Podiatry for activity
Our podiatrists are recognised as leaders in using orthotics as a therapy. Over many years we have been involved in orthotic design and development. Foot orthotics are prescribed as part of an overall treatment plan to optimise foot function and reduce pain.
Making the right decision on each individual orthotic for the foot condition comes with experience, knowledge and having the right facilities. Our skilled Podiatrist will conduct a full biomechanical assessment, take a 3D computer scan of your feet, and send a prescription to the laboratory considering your personal biomechanics, foot structure, pain, activity, and footwear.
Some of the conditions that respond well to orthotic therapy include:
- Heel pain
- Bunions
- Knee pain
- Shin splints
We also stock cost effective, over-the-counter orthotics to suit all ages. They are used to treat a wide range of conditions, such as flat feet and plantar fasciitis. Your Podiatrist will help you make the right decision that best suits your needs.
Sports Podiatry focuses on treating foot and lower limb conditions that arise from exercise and activity. We specialise in the relationship between activity, biomechanics, and foot function. The goal is to assist you to improve performance while reducing pain and preventing injury. You do not need to be an elite athlete to benefit from Sports Podiatry.
Many of the conditions we treat are not just foot related but include calf injuries, achilles tendon troubles, shin pain, knee and ITB pain. Common foot conditions we treat include heel, foot, and ankle pain.
The 3D RunLab is located onsite in our biomechanical studio. We use it daily as a fast and accurate diagnostic, assessment and rehabilitation tool. It is suitable for both elite and everyday runners.
3D RunLab is the next generation of evidence based gait analysis. It gives us the ability to assess injury and performance during a consultation. The Run Lab provides an accurate insight into entire body movement patterns, which can be incorporated into treatment and training regimes. It is also one of the tools we can use to establish if a previous orthotic or shoe is appropriate. Anyone considering orthotic therapy and is unsure should consider this assessment to assist in making the correct decision
A 3D RunLab session will provides a visual to assist you to:
- Understand biomechanical risk factors
- Minimise injury
- Maximise performance
- Demonstrate effectiveness of orthotic therapy
- Track progress of training and rehabilitation
- Check and compare footwear
Heel pain is one of the most common reasons people make an appointment at the Melbourne Foot Clinic. It affects both children and adults. As a result, as a team we have focused on developing a variety of evidence-based strategies to treat this painful condition.
Many disorders can cause heel pain, so an accurate diagnosis of the cause is essential for the correct treatment strategy. We use treatments which include:
- Shockwave therapy
- Orthotics
- Taping
- Exercise programs and shoe recommendations
Shockwave treatment provides therapy and relief for people suffering from a wide range of foot and lower limb problems. The most common problems we treat with shock wave include:
- Heel pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Bursitis
- Achilles’ tendonitis
- Arch pain
- Shin Splints
- Knee pain
Shockwave treatment takes around 10-15 minute during a consultation. High energy, acoustic waves stimulate a biological and physical response in the body to aid in the healing process and to reduce pain. It has been shown to be effective in significantly reducing pain and promoting healing in at least 75% of cases worldwide.
Shockwave Therapy has been shown to work best when it is combined with other rehabilitation strategies. Your podiatrist will discuss whether this is a suitable treatment for your condition.
If you have any questions about Shockwave Therapy, please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information.
Exercise therapy is an important component in many of our treatment plans. Specific stretching or strengthening of the foot or lower leg muscles is used in combination with more mechanical treatments such as orthotics or footwear advice.
We understand the importance and influence of the upper leg and hip in relation to foot and lower limb biomechanics. Our digital video gait analysis helps us to identify deficiencies and rehabilitation progress.
Patients often require strength and conditioning after injury, but we also use these techniques to improve foot function and reduce pain. In older adults, we focus on strength and balance to minimise falls.
We can also refer to our excellent network of physiotherapists and osteopaths for further assistance.
Our Podiatrists use taping and strapping to give support and pain relief for treating muscles, ligament, and joint injuries. We can teach you how to do this correctly at home.
Taping is often used during initial painful stages of an injury and to help prevent re-injury during sports or physical activity as you regain strength and function. Taping can be used for sprained ankles, plantar fasciitis, ligament damage, tendonitis and knee pain.
Finding the right shoe can be hard, and you need to ensure your foot type and biomechanics are considered. The shoe needs to be suitable for your use, and of course, it should look good!
Melbourne Foot Clinic does not sell shoes. We believe that selling them may lead to a conflict of interest. Instead, we have a range of sample shoes to demonstrate features that benefit your foot and activity type. This allows us to recommend shoes to you without a brand bias.
Our podiatrists maintain up to date knowledge on all forms of footwear and can recommend the best shoes for orthotics. Outside of Covid restrictions, we meet regularly with leading athletic shoe brands such as Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Hoke One One and Brooks. Matthew Dilnot acts as a consultant to Clarkes shoes. Madeleine Murray works closely with ASICS Oceania, providing feedback on their running range. Rohan Coull has consulted to New Balance and Nike.
Melbourne Foot Clinic stocks a cost effective range of CAM Walkers (also known as Moon Boots) and Surgical Shoes.
The boots and shoes provide immobilisation, protection, and stabilisation. The goal is to reduce load and stress while the injury heals itself.
Our size range covers children through an XXL adult. Due to hygiene reasons, we do not offer a hire service.
It is wise to have the boot fitted by a podiatrist:
- Ensure the correct boot and fit
- Receive guidance on how to use the boot
- Be given recommendations on return to activity
- When a boot or surgical shoe is fitted by a Podiatrist, it may be claimable on your Private Health Insurance
Nail & skin care
Our experienced Podiatrists treat a wide range of conditions from general foot and nail care to more complex problems.
Common conditions
We specialise in difficult to treat feet with an emphasis on Biomechanics and Orthotic Therapy.