful nail that just needs to be removed.

Our treatments vary depending on the cause of your ingrown toenail. Whatever treatment is used you will be able to walk right out with minimal discomfort.

If you are experiencing pain please do not wait any longer, call us on 93836633 to make an appointment with our expert Podiatrist or you can book online.

We're back and can't wait to see you! With absolute delight we are happy to advise that as of Monday 19th October all restrictions on Podiatry will be lifted. Through our intense planning we are certain we can provide a Covid safe environment for all your foot care needs.

If you, or any member in your household is unwell or waiting for a Covid-19 test result we ask that you reschedule or postpone making an appointment. Our friendly staff can be contact on 9383 6633. Or Click on the link to make your booking online www.morelandpodiatry.com.au

See you soon!

What is a plantar plate tear? The plantar plate is a thick ligament which attaches each metatarsal to the base of the toe bones. This plate is designed to stop the over extension of our toes.

When a plantar plate is overloaded or stained a tear may occur. This often occurs over time with repetitive strain to the area.⠀
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Plantar plate tears commonly present as pain under the ball of the foot that extends towards the toe. You might notice your toes bending upwards, some swelling and redness at the top of your foot or two toes have separated causing a splaying between the toe.⠀
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A plantar plate tear is an injury that can become chronic, however if treated early you can avoid it progressing.

Thank you for your patience. We have received clarification that as an Allied Health Service, Moreland Podiatry will remain open during Stage 4 Restrictions as an essential service. ⠀
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You will be able to travel outside the 5km radius to attend your podiatry appointment. Please keep your appointment card or SMS confirmation with you in case you're stopped by authorities. ⠀
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If you consider your appointment to not be essential you may want to consider delaying it until restrictions are lifted. ⠀
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Be assured that our Covid-safe plan is in place. While we continue to practice our strict AHPRA hygiene protocols / guidelines you will also continue to see the following procedures and measures operating within our clinic. ⠀⠀
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- Anybody attending the clinic must be wearing a mask.⠀
- Anybody attending the clinic will have their temperature taken upon arrival. ⠀⠀
- Anybody attending the clinic must sanitise their hands upon arrival using one of our many hand sanitisation stations⠀⠀
- Enhanced cleaning measures and processes⠀⠀
- The creation of personal / social distancing⠀⠀
- Removal of all newspapers / magazines⠀⠀
- Removal of children’s toys⠀⠀
- Requesting all payments to be made with credit cards⠀⠀
- Requesting patients to swipe their own private health insurance & credit cards.⠀⠀
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If you or a member of your household are waiting for a Covid-19 test result or if you are experiencing any fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or wheeze, breathing difficulties or headaches to please reschedule or postpone making an appointment. Our friendly staff can be contacted on 93836633.⠀⠀
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We will continue to support you and our local community as much as we can during this time.⠀⠀
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Take care and stay safe.

Along with so many others, walking and running has become our families favourtie pass time. It gets us out of the house and it's keeping us active and healthy. ⠀
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Unfortunately increased exercise can cause foot and ankle pain. The most common sources of ankle pain include:⠀
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Sprained Ankles - Overstretched ligaments⠀
Ankle Fractures - A break in one or more of the bones⠀
Ankle Tendinopathies - Strain in tendons that wrap around your ankle⠀
Ankle Arthritis - Deterioration of ankle joint due to Osteoarthritis⠀
Bio-mechanical Conditions - Pes planus (flat feet) & pes cavus (high arch) foot types⠀
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The ankle is made up of three joints that join the bones of leg to those of the foot. Connecting the bones and joints are a series of ligaments which are exceptionally strong and have many responsibilities.⠀
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These ligaments provide stability to the joint, absorbing shock through impact and assisting in the alignment of connecting bones while allowing normal ankle motion. Tendons attach muscles to the bones to do the work of making the ankle and foot move, and help keep the joints stable.⠀
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If you are experiencing any foot or ankle pain call us on 93836633 and we’ll get you pain free again!

Moreland Podiatry Remains Open!⠀
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While we continue to practice our strict AHPRA hygiene protocols / guidelines you will also expect the following procedures and measures operating within our clinic. ⠀
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- Temperatures taken of all patients and staff upon arrival⠀
- Multiple hand sanitisation stations⠀
- Enhanced cleaning measures and processes⠀
- The creation of personal / social distancing⠀
- Removal of all newspapers / magazines⠀
- Removal of children’s toys⠀
- Requesting all payments to be made with credit cards⠀
- Requesting patients to swipe their own private health insurance & credit cards.⠀
⠀
If you are experiencing any fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or wheeze, breathing difficulties or headaches to please reschedule or postpone making an⠀
appointment. Our friendly staff can be contacted on 93836633.⠀
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We continue to support you and our local community as much as we can during this time.⠀
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Take care and stay safe.

Everyday our ankles faces a huge task. As the connecting joint between the leg and the foot, it supports our body weight as well as giving us the ability to walk, run and remain mobile.⠀
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Ankle injuries can happen to anyone at any age and is not always due to sporting injuries. So, you don’t have to be an athlete to have a sore ankle. ⠀
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Ankle injuries occur when the ankle joint is taken too far out of its normal position. The secret to treating your ankle injury is an accurate diagnosis. Only then can you determine the best solution.⠀
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We can be contacted on 93836633 to help you with your ankle injury.

Tell the negative committee that meets inside your head to sit down and be quiet.

Have a great weekend!