Shoes, Shoes and More Shoes

Often our clients ask us; how many shoes do I need?

We love being asked this question as many clients think there is no such thing as too many shoes! Some of our Team would agree when it comes to fashion shoes. Fashion shoes are the types of shoes you might wear to a special occasion but are not your everyday footwear. Let’s focus our attention on our everyday, practical footwear.

  • No matter how active you are, it is essential to have a great exercise shoe, as this is when the forces on our feet are magnified. Depending on the type and frequency of activity, you may only need one shoe across multiple activities, however this may not be the case for all of our clients.

  • Next shoe to consider is your work shoe, if you spend long periods standing at work then this may be your most important shoe.

  • And finally, your casual shoe; it is surprising how many steps we take in our casual shoe with many people walking around a market or standing at a party easily clocking up 7000 – 8000 steps.

Footwear plays an enormous role in your foot health so it is essential that you are choosing the right shoes for your needs. For some quick tips on what to look out for, visit our website blog post on Selecting Supportive Footwear. We have an excellent range of shoes in our clinic and can assist patients by assessing your individual footwear needs and advising which features to look for in your shoes.

Give us a call on 5222 7744 to schedule a shoe fitting or book an appointment online. 

So, the question is – how many shoes do you own, do you wear them all regularly?

Let’s Talk Orthotics

Soft / Flexible Orthotics – Ethyl Vinyl Acetate
  • Great for inflammatory joint diseases such as arthritis
  • Offloads pressure areas on the ball of the foot and is less likely to cause rubbing
  • Easily modified orthotic with good shock absorption and very comfortable
  • Modern technology used to scan the feet, use CAD CAM technology
  • Some considerations for this orthotic are; generally bulkier (better in lace up style shoes), tend to have a shorter life (flatten easily) and this type of orthotic is reliant on the structure of a supportive shoe to support the foot
Hard Orthotics – Polypropylene or Carbon Fibre Semi Rigid Orthotics
  • Low profile (thin) so can fit in to most shoe styles, last at least 3-5 years
  • We us the latest Digital Printing technology to make the orthotic (CAD CAM technology) and once created the orthotic can be easily adjusted
  • Very well tolerated and not dependent on the structure of the shoe for support
  • Some considerations for this orthotic are; some patients find the orthotic a bit hard underfoot and can take longer to adjust, may squeak in shoes (but this can be easily addressed by our Podiatrists)
Hybrid – Combination of Both Hard and Soft / Flexible Orthotics
  • Our Podiatrists are using hybrid orthotics much more as they combine the best of both the soft and hard types of orthotics.
  • A very thin, hard material that is laminated on top and below with soft EVA is used
  • Work especially well for sporting activities that require a combination of control of the foot and cushioning, for example; basketball and netball players of all levels.
The most important thing when considering your choice of orthotics is for your Podiatrist to assess your individual needs, foot pathology, footwear and types of activities you intend to wear your orthotics for.
Call us on 5222 7744 (Geelong) to discuss your individual needs or book an appointment online for an orthotic assessment with our Podiatrists.

Clearanail Fungal Nail Treatment

We are kicking off 2021 with an exciting addition to our clinic services. Geelong Podiatry is the first in our region to offer Clearanail, a clinically proven treatment for fungal nail.

You might be wondering, what is fungal nail? Fungal nail (known as Onychomycosis) occurs when a fungus, that’s normally in your toenail, grows underneath the toenail. This fungal infection is the same type as Athlete’s Foot.

So, how do we treat fungal nail using Clearanail?

The Clearanail device produces micro holes (0.4 mm in diameter) in the nail, to allow anti-fungal medication to penetrate the nail plate and easily reach the infection underneath. The computer controlled treatment ensures that the device retracts as soon as it breaks through the nail bed. This means the treatment is pain free and won’t damage your nail bed. Typically, your podiatrist will only need to create the holes once (twice in more severe cases). Post treatment, your podiatrist will provide you with directions on how to use the topical treatment and discuss your treatment plan to ensure the best results. A visible improvement in the nail will typically be seen in just 2-8 weeks.

To discuss treatment options and find out more about Clearanail fungal nail treatment, make an appointment online or call us on 5222 7744 (Geelong).

Ask a Podiatrist… How to choose supportive footwear

Our clients often ask what they need to look for when selecting supportive and comfort footwear. We gathered these top tips from our podiatrists to make choosing supportive footwear easy. 

  • Functional fasteners: Laces, Velcro or ankle straps, something that holds the shoe onto the foot.  If you can take your shoe on and off without undoing a fastener the shoe will not be able to offer good support and is likely to be too tight around the toes to stay on.
  • A firm heel counter: This is the back of the shoe that wraps around your heel. This should be firm and should not collapse inwards when you press against it.  A firm heel counter helps control your foot, rolling in and out and functional fasteners help hold your foot back into the heel counter so that it can do its job. A heel counter also helps prevent heels from cracking.
  • Stiff sole: A shoe should only bend where the foot bends. Pick up the shoe and bend it. It should bend at the ball of the foot, if it bends further back look for another shoe, especially if you have a history of Plantar Fasciitis.
  • Low broad heel: A heel height of around 2.5cm with a large surface area is ideal for everyday wear.
  • The fit of the shoe. Stand up in the shoe and measure the distance between the longest toe and the end of the shoe.  There should be a space of around a thumbs width between the two.  Also keep in mind the depth and width of the shoe around the toes, it needs to be deep and wide enough to fit your toes without creating pressure (ensure prevention of possible corns or blisters in the future).

Ask a Podiatrist… What is a corn?

Corn on toeA corn is a small focal area of hardened skin (callous) that tends to ‘dig’ into the skin. They are very common and usually caused by friction and pressure; particularly from ill fitting or tight footwear. Corns are often very small but can be really painful. They are common between the toes and on weight bearing areas of the feet. Corns are often described as feeling like there is a stone in your shoe and is most noticeable when in bare feet standing on a hard surface.

Removed corn on toe with padding

Podiatrists are very skilled at removing corns with minimal discomfort, using a small scalpel blade. We will remove the corn and provide padding or spacing devices to keep pressure from that area and allow the skin to recover. We often provide education to our clients around footwear and maintaining foot health to prevent reoccurrence, however an individuals foot type and the way they walk means corns can reoccur. Regular maintenance (every few months) is essential to ensure comfortable healthy feet.

Sound like the discomfort you’re experiencing? We thought so… Give us a call on 5222 7744 or book an appointment online and we’ll get your feet back on track.

Access your prescribed exercise program from home

Accessing your prescribed Podiatry exercise program from home is now easier than ever!

We have introduced Physitrack, a simple tool designed to make following prescribed exercise programs more convenient. Your Podiatrist will consult with you to prescribe tailored exercises, stretches and educational tools to ensure the best foot care and management. You can access your prescribed program via the Physitrack mobile phone application or as a printout provided in clinic. The electronic program features guided videos on each exercise so you can follow along from home. Your Podiatrist will consult with you on your progress and adjust your program as necessary. Introducing this innovative tool has enabled our Podiatrists to continue to provide our clients with the best care and treatment management.

To find out more, book an appointment with one of our team or call us on (03) 5222 7744

Online Store – Global Footcare Affiliate

We are very excited to announce the launch of our Global Footcare Affiliate online store.

Shop all the latest range of shoes and products, directly through our Global Footcare online store. There is a huge range of orthotic friendly, podiatrist recommended and globally recognised brands like; Vionic, Revere, Anodyne, Orthoheel and much more.

Shop our online store using our unique link (click here) and you will receive FREE shipping to your chosen address and FREE returns directly to the Global Footcare Team. If you have any questions, please contact us or visit globalfootcare.com.au

Want to stay up to date with the latest online products and sales? Give us a call on 5222 7744 and we will sign you up to our mailing list for the latest updates from the Global Footcare Affiliate Program.

Happy shopping!!

Adapting to Social Distancing- Introducing Finger-Ink

Our business has been working hard to adapt and implement changes that are in line with social distancing recommendations. We have improved our services and continue to meet the needs of our clients in a safe environment. Finger-Ink is the newest addition to our clinics, we have moved all paper patient forms to electronic format. Patients have the choice to complete their form at home or in-clinic via an iPad, disinfected before and after each use. The addition of Finger-Ink means; paperless forms, minimal contact in waiting areas and efficient processing for all.

We have committed to minimising our impact on the environment and maintaining social distancing recommendations. Finger-Ink enables us to address both concerns. We are very excited for you to try the tool at your next consultation.

Give us a call on 5222 7744 to make an appointment or book online here.

Telehealth is Here!

Geelong Podiatry now offering Telehealth consultations!

It is essential to adapt as effectively as we can to the impacts of COVID-19. Ensuring we are accessible to all clients during this uncertain time is our priority. Medicare have extended rebates for Telehealth (effective Mon 30th March 20). Clients on a Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDM) will be bulk billed the Telehealth consultation. Online payment of a standard consultation fee will apply to all other clients. Private health insurance are currently considering extending rebates for Podiatry Telehealth and we will notify you when this becomes available. You can make a Telehealth booking with your Podiatrist via the online booking tool on our website. Alternatively, please call Geelong Podiatry (03) 5222 7744 or email reception@geelongpodiatry.com.au

From all of us at Geelong Podiatry, please stay safe and connected. We will get through this as a community!

Online bookings – https://geelongpodiatry.com.au/appointments/

Infection Control Training COVID 19