The plantar plate is a strong ligament that connects the bones at the ball of the foot to the base of your toes. These ligaments aid to stabilise the toe joints by preventing lifting of the toes, stopping them from deformation and dislocation. A plantar plate injury can occur at any toe joint, although most commonly tears and/or strains occur at the 2nd toe, leading to pain and dysfunction. How does a plantar plate injury occur? A plantar plate injury can be sustained through numerous factors which may be acute or progressive in nature, these can include : Anatomical factors, such a long ..read more

Achilles tendinopathy is a common and painful condition that affects the Achilles tendon, which is a thick band of tissue connecting the calf muscles to the heel bone. It encompasses a spectrum of tendon disorders, including tendinitis (inflammation) and tendinosis (degeneration). Achilles tendinopathy typically presents with pain, stiffness, and swelling in the back of the heel. The pain is often aggravated during activities such as running, jumping, or climbing stairs, and it may improve with rest. In some cases, the pain can become chronic and affect daily activities. Common complaints we ..read more

  Ever considered how much force you experience when landing on your feet, and what parts take the load? This unique in shoe sensor technology forms part of PEAK’S exclusive Peak Pod Pro 3P facility. These measure direct foot and limb total force, Centre of Mass progression, ground contact time and symmetry. Unlike other products where you walk on a platform, this measures inside your shoe doing your activities providing vital information not otherwise able to be seen. This helps with stress fractures, ankle, shin, heel and forefoot pain. A 2011 study by Esparza and colleague ..read more

We hope this email finds you and your family safe, healthy, happy, and well.  And just like that, it’s a wrap for 2022. 2022 was another year of indifference, challenge, and change. We saw borders relax, interstate and overseas travels resume and for some of our teams, some normality with the resumption of home and away fixtures with the occasional hub thrown in. For all of us no doubt, managing our work environment was challenging throughout 2022. With covid disruptions, with ourselves and colleagues needing long overdue leave to see family and friends, all the while with an ever-changin ..read more

Baxter’s Nerve Entrapment – one of our key Differential Diagnosis for Plantar Fasciitis/heel pain. Baxter’s nerve entrapment is a heel pain condition caused by entrapment of the inferior calcaneal nerve, also commonly known as “Baxter’s nerve”. This nerve originates from the lateral plantar nerve, close to the bifurcation of the tibial nerve. It runs from the inside of the heel, under the arch of the foot to the outer heel. Baxter’s nerve entrapment is often hard to diagnose as it causes symptoms like plantar fasciitis and often co-exists with it. Symptoms include burning pain or pi ..read more

As winter sports gear up, so does the occurrence of ankle injuries. The most common of which is the inversion ankle sprain typically involving excessive movement of the foot pointing downwards (plantarflexion) and inwards (inversion). The presentation of a sprained ankle can vary depending on the severity of injury. Signs and symptoms can include: Pain, especially with weight-bearing Tenderness when you touch the ankle Swelling Bruising Stiffness or restricted range of motion Instability The severity of the sprain is best described as follows: Grade I Sprain – Stretching of the ligaments and ..read more

Ever considered how much force you experience when landing on your feet, and what parts take the load? This unique in shoe sensor technology forms part of PEAK’S exclusive Peak Pod Pro 3P facility. These actually measure direct foot and limb total force, Centre of Mass progression, ground contact time and symmetry. Unlike other products where you walk on a platform, this measures inside your shoe doing your activities providing vital information not otherwise able to be seen. This helps with stress fractures, ankle pain, shin pain, heel pain and forefoot pain ..read more

Genu valgum, is a condition where the knees touch but the ankles do not. It appears most frequently in young children and can be concerning for parents who may know little about the condition. Genu valgum is more commonly referred to as ‘Knock Knee’. When someone with knock knee stands with their knees together, there is a gap between the ankles of around 8cm or more. With this knock knee presentation, the person is often unable to stand with their feet together without the knees overlapping or getting in the way. Knock knee is the opposite to be being bow-legged. What’s normal? Knock knees a ..read more

In-toeing is a condition that many parents are concerned about in their child’s developing years. It is characterised by the feet turning inwards while standing, walking, or running, and is commonly referred to as being “pigeon toed”. In-toeing can be the result of many underlying causes. My child has an unusual walking pattern, but I’m not sure if its normal or not? It is estimated that 25-30% of children below the age of 6 will exhibit in-toeing and is generally accepted as part of normal development in children. To make matters more complicated, normative data suggests children 4-16 years o ..read more

Blisters can affect our school children to our elite athletes and everyone in between. Our Podiatrists not only focus on the immediate treatment of the blisters using sterile techniques, but also investigate the underlying causes, and therefore can advise on possible preventative measures. Depending on the stage the blister is in, there are different treatments ranging from: Sock and shoe fitting and suitability, Lubricants and ENGO patches to reduce friction, Powders to reduce moisture, Protective taping, Deflective padding to offload pressure, and Orthotics to modify foot function to redu ..read more