Podiatrists are experts in the assessment and management of all foot and ankle injuries.
Your podiatrist will identify the cause of your injury, what structure/s are damaged and what needs to be done to heal the injury.
Your podiatrist can also order imaging such as X-ray, ultrasound and MRI if required.
We will communicate with all the relevant members of your treating medical team to ensure you get back to pain free full function as soon as possible.
Foot and Ankle Injuries
Heel Pain
Heel pain is the most common of foot complaints. Over 80% of Australians will have this problem at some point in their lives. There are many types of heel pain so it is very important to get the correct diagnosis to guide your treatment & successful recovery
Types of heel pain:
- Plantar Fasciitis ( Plantar Fasciopathy)
- Heel Spurs
- Achilles Tendinopathy
- Bursitis, Stress Fractures
- Bruised Heels
- Nerve entrapment
- Fat pad bruising
Typical symptoms include:
- a painful heel or bruised feeling first thing in the morning
- throbbing heel at the end of the day
- stiffness/soreness when standing up after sitting
- stabbing heel pain or dull ache during/after activity
- bruising pain under the heel with extended standing
The reasons for your heel pain may include:
- Flat feet
- Playing sports with excessive impact (running, jumping, dancing )
- previous foot/ankle injuries (altering normal foot function)
- Standing/Walking occupations Eg Nursing, hospitality and hairdressing
- Poor fitting footwear
- high body mass index
Ankle Sprains
Ankle Sprain or a “rolled ankle” are very common, particularly in sports such as netball, basketball,football and trail running.
Ankle Sprains can be mild or severe causing considerable pain, swelling and disability. When you sprain your ankle you may also fracture some of the ankle or foot bones.
Your Podiatrist will assess what structures have been damaged and if required,refer you for an Xray or MRI to determine the extent of the damage.
Treatment will include a period of relative rest, footwear assessment, an exercise program to heal the damaged structures & the use of splints or braces (if required). Early management is recommended to prevent long term pain and/or ankle instability.
Tendinopathy
A tendinopathy is an overuse injury that results in chronic change to the structure and function of the tendon. Tendinopathies can be frustrating to manage, unfortunately rest alone does not help you return to pain free activity.
Tendinopathies require a structured and graded treatment program that may include a strengthening program, exercise modification, orthotic therapy and footwear assessment
With the right advice and treatment guided by your Podiatrist you will be back up and moving as quickly as possible.
Tendons that get injured around the foot and ankle?
- Achilles
- Tibialis Posterior
- Peroneal
- Plantar Fascia (which acts like a tendon)
Typical symptoms include:
- Pain and stiffness at the site of tendon
- Pain after rest, especially first thing in the morning
- Discomfort and pain with walking, running, jumping
- Burning pain when standing
- Loss of strength around the joint
We can also refer for imaging with ultrasound the most common imaging for tendon structures.
Fractures
Podiatrists often play a role in the management of broken bones/fractures.
Podiatrists can refer for an Xray or MRI if required and refer on for specialist medical review. Podiatrists can fit a cam walker/moon boot for immediate offloading.
Stress fractures
A stress fracture is an ‘overuse’ injury that causes tiny microfractures of the bone. This gradually occurs over time due to repetitive stress from walking, running or playing sport. These fractures are often missed due to their slow onset and are difficult to diagnose.
Typical Symptoms include:
- Night pain
- Pain after activity
- Dull throbbing aching pain
Treatment will include referral for an MRI or bone scan, use of a cam walker to ‘off load’ the injury. Most importantly your Podiatrist will address the reasons why the stress fracture has occurred, such as your running style, footwear or weak muscles & address these to prevent the injury recurring.
Post Surgical Rehabilitation
Operations on the Foot and ankle are very important to rehabilitate correctly as you are required to load your foot with all your body weight every step. Your Podiatrist will work with your surgeon, physiotherapist and GP to ensure the most successful outcome of your surgery. We do this by looking at your footwear, re-hab exercises and customized orthotic insoles.
Some common surgeries we rehabilitate are;
- Tibialis Posterior reconstruction
- Ankle reconstruction
- Bunion Surgery
- Foot deformities
- Plantar Fascia Release
- Toe and Tendon Disorders
- Arthritis and Joint disease
Get a Help with Diagnosis and Treatment for Foot and Ankle Pain
Having undiagnosed or untreated foot or ankle pain can quickly become an overwhelming annoyance or worsening problem. Our team of professionals at The Victorian Podiatry Group want to help you identify the source of the problem so that you can take steps toward healing. You deserve that spring in your step, so let us help you reclaim it.
What Makes Us a Stand-Out Team When You Need Help With Ankle Pain
At The Victorian Podiatry Group, we do our best to make sure our clients receive adequate treatment. We believe, however, that our treatment alone is not what makes us a stand-out choice when you need treatment. Consider the following reasons we believe we’re an excellent choice:
- Innovative 3D imaging tools. With these tools, we can provide better custom orthotics. Stock-standard orthotics seldom deliver the results you want to see. Our 3D imaging tools allow us to get a detailed look so we can make custom-made orthotics for your specific problem.
- Multidisciplinary clinic. We bring you many services in one place, including doctors and X-rays. Should we ever need a second opinion on your case, we don’t have to wait hours or have you return on another day. We can simply call in one of the doctors or head to X-rays to better look at the issue.
- Tailored assessments and personalised solutions. Foot injuries are as unique as the people who suffer from them. When you come to us with a problem, we look at all possible factors before making judgement calls on how to go about treatment and what we believe will help you recover. We always make sure that our solutions suit you based on your body and other vital information.
- Extensive experience. We have assessed and managed multiple patients with foot and ankle injuries over the years. Our professionals have the necessary experience to provide consistent quality services, whether you want a diagnosis or just a check-up. Alongside our wide range of services, you are always in reliable hands when you come to us.
Services You Can Expect From Our Team When You Need Treatment
Knowing how we can help you is already the first step towards recovery because it means you came to our team at the right time to help you. Consider the following problems we can help with on your journey to recovery:
- A wide range of heel pains. We have experience handling a range of heel-related problems in patients, from Plantar Fasciitis to Heel Spurs to nerve entrapment and even bruised heels. If you have a painful heel when you wake up, a throbbing in your heel at the end of a long day, or pain after extended standing, give us a call.
- Ankle sprain treatment. Ankle sprains are common and happen regularly in sports that require quick movement on the feet, such as netball, basketball, or trail running. While some cases are mild, these sprains can become debilitating if left untreated and allowed to worsen.
- Fractures. Broken bones and fractures can cause severe discomfort, and you should treat them as soon as you can to avoid aggravating the injury. We will refer you for X-rays if necessary and can fit a moon boot/cam walker to help you. Symptoms for fractures include night pain, pain after activity, or dull, throbbing aches.
If you ever have any questions for us, we encourage you to give us a call. Our professionals are ready to assist you because your health matters. An injury such as a foot sprain might seem mild to some, but it can worsen, which can lead to avoidable problems. We can help keep you on your feet.
About Us and Our Clinics That Can Help You with an Ankle Injury
With 14 clinics available, we want to do everything we can to help keep your feet healthy and help you recover the right way. We take pride in our customer service and our ability to tailor our services to your requirements.
Call us now and tell us about your foot-related problems so that we can advise on the next step.