04 Nov Three Main Foot Injuries Issues Our Podiatrists Treat
Running to catch the bus. Doing a Pilates class. Working in retail or services. A weekend walk with friends. Playing with your kids. We’re on our feet all the time and often take them for granted. So, when a niggle in your feet turns into persistent foot pain, you need to get expert podiatry care. At footinjuryclinic, our podiatrists Russel Rubin and Trevor Proskewitz each have over 20 years of podiatry experience and use the latest science-based methods to treat foot injuries. In this blog, they share the knowledge on three main podiatry issues that they treat on a regular basis at our three clinics in Bondi Junction, Barangaroo and St Ives.
Ingrown Toenails
What it is
An ingrown toenail typically arises when the edge of a nail presses into or pierces the adjacent skin (often the big toe or hallux) causing irritation, swelling, redness and potentially infection. Our podiatrists point out that the term “ingrown toenail” covers several presentations including when the nail edge incites inflammation, even if it doesn’t strictly “grow” into the skin.
Symptoms
- Pain and tenderness along one or both sides of the nail
- Redness, swelling or warmth of the adjacent skin
- Possible discharge or pus if infection occurs
- Difficulty wearing shoes or walking without discomfort
Prevention
- Cut nails straight across and avoid rounding edges
- Don’t trim nails too short or let them dig into the corners of your toes
- Wear shoes with sufficient toe room to avoid excessive crowding of your feet in the toebox
- Maintain foot hygiene. Wash and dry your feet thoroughly
- Check for any signs of ingrowth if you have risk factors like flat feet, trauma or tight shoes
Treatment: Partial Nail Avulsion & Nail Wedge Excision
If you’re unable to prevent ingrown toenails through non-invasive treatments like cutting off the ingrown toenail, soaking your feet in a salt water foot bath or taking antibiotics, contact our podiatrists. If needed, they can perform minor ingrown nail surgery in-clinic under local anaesthetic, specifically Partial Nail Avulsion or Nail Wedge Excision with matrix sterilisation to remove the offending nail segment and stop recurrence. With a high success rate (not to mention, relief from pain), patients usually return to normal activities quickly, with minimal post-operative discomfort.
Warts
What it is
Plantar warts (verrucae) are lesions caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), typically occurring on the soles of the feet. They may have a rough, grainy surface and sometimes have small black dots. They often hurt when weight is applied while standing or running.
Symptoms
- Raised, rough lesions on the sole, sometimes with black specks
- Pain when pressure is applied (walking, standing, running)
- A thickened callus-like appearance around the lesion
- Resistant to over-the-counter treatments or recurrence after freezing/acid treatments
Prevention
- Wear sandals or flip-flops in communal areas like swimming pools, gyms and change-rooms
- Don’t pick or spread existing warts as the virus may transfer and spread
- Maintain good foot hygiene, avoid sharing towels and keep your feet clean and dry
Treatment: Swift Microwave Therapy
Our podiatrists at footinjuryclinic have found Swift Microwave Therapy to be the most advanced treatment for warts. Microwave energy is used to heat the lesion and stimulate the body’s immune response, rather than relying on old treatment methods like freezing or acids. Benefits include minimal discomfort (just 2-3 seconds of heat sensation), no anaesthetic required and no dressings needed. Swift treatment is completely safe for adults and children and there is no downtime, which means you can return to your daily activities immediately.
Running & Sports Injuries
What it is
Whether you’re a casual runner or serious athlete, your feet and lower limbs undergo significant repetitive stress. Common injuries include plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, shin splints, stress fractures and biomechanical issues that lead to knee, hip or back pain.
Symptoms
- Persistent heel, arch or foot pain, especially after exercise
- Stiffness or aching in the lower leg, ankle or knee
- Pain that worsens with activity, improves (or doesn’t) with rest
- Change in gait or shoe wear pattern, fatigue or instability
Prevention
- Gradually build up your training intensity
- Do warm-up and cool-down routines
- Wear footwear matched to your gait and activity
- Pay attention to niggles rather than ignoring them
- Get regular foot and gait checks if you train often
Treatment: Gait Analysis & Custom-Made Orthotics
Oue podiatrists perform in-depth gait and biomechanical analysis using video-treadmill technology, pressure plates and slow-motion review to detect faulty movement, joint motion, muscle strength and loading patterns. Once the assessment identifies any issues, our podiatrists can craft custom orthotics in our in-house laboratory, if needed. This is done via the Orthema CAD/CAM system (Swiss-made) to design and manufacture personalised shoe inserts that align your feet and lower limbs for optimal performance and injury prevention. These orthotics, paired with footwear advice, strength and conditioning and load management, help patients recover from injury, improve running/gait efficiency and reduce the risk of re-injury.