Gentin Podiatry and Physiotherapy

Lest we forget

Ｔｒｉｇｇｅｒ Ｐｏｉｎｔ Ｄｒｙ Ｎｅｅｄｌｉｎｇ

Trigger Point Dry Needling is a hands on treatment technique that helps eliminate pain-causing and non pain-causing trigger points from muscles. A sterile, single-use, very fine filament needle is inserted into the muscle to assist with decreasing pain and improving function through the release of myofascial trigger points (knots in muscle).

Trigger points are hypersensitive, tightened spots which can occur in any muscle. These spots or nodules are found within a taut band in the muscle. Trigger points cause pain, right where they are and in other areas. Dry Needling is the best way to completely remove trigger points and is often more permanent than other manual trigger point therapies.

ᴛᴀʀɢᴇᴛ ᴀʀᴇᴀꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ
- Soft Tissue
- Connective Tissue
- Muscles with Trigger Points
- Increased Tension

ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴏɴ ᴄᴏɴᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙᴇɴᴇꜰɪᴛ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʀɪɢɢᴇʀ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ᴅʀʏ ɴᴇᴇᴅʟɪɴɢ
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Shin Splits
- Muscle Sprain
- Runner’s Knee
- Jumper’s Knee
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITB)
- Achilles Tendonitis

Call us today on (02) 93873174

Ｏｒｔｈｏｔｉｃｓ

ᴡʜʏ ᴏʀᴛʜᴏᴛɪᴄꜱ?
Orthotics support, align and reduce unnecessary compensation of foot function.

ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴄᴀɴ ᴏʀᴛʜᴏᴛɪᴄꜱ ʙᴇ ᴏꜰ ʙᴇɴᴇꜰɪᴛ?
* Unresolved Foot Pain - When serious issues have been ruled out, orthotics can be beneficial by removing pressure and stress from painful areas.
* Biomechanical Abnormalities - Orthotics help reposition structures in the foot to improve biomechanical function and reduce chance of injury.
* Diabetes and Pressure Wounds - Diabetes can cause an increased risk of corns and calluses, especially if your foot alignment is altered. These corns and calluses can impact your skin integrity. If left untreated this can result in diabetic wounds. Orthotics can be helpful in reducing these key pressure areas of the foot.
* Daily Foot Pain - If you are spending long periods of time on your feet, you will need extra support because your muscles will fatigue. It is important to move around and give your feet a break. Orthotics can be helpful in this situation.

Ｓｈｏｕｌｄｅｒ

The shoulder is the most mobile joint of the body. The structure of the joint, which gives it this mobility, is the main reason it is considerably less stable than the hip joint and more prone to injury and dislocation.

The shoulder is made up of three bones;
– the shoulder blade (scapula)
– the arm bone (humerus)
– the collarbone (clavicle).

There are three joints that work together as a unit to form the shoulder complex:
– The glenohumeral (GH) joint; which is a ball and socket joint made up of the head of the humerus and a shallow cup at the side of the scapula called the glenoid fossa.
– The acromioclavicular (AC) joint – which connects the clavicle connects with the scapula and assists the scapula in abduction and flexion.
– The sternoclavicular (SC) joint –which connects the medial end of the clavicle with the sternum and helps us lift our arm above shoulder height.

Ｉｎｇｒｏｗｎ Ｔｏｅｎａｉｌ

ᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ɪɴɢʀᴏᴡɴ ᴛᴏᴇɴᴀɪʟꜱ
- Tight fitting footwear or socks / stockings, causing pressure on your toenails
- cutting your toenails too short or not straight across, as well as picking or tearing the corners of your toenails
- stubbing / knocking your toe
- toenails with naturally curved edges or that are fan-shaped (this cause is genetic)

ꜱʏᴍᴘᴛᴏᴍꜱ ᴏꜰ ɪɴɢʀᴏᴡɴ ᴛᴏᴇɴᴀɪʟꜱ
- painful or tender
- red
- swollen
- surrounded by hardened skin
- infection (pus / fluid around the nail fold)

ɴᴏɴ-ꜱᴜʀɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛᴍᴇɴᴛɴᴏɴ-ꜱᴜʀɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ
- Soak your feet in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day.
- Cut toenails straight across to stop them digging into the surrounding skin
- Change your socks regularly
- Gently push the sky away from the nail using a cotton bud or hand (use a small amount of olive oil to soften the skin)
- Wear comfortable shoes that fit properly
- Do not pick at the toenail or try to remove it yourself.

ꜱᴜʀɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛᴍᴇɴᴛꜱ
If the nail does not improve, surgery may be recommended. This may involve removing part or all of the nail.
- Partial Nail Avulsion (PNA) is the most commonly used procedure for treating ingrown toenails. This is around 98% effective.

Ｐｏｄｉａｔｒｙ

It is very important that you take care of your feet. It's easy to take having healthy feet for granted, however foot problems tend to be among the most common health conditions. Podiatrists can help diagnose and treat a variety of feet related conditions, so it is crucial that you visit one if you need assistance.

A podiatrist helps people deal with a range of mobility issues, relieve pain and treat infections of the feet and lower legs. They help patients with a variety of different issues some include:
- routine foot health / care (corns, callus, blisters,
ingrown toenails and more)
- children with lower limb pain or problems walking.
- diabetics
- individuals with circulation problems
- lower limb sports injuries
- traumatic injuries to the lower limb

Surprisingly feet can withstand uSurprisingly feet can withstand up three to four times the your bodies weight. This surprising fact revealed by a podiatrist is just a tell-all of how strong and important the feet actually are.

Fun facts about your feet are just the beginning! There are so many things about the feet that people don’t know. It never hurts to talk with a podiatrist about anything related to the feet.

If you have questions or concerns, or even want to know more surprising feet facts then reach out to our office so that we can help you further!

Ｆｒｏｚｅｎ Ｓｈｏｕｌｄｅｒ

Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, is a painful condition in which the movement of the shoulder becomes limited. Frozen shoulder occurs when the strong connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint (called the shoulder joint capsule) become thick, stiff, and inflamed.

Symptoms may start gradually and resolve within one or two years. Frozen shoulder typically develops slowly, and in three stages. Each stage can last a number of months.

- 𝔽𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕫𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕘𝕖. Any movement of your shoulder causes pain, and your shoulder's range of motion starts to become limited.
- 𝔽𝕣𝕠𝕫𝕖𝕟 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕘𝕖. Pain may begin to diminish during this stage. However, your shoulder becomes stiffer, and using it becomes more difficult.
- 𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕘𝕖. The range of motion in your shoulder begins to improve.

𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁 can help as part of your treatment plan to provide you with mobilisation of the joint, releasing the inflamed area, as well as, a stretching excursive program. Sometimes injecting corticosteroids and numbing medication into the joint capsule and surgery to loosen the joint capsule can be considered.

Ｃｈｉｌｂｌａｉｎｓ

Chilblains are s𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀. They most often affect the body's extremities, such as the 𝕥𝕠𝕖𝕤, fingers, heels, ears and nose. Chilblains can be uncomfortable, but rarely cause any permanent damage

Signs and symptoms of chilblains may include:
- Small, 𝕚𝕥𝕔𝕙𝕪 𝕣𝕖𝕕 areas on your skin, often on your feet or hands
- Possible 𝕓𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 or 𝕤𝕜𝕚𝕟 𝕦𝕝𝕔𝕖𝕣𝕤
- 𝕤𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 of your skin
- 𝕓𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 on your skin
- 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝕤𝕜𝕚𝕟 𝕔𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕦𝕣 from red to dark blue, accompanied by pain

Chilblains usually clear up within one to three weeks, especially if the weather gets warmer. You may have recurrences seasonally for years.

Treatment involves protecting yourself from the cold and using lotions to ease the symptoms. Chilblains don't usually result in permanent injury. But the condition can lead to infection, which may cause severe damage if left untreated.

𝙄𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙠 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩.

Ｐｈｙｓｉｏｔｈｅｒａｐｙ

Physiotherapy can help restore joint mobility and function, surgery may be avoided. Physio alone can help many injured tissues heal. They also help you even if you still need surgery, your pre-surgical therapy helps prepare you for surgery and aids in a quicker recovery after that.

Physiotherapists help people affected by injury, illness or disability through movement and exercise, manual therapy, education and advice. They maintain health for people of all ages, helping patients to manage pain and prevent disease. They help diagnose and manage a broad range of conditions with the bones, muscles, nerves, as well as other parts and systems of our bodies. They help to manage chronic diseases, give lifestyle advice, prescribe exercises and aids to help people manage better, and give advice.

For many people, physiotherapy has been a life saver, restoring their quality of life and overall mental, emotional, physical, and social functioning.

If you are interested in learning more about how physiotherapy can benefit you personally, reach out to a local physiotherapy clinic today - (02) 9387 3174.

Thank you all very much for your support over 2022!

May you and your family have an amazing New Year.

We look forward to helping and caring for you in 2023!

Ｃｉｔｙ ｔｏ Ｓｕｒｆ

𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗳 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮!

Here are some Tips for a great City to Surf:

* 𝕎𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕣!! - Start hydrating the day before and don’t forget to sip throughout the day.
* 𝕋𝕣𝕚𝕞 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕟𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕤!! - Visit your Podiatrist for a last minute tidy up - nothing worse than sore, damaged nails and toes that can be avoided.
* 𝔽𝕠𝕠𝕥𝕨𝕖𝕒𝕣!! - Make sure your running shoes are well broken in to avoid blisters.
* 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕪 𝕎𝕒𝕣𝕞!! - Before the race starts helps prevent muscle strain. It’s a good idea to wear a top/jumper you don't mind leaving at the start or along the course.
* 𝕊𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕔𝕙!! - before and after the race. It is a great way to curb lactic acid buildup and helps prevent injury: focus on quads, glutes, hips and calves

Enjoy, savour the atmosphere and congratulate yourself for participating in one of the greatest community event in Sydney’s calendar!

Ｆｏｒｅｆｏｏｔ Ｄｅｆｏｒｍａｔｉｅｓ

A forefoot deformity results from the misalignment of the bones in the front (anterior) portion of the foot. Five metatarsal bones and 14 phalanges (toe bones) are the areas that comprise the forefoot. When one or more of these bones shift to the wrong position, it can affect how the foot functions.

3 Main Types of Forefoot Deformities are:

ℂ𝕝𝕒𝕨 𝕋𝕠𝕖: Claw toe is a common foot deformity in which your toes bend into a claw-like position, digging down into the soles of your shoes and creating painful calluses on the top or tips of the toes.

ℍ𝕒𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕣 𝕋𝕠𝕖: A hammer toe is a deformity of the second, third or fourth toes. In this condition, the toe is bent at the middle joint, so that it resembles a hammer.

𝕄𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕥 𝕋𝕠𝕖: A mallet toe refers to an upward bend at the toe joint. It may cause the toe to look curled instead of flat.

It is always best to seek professional advice from your Podiatrist. Some treatment options for forefoot deformities include:
- Wearing specialised shoes that are wider (with a deeper toe box)
- Providing padding techniques that help redistribute weight and relieve pressure
- Taping to force the toe(s) back into normal position.
- Removing painful lesion (hard skin).
- Surgery

Ｔｅｘｔ Ｎｅｃｋ
Text neck is a common posture used by people watching their phones for extended periods of time. It can result in increased likelihood of headaches, shoulder stiffness, and neck pain.

ꜱʏᴍᴘᴛᴏᴍꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛᴇxᴛ ɴᴇᴄᴋ ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅᴇ:
· Neck pain and stiffness
· Pain radiating from neck to arm/s
· Muscle weakness in neck
· Headaches
· Forward head posture

ᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀɴᴀɢᴇ ᴛᴇxᴛ ɴᴇᴄᴋ:
· Take frequent breaks from your phone
· Avoid sitting in the same position for an extended period
· Position the phone in line with your eyes to avoid straining your neck
· Stretching tight musculature in the neck and shoulders

If you care concerned about having 𝗧𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝗰𝗸 - book in with one of our physiotherapists today for a consultation to help relieve your neck pain and headaches!

Ｄａｍａｇｅｄ Ｔｏｅｎａｉｌｓ

A nail injury occurs when any part of your nail becomes injured. This includes the 𝕟𝕒𝕚𝕝, 𝕟𝕒𝕚𝕝 𝕓𝕖𝕕 (skin underneath the nail), 𝕔𝕦𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕝𝕖 (base of the nail), and the 𝕤𝕜𝕚𝕟 𝕒𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕟𝕒𝕚𝕝. Over time due to ᴡᴇᴀʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴇᴀʀ or ᴛʀᴀᴜᴍᴀ toenails can become 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱, 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 or 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 and even become 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱.

Causes of toenail problems include:
- 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮
- 𝗶𝗹𝗹-𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘀
- 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
- 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆
- 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Problems with toenails can be successfully treated by podiatrist. Call us today to have one of our Podiatrist check your feet.

Ｒｏｔａｔｏｒ Ｃｕｆｆ Ｔｅａｒｓ

The rotator cuff consists of four muscles that work together to stabilise the shoulder. The muscles include 𝕤𝕦𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕤𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕤, 𝕚𝕟𝕗𝕣𝕒𝕤𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕤, 𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕠𝕣 and 𝕤𝕦𝕓𝕤𝕔𝕒𝕡𝕦𝕝𝕒𝕣𝕚𝕤. Rotator cuff tears are the leading cause of shoulder pain and shoulder-related disability.

ᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ʀᴏᴛᴀᴛᴏʀ ᴄᴜꜰꜰ ᴛᴇᴀʀꜱ ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅᴇ:
· Age related degenerative changes
· Traumatic injury- e.g. shoulder dislocation
· Repetitive motions resulting in trauma to the muscles

ꜱʏᴍᴘᴛᴏᴍꜱ ᴏꜰ ʀᴏᴛᴀᴛᴏʀ ᴄᴜꜰꜰ ᴛᴇᴀʀꜱ ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅᴇ:
· Shoulder pain, especially during overhead activities
· Difficulty sleeping on affected shoulder
· Shoulder weakness
· Shoulder stiffness

If you are experiencing shoulder pain or have been diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear, come in today and book a consultation with one of our physiotherpists for a full biomechanical assessment to help you become pain free and return to normal activities as soon as possible.

Do you suffer from back pain?

Back pain can often arise from long periods of inactivity, causing muscles in the back to become tight and sore.

Here are some simple stretches to help loosen up your back muscles and reduce your pain.
These stretches are designed to loosen up your lower back muscles in order to help reduce your pain levels and get you moving more comfortably!

For a more personalised assessment, book in with one of our physiotherapists to help reduce your back pain.

Are you using your walking stick correctly?

Walking sticks are designed to:
- provide balance
- reduce pain
- take some pressure off one or both legs

Here are some tips on safely walking with an aid:

Most walking sticks should be used on the unaffected or stronger side of the body.

When walking, it should be placed forward at the same time as the affected leg, and then the unaffected leg follows.

To have your walking stick fitted to you correctly, and for advice on how to improve your gait and safety when mobilizing, feel free to contact us for a consultation on 02 9387 3174

Ｔｉｎｅａ Ｐｅｄｉｓ ／ "Ａｔｈｌｅｔｅｓ Ｆｏｏｔ"

This is a fungal infection that usually begins between the toes. It commonly occurs in people whose feet have become very sweaty while confined within tight-fitting shoes.

Anyone can get athlete’s foot, but certain behaviors increase your risk. Factors that increase your risk of getting athlete’s foot include:
- visiting public places barefoot, especially locker rooms, showers, and swimming pools
- sharing socks, shoes, or towels with an infected person
- wearing tight, closed-toe shoes
- keeping your feet wet for long periods of time
- having sweaty feet
- having a minor skin or nail injury on your foot

There are many possible symptoms of athlete’s foot, which include:
- itching, stinging, and burning between your toes or on soles of your feet
- blisters on your feet that itch
- cracking and peeling skin on your feet, most commonly between your toes and on your soles
- dry skin on your soles or sides of your feet
- raw skin on your feet

Athlete's foot can often be treated with 𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣-𝕥𝕙𝕖-𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣 (𝕆𝕋ℂ) 𝕥𝕠𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕦𝕟𝕘𝕒𝕝 𝕞𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤. It is always best to seek professional advice from your 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 if symptoms don’t resolve.

Ｍｕｓｃｌｅ Ｃｒａｍｐｓ

Cramps involve the sudden and involuntary contraction of one or more of your muscles. They often develop in the legs, particularly the calf and hamstring muscles.

This presents as a sudden sharp pain after a muscle contraction, such as running, jumping or other sudden exercise. This can also occur in the night due to muscle tightness.

Causes of muscle cramps include:
- Tight muscles
- Dehydration
- Long periods of exercise
- Inadequate potassium, calcium or magnesium intake

How to reduce the risk of muscle cramps:
- Warming up before exercise
- Staying hydrated
- Regular stretching
- Eating adequate potassium, calcium or magnesium in your diet

If muscle cramps have been bothering you, feel free to book in with one of our 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 for an individualised treatment plan to help you get fit, healthy, and moving asap!

Ｃｈｉｌｂｌａｉｎｓ

Chilblains are s𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀. They most often affect the body's extremities, such as the 𝕥𝕠𝕖𝕤, fingers, heels, ears and nose. Chilblains can be uncomfortable, but rarely cause any permanent damage

Signs and symptoms of chilblains may include:
- Small, 𝕚𝕥𝕔𝕙𝕪 𝕣𝕖𝕕 areas on your skin, often on your feet or hands
- Possible 𝕓𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 or 𝕤𝕜𝕚𝕟 𝕦𝕝𝕔𝕖𝕣𝕤
- 𝕤𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 of your skin
- 𝕓𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 on your skin
- 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝕤𝕜𝕚𝕟 𝕔𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕦𝕣 from red to dark blue, accompanied by pain

Chilblains usually clear up within one to three weeks, especially if the weather gets warmer. You may have recurrences seasonally for years. Treatment involves protecting yourself from the cold and using lotions to ease the symptoms. Chilblains don't usually result in permanent injury. But the condition can lead to infection, which may cause severe damage if left untreated.

𝙄𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙠 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩.

Ｆｒｏｚｅｎ Ｓｈｏｕｌｄｅｒ

Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, is a painful condition in which the movement of the shoulder becomes limited. Frozen shoulder occurs when the strong connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint (called the shoulder joint capsule) become thick, stiff, and inflamed.

Symptoms may start gradually and resolve within one or two years. Frozen shoulder typically develops slowly, and in three stages. Each stage can last a number of months.
- 𝔽𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕫𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕘𝕖. Any movement of your shoulder causes pain, and your shoulder's range of motion starts to become limited.
- 𝔽𝕣𝕠𝕫𝕖𝕟 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕘𝕖. Pain may begin to diminish during this stage. However, your shoulder becomes stiffer, and using it becomes more difficult.
- 𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕘𝕖. The range of motion in your shoulder begins to improve.

𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁 can help as part of your treatment plan to provide you with mobilisation of the joint, releasing the inflamed area, as well as, a stretching excursive program. Sometimes injecting corticosteroids and numbing medication into the joint capsule and surgery to loosen the joint capsule can be considered.

Ｂｌｉｓｔｅｒｓ

Blisters are an area of skin covered by a raised, fluid-filled bubble.

Blisters are most often caused by skin being damaged by friction or heat. Certain medical conditions also cause blisters to appear. The damaged upper layer of skin (epidermis) tears away from the layers beneath and fluid (serum) collects in the space to create a blister.

𝕊𝕖𝕝𝕗 𝕋𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 can consist of gently cleansing the area with soap and water and covering the blister with a bandage may help heal it. It's best to avoid bursting the blister as the skin covering it may provide a natural barrier to infection.

It is best to go and see your 𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧 if you are experiencing: pain, can’t walk, have redness, swelling.

Ａｃｈｉｌｌｅｓ Ｔｅｎｄｏｎｉｔｉｓ

An Achilles tendinopathy is a common overuse injury that’s caused by repetitive stress and compression that are applied to the Achilles tendon. Excessive physical exercise without rest has been found to be the most common cause of the condition. This is often found with decreased flexibility of the calf muscles, as well as overpronation of the foot.

ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʏᴍᴘᴛᴏᴍꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴀᴄʜɪʟʟᴇꜱ ᴛᴇɴᴅɪɴɪᴛɪꜱ?
* Heel pain and ankle pain.
* Stiffness or tenderness in the tendon.
* Leg weakness.
* Swelling around the Achilles tendon.

The best forms of management include meeting with your local 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁 or 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 for a biomechanical assessment. This can help you return to your daily exercise as soon as possible by helping to identify the best treatment plan for you.

Ｆａｌｌｓ

A fall is defined as an event which causes a person to, unintentionally, rest on the ground or lower level, and is not a result of a major intrinsic event (such as a stroke) or overwhelming hazard. Having a fall can happen to anyone; it is an unfortunate but normal result of human anatomy

ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴏɴ ʀᴇᴀꜱᴏɴꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ꜰᴀʟʟꜱ
* The fear of falling.
* Limitations in mobility and undertaking the activities of daily living.
* Impaired walking patterns (gait)
* Impaired balance.
* Visual impairment.
* Reduced muscle strength.
* Poor reaction times.

ʜᴏᴡ ᴄᴀɴ ᴀ ᴘᴏᴅɪᴀᴛʀɪꜱᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʜʏꜱɪᴏᴛʜᴇʀᴀᴘɪꜱᴛ ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴘʀᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ꜰᴀʟʟꜱ?

* Initial Fall Risk Assessment.
* Assistive Devices (Ankle Foot Orthosis, custom orthotics, etc.)
* Strength and Balance Training
* Patient Education

Ｌｅｓｔ Ｗｅ Ｆｏｒｇｅｔ

Wishing you peace and blessings this Passover from the team at Gentin Podiatry and Physiotherapy

Ｈａｐｐｙ Ｅａｓｔｅｒ

The team at Gentin Podiatry and Physiotherapy wish you a Happy Easter Break. May you enjoy this day surrounded by friends, family, and plenty of chocolate!

We will be back in the office on Tuesday 19th. We assure you that all your emails and phone calls will be answered as soon as we return to the office.

Ｂｕｎｉｏｎ

A bunion is a bony deformity of the joint at the base of the big toe. The medical name for a bunion is Hallux Abducto Valgus (HAV).

ᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ʙᴜɴɪᴏɴꜱ
* Hereditary - If other members of your family have bunions, your risk of developing them increases.
* Arthritis - The types of arthritis thought to cause bunions include Gout, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis.
* Poorly fitting footwear - Shoes that are too tight and small will squeeze your feet, causing your big toe to remain in a bent position. High heels place the toe joints under considerable strain. Too tight shoes can make an existing bunion worse.
* Biomechanics - People with flat feet that roll inwards (over-pronate) may develop bunions due to the high overload stress placed on the big toe joint.
* Age - It has been indicated that the incidence of bunions increases with age.
* Injury/Trauma - Past injury to the joint.

ᴄᴏɴꜱᴇʀᴠᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ʙᴜɴɪᴏɴꜱ
Conservative treatments can ease the pain and discomfort caused by a bunion; however, they cannot change the shape of your foot or prevent a bunion from getting worse over time.
Conservative treatments include: Painkillers, Bunion Splints / Padding, Orthoses, Ice, Footwear, Activity Modification.

ꜱᴜʀɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ʙᴜɴɪᴏɴꜱ
If non-surgical treatments fail to relieve bunion pain and when the pain of the bunion interferes with daily activities, it is important to discuss surgical options. Surgical options are best discussed with a doctor specialising in that field. Your podiatrist can refer and recommend appropriate surgeons.
Following surgery, conservative treatments such as orthotics are often advised.

Ｌｏｗｅｒ Ｌｉｍｂ Ｄｅｖｅｌｏｐｍｅｎｔｓ ｉｎ Ｋｉｄｓ

We have parents come to us regularly with concerns about their children walk. The concerns can vary, but most commonly are:
“ᴍʏ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ’ꜱ ᴛᴏᴇꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ꜰᴀᴄɪɴɢ ɪɴ”
“ᴍʏ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ʜᴀꜱ ꜰʟᴀᴛ ꜰᴇᴇᴛ”
“ᴍʏ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇꜱ ᴡᴀʟᴋꜱ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴛᴏᴇꜱ”
“ᴍʏ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ’ꜱ ᴋɴᴇᴇꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴄᴋɪɴɢ ɪɴ”
“ᴍʏ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ’ꜱ ʟᴇɢꜱ ʙᴏᴡ”
“ᴍʏ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ᴛᴏᴇꜱ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴄᴜʀʟʏ”

These questions are very normal, and can be concerning with out knowing normal postural variations as a child grows.

Some points to know about your child’s lower limb postural development:
𝗕𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗘𝗦 are born with flexion tightness at their hips and knees.
𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗗𝗟𝗘𝗥 may have ‘some’ foot in-toeing ( normally resolves gradually).
𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗗𝗟𝗘𝗥 will be flexed at hips when starting to walk.
𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗗𝗟𝗘𝗥 tibia will move from enfacing to more neutral/outfacing by 7-8 years. The same happens with the femur (thigh bone).
𝗢𝗨𝗧-𝗧𝗢𝗘𝗜𝗡𝗚 is normally seen in early walkers due to hip tightness.
𝗕𝗢𝗪 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗦 is normal up to 2.5 years and resolves with normal growth.
𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗖𝗞 𝗞𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗦 are normal from 2.5 years to 7 years (as long as no symptoms).
𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗧 𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗧 are go no concern for children under 4 years (as long as no symptoms).
𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗟𝗬 𝗧𝗢𝗘𝗦 can be normal and resolves as long as you are able to straighten them.

If you have any concerns around these normal ranges it is important to see a health professional sooner rather than later. If you notice problems outside what’s is 𝙉𝙊𝙍𝙈𝘼𝙇, you should not wait until your child gets older to take care of the problem. They will not “𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚠 𝚘𝚞𝚝” of the problem; rather, the problem will “𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚗”.

For more information, VIC health has some useful documents: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/publications/paediatric-orthopaedic-fact-sheet-on-intoeing-in-children

Otherwise feel free to contact us on (02) 9387 3174.

Ｐｌａｎｔａｒ Ｗａｒｔｓ

A Plantar Wart (also known as Verruca) is a wart that develops on the soles or bottom of the feet. Plantar warts vary in appearance and are caused by a viral infection, they are contagious and can be painful or painless.

Plantar warts are caused by a viral infection . The virus attacks compromised skin through direct contact, entering through tiny cuts and abrasions in the outermost layer of the skin.

Plantar warts are usually self-limiting, but treatment is generally recommended to lessen symptoms, decrease duration and reduce transmission.

Some treatment methods include:
* Cryotherapy
* Acid Therapy
* Laser Therapy
* Curetage

It is always best to seek a professional opinion before treatments. Call us on (02) 9387 3174