Footsmart Podiatry recognises that some patients that attend our clinic are most at risk of catching COVID19. These patients include:   people with weakened immune systems  older people  people with diagnosed chronic medical conditions (such as lung conditions)  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who have higher rates of chronic illness  very young children and babies  Our aim is to minimise COVID 19 infections in consumers and the workforce with the support of the governance systems for effective infection prevention and ..read more

What is Heel Pain?Pain at the heel is one of the most commonly treated podiatry complaints. There are a variety of different conditions that may cause heel pain. The most common being plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis can be very painful and is usually worse when you first step out of bed. Other conditions that can affect the heel are spurs, bursitis, and Achilles heel pain – more commonly known as Achilles tendonitis or Achilles tendinopathy, this is especially common in runners. What causes pain in the heel of the foot? Feet with flat or high arches are at particular risk due to the tract ..read more

A typical ingrown toenail is a painful, inflamed nail edge and is one of the more common nail ailments affecting people of all ages. Why do we get them? Improper cutting can alter the growth of your nail causing it to grow into the tissue of the toe Footwear – Poor fitting footwear that squeezes your toes together, or footwear with poor fixation that allows your foot to slide around – eg. no laces, straps, too tight or shoes that don’t fit well, can all prevent normal nail growth and place excess pressure on the nail bed leading to ingrown toenails. Genetics – A family history of ingrown toena ..read more

Written by Holly Wilcox The benefits of physical activity for women include improved bone health, lower rates of breast cancer diagnosis and relapse, and improved maternal and fetal outcomes during pregnancy. For both men and women, physical activity also decreases the chances of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancers. Regular physical activity is also associated with improved self-esteem and quality of life. Women have certain physiological and anatomical differences to men which can lead to increased risk of overuse injuries. These differences include the mech ..read more

By Holly Wilcox  Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men due to the declining levels of oestrogen during menopause. When oestrogen levels drop this affects the level of minerals in the bone such as calcium and this can affect bone density. Women lose approximately 2% of their bone density per year after menopause. (Osteoporosis Australia, 2017) Loss of bone density can lead to an increased likelihood of fractures. Even the smallest bump might cause a fracture with osteoporosis. Fractures can lead to chronic pain, disability and even premature death. In 2012, the total costs of o ..read more

What is General Treatment Podiatry? The speciality of diagnosing, treating and preventing disease and conditions affecting the skin and nails of the leg, ankle and foot. Including systemic conditions and their influence on neurological, lymphatic and vascular conditions of the foot, ankle and lower limb. Initial Consultation · Detailed and thorough assessment of your presenting condition, causative factors, lifestyle considerations and surrounding medical conditions. · Initial Vascular and Neurological screening · Complete and thorough treatment, utilising the highest levels of sterilisation p ..read more

In this post, we introduce you to Rob Dick, the Captain of the Footsmart ship. Rob has directed the practice from strength to strength over 20+ years and is one of Queensland’s respected leaders in Biomechanical assessments and treatment with the use of orthotics. What areas of Podiatry here at Footsmart do you specialize in? My special interests within Podiatry include lower limb biomechanics and computer walking assessment, Diabetic Footcare, Paediatrics, and Postural medicine. I have aligned the practice with a modern orthopedic group on the sunshine coast and conduct joint consultations on ..read more

Shin pain is a common injury experienced by anyone who participates in everyday exercise, all the way up to professional athletes. Shin pain, commonly known as shin splints is when the bone at the shin micro fractures and the shin becomes inflamed. This causes pain that can be felt anywhere from the above the ankle up to the knee, making activities of daily living painful. How can shin splints develop? Overuse – people who have not adjusted to a new exercise program and don’t recover between training sessions are particularly prone to shin fractures. Incorrect biomechanics – flat feet and hig ..read more

Are you preparing for the Sunshine Coast Marathon? Have you got your last few weeks of training structured before the big event that you have worked so hard for? The team at Footsmart have put together some great tips for better preparing yourself and getting the best out of your training sessions to perform the best you can on game day! Many athletes fail to realize that one of the most important aspects of marathon training is the taper phase.  Taper, or tapering, refers to the reduction of training (either in distance or intensity), before a major competition or race. Tapering promotes rec ..read more