OUR SERVICES
Toenail Care
Thickened Nails
A thickened toenail also known as onychauxis, is a nail condition where the nail plate grows abnormally thick. Thickened toenails are often yellow in appearance and can cause pain if they receive pressure from footwear. This can lead to callus and corns developing underneath the nail plate or in the sulcus.
Treatment of thickened nails at FootWise Clinic involves cutting the nails and reducing the thickness with an electrical burr. Our podiatrists have specialised equipment that can help remove callus or corns from underneath the nail plate or sulcus, which is a common cause of pain. We will also advise you on appropriate footwear to increase comfort and give appropriate support.
Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails is another common nail condition which arises from nail matrix changes. An ingrown toenail, also known as onychocryptosis, is a nail that grows into the flesh or sulcus, on the side of the nail. Ingrown toenails are very painful and result in inflammation of the surrounding tissues. If left untreated an ingrown toenail can lead to infection. In-grown toenails is often associated with inappropriate cutting, previous trauma or a history of fungal nails.
Ingrown toenail treatment at our FootWise clinic is aimed at treating the cause of the ingrown nail. This involves careful removal of the nail spike by a podiatrist. Treatment is usually simple and effective if treated early. Chronic or long-standing ingrown toenails may require nail surgery.
If you think you have an ingrown toenail it is vital that you seek early treatment with one of our podiatrists. If left untreated an ingrown toenail can lead to infection and this can in turn progress to a more serious underlying bone infection. FootWise team are specially trained to effectively remove offending nail edges and prevent further infection. Permanent nail re-shaping surgery is also offered at FootWise.
Skin Care
Corns
Corns are caused by focal and intense pressure. They are most common on bony areas of the feet like on top of toes, in between toes, or under the forefoot (metatarsal heads). Corns are commonly caused by poor fitting footwear but can also be the result of poor foot mechanics. If corns are neglected the ongoing pressure can breakdown the lower layer of skin and lead to an ulcer, which may then lead to infection.
Treatment for corns at FootWise Clinic involves careful enucleation or excision of the corn. Corn removal is painless and gives immediate pain relief. This short delicate procedure which involves scalpel work should only be undertaken by a skilled and experienced podiatrist.
Our podiatrists regularly perform corn removal at FootWise clinic as part of a general foot care treatment. This involves nail cutting, removal of corns, followed by application of a foot moisturising cream, making your feet feel like they’re walking on air.
For chronic painful corns our podiatrists can make silicone splints to reduce pressure and check your gait to see if orthotics are required. Orthotics can help improve foot function and can help redistribute pressure away from painful corns. Our podiatrists can also give you appropriate footwear advice to help prevent the development corns on the feet.
Calluses
A callus is a thickening of skin caused through pressure and friction. It is the body’s way of protecting the skin being traumatised. Most minor calluses are asymptomatic but when a large callus builds up it can cause pain. It is most common on the top of the toes, bottom of the feet and around the heels. If neglected the callus and pressure will continue to build and this could lead to more painful conditions such as corns, ulcers and scarring.
Treatment for callus at FootWise clinic involves carefully reducing the callus with a scalpel. This procedure is completely painless and produces instant foot relief, making your skin soft once again.
Our podiatrists regularly perform callus removal as part of a general foot care treatment. This involves nail care, removal of callus, followed by application of a foot moisturising cream, making your feet feel soft and smooth.
Fungal Infections
Fungal infection causes tinea. Tinea generally isn’t a serious foot condition and it is often asymptomatic in its early form. However if allowed to progress to the chronic stage, it can lead to inflammation and itchy skin. If left untreated tinea can cause secondary fungal nail infections and even lead to bacterial infections.
Our FootWise podiatrists can address the environmental factors that caused the infection and prescribe topical anti-fungal medications with appropriate usage instructions for tinea or athlete’s foot infections when the diagnosis is completed. There are many different anti-fungal medications available over the counter at the pharmacy including creams, gels, sprays and powders. Our podiatrists can advise you on which topical will work best for your tinea treatment.
Tinea or athlete’s foot should not be ignored as it can progress and even lead to fungal nail infections, or more serious bacterial infections. So if you think you have a tinea foot infection don’t delay in seeking early podiatry treatment.
Plantar Warts/Verrucae
Plantar warts or verrucae are caused by a virus, known as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). This virus can be easily picked up when the foot is wet as this breaks down the foot’s natural skin barrier. Anyone can get warts, but children are more prone to warts because their immune system has not yet fully developed. The majority of adults will have some immunity against the virus. Patients that have weak immune systems or on immunosuppressant medication will be more prone to warts and often will have more difficulty in getting rid of it.
Our podiatrists at FootWise are experts in the treatment of plantar warts in both children and adults. Plantar wart treatment at FootWise can range from simple home remedies to more aggressive treatments like liquid nitrogen and highly concentrated acids.
Children’s wart treatment at our FootWise clinic is often painless and parents do not need to be concerned about bringing their children in for wart treatment.
In rare cases, warts can spontaneously disappear once the body’s immune system reaches a level that overcomes the virus. However, if left untreated warts can sometimes grow bigger and spread to other parts of the feet making treatment more difficult and frustrating. For this reason, it is always best to seek early intervention with a podiatrist if you think you have a wart on your foot for the best treatment advice and results.
Antifungal and Clear-a-Nail Treatment Packages
Our Antifungal program produces high consistency in positive results as it is tailored to your skin type and your lifestyle so that we can help you remove and prevent fungal infections.
One of the key methods to ensure consistent results is with our Clear-a-Nail controlled Micro-Penetration equipment. Nail lacquer is known for producing slow results due to low penetration into the nail bed, incorrect usage and inconsistency in the application. Clear-a-Nail equipment enhances the effect of nail lacquer and produces multiple micro-holes of 0.4mm in diameter so that the nail lacquer will be delivered in higher dosage (up to 4 times higher than conventional application) to the infected area in the nail bed.
In most cases, a minimum of two sessions is usually required and results are visible within 8 weeks.
Ingrown Nail Surgery
Ingrown toenail describes the deeply curved nail at the sides of the toe, which creates a groove and often penetrates the skin on the side of the toe. If the ingrowing becomes long enough or traumatised from activity, an inflammation may occur which could lead to possible infection. Ingrown toenails are often recurring due to the reorientation of the nail matrix. Routine nail care by removing side growing nails can prevent inflammation from happening. When routine nail care cannot sufficiently prevent the frequency of inflammation, whether from sports activities or work factors, the ingrowing nail could be managed by a surgical removal of the offending section. The surgical procedure will help to prevent the side of the nail from growing back permanently by eradicating the matrix cells residing at the side edge of the nail.
Diabetic Foot Care
Looking after your feet when you have diabetes is a must because of the associated potential for complications to arise from having diabetes. The two most serious foot complications caused by diabetes are:
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Nerve Damage
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Poor blood circulation
If you have poor sensation then there is a real danger that you may not detect an initial injury. This can lead to injuries exacerbating and leading to more serious complications including infection. If you have poor circulation then wounds may fail to heal which also increases the risk of infection. Having both of these obviously increases your risk as a diabetic to more serious complications. A chronic non-healing wound on the foot with a spreading infection can potentially result in the need for amputation as this is the only treatment that will prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of the body and vital organs.
Seeing a Podiatrist regularly can help you stay on top of your footcare, especially if you struggle to reach or cannot see your feet well. A podiatrist can help prevent diabetic complications, including infections and the need for amputation, with regular foot care. This can include:
Cutting your toenails – sometimes it can be hard to see or reach the feet to cut your toenails safely, a podiatrist can ensure this is done in the correct way to keep you safe
Debriding calluses and pressure areas – these can cause skin breakdowns and ulcerations if left unattended
Footwear advice – protecting your feet with a shoe that is the right length and width is important to avoid pressure areas
Offloading pressure areas with orthotics – sometimes a good shoe is not enough to offload certain high-pressure areas, a podiatrist can make customised orthotics that will offload high pressure areas and redistribute forces, which helps to prevent calluses, corns and ulcerations.
Performing a monofilament test – this gives an indication of whether there is nerve damage present
Performing a doppler ultrasound of the arterial blood flow – this will give an indication of how good the blood supply to the feet is and whether further investigation is required
So if you suffer from diabetes make sure you regularly see one of our FootWise podiatrists for the best diabetic foot care. This will help prevent diabetic complications including infections and amputations.
Biomechanics
Biomechanics involves the assessment of the structure, alignment and function of the feet and legs. A biomechanical assessment is perfect for people with flat feet, bunions, shin splits, or pain they can’t explain. These biomechanical flaws contribute to an “overloading” of the tendon which, over time, results in pain and dysfunction.
If biomechanics are improved prior to injury, risk of injury can be effectively reduced. In addition to injury prevention or rehabilitation, improving biomechanics can assist people perform their chosen sport or activity better. This does not just pertain to elite athletes but rather any sportsperson or individual who wants to improve his/her performance.
At FootWise, our podiatrists share a strong understanding of biomechanical function. We will provide you the right treatment plan using the results from examinations and assessments. Whether it is a strengthening program, a course of mobilisation/manual therapy, a pair of orthoses, shockwave, cupping or a referral to an appropriate health professional, you can trust us with your foot health.
For more information regarding Shockwave Therapy, cupping and Orthotic Therapy please check it out here:
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What should I bring to the consultation?
If you have a referral, please bring it with you. If you have any reports, x-rays, old orthotics or innersoles, please bring them too. The more information you can bring us the better. Please bring 2-3 pairs of shoes that you commonly wear (for walking, running and work, for example). This allows us to check if your shoes are suited to your foot type and check for uneven wear on your shoes.
Shockwave and Cupping Therapy
Shockwave therapy is highly effective in promoting tissue remodelling and regeneration for tendons, ligaments and surrounding soft tissues. Shockwave therapy work by generating mechanical shockwave when compressed air drives the ballistic projectile to the shock transmitters. This release of acoustic waves is transmitted through the skin to the damaged tissue. Shockwave therapy is often used to treat chronic conditions like:
• Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)
• Achilles Tendinopathy
• Patella Tendinopathy
• Muscle Strains
• "Shin Splints"
Before your shockwave therapy treatment our podiatrist must have an initial consultation to ensure that shockwave therapy is right for you. This will include a full foot and leg assessment, and will require an in-depth medical history. If shockwave therapy is right for you, our podiatrist will book you in for your treatment session.
The actual delivery of the shockwave normally only lasts 5 minutes. Some patients feel immediate pain relief, but shockwave usually takes approximately 3 months for the full effect to take place. Most patients require 3 sessions of shockwave therapy with 1-2 weeks between treatment times.
Please note that ACC do not cover shockwave therapy which is used mostly for chronic/degenerative conditions.
Cupping is a technique that use negative pressure cups to treat the bodies fascial system. Fascia is a band of connective tissue that covers, attaches, stabilises and separates all muscle groups and other internal organs.
Cupping encourages healing by creating a negative pressure or suction on the skin using glass cups that pull up underlying tissues, blood, and other fluids close to the surface of the skin. By doing this it is able to stretch fascia and promote new fresh blood flow for increased tissue recovery, reduced inflammation. This can speed up the healing process, increase flexibility and aid in performance
ACC Treatments
All our podiatrists at FootWise are ACC registered, which means if you have suffered an injury and are eligible for ACC, there’s no need for referral and the cost of treatment is partially subsidised. Our team of podiatrists are all highly trained in the diagnoses and management of ACC injuries. We aim to get you back to full health quickly, stronger and more resilient than ever.
There are 2 types of injuries that occur to the human movement system otherwise known as the musculo-skeletal system.
Acute or sudden injuries
Acute injuries are caused by something like a fall when running or an awkward landing when jumping. A prime example of an acute sports injury is an ankle sprain. Poor footwear, poor biomechanics and poor strength are often factors that may increase the risk of an acute sports injury.
Depending on the tissue injured, treatment of acute sports injuries and foot fractures may involve a period of rest with reduced activities and strapping. Orthotics can be prescribed to help reduce any excessive loading at the site of injury. A more serious case of immobilisation will possibly require moonboots or casts.
Chronic Injuries (Only covered by ACC if caused at work)
Chronic injuries affecting the foot and lower leg are generally caused by overuse and biomechanical abnormalities. When we play sport the foot and lower leg often takes forces up to three times your body weight. The increased forces place increased loads on muscles, tendons and joints. If you have poor lower leg biomechanics these loads may be increased on certain muscles and this can then lead to injury, such as shin splints or tendinopathies. Poor footwear, poor biomechanics, poor strength, poor conditioning, and increased loads are often associated with chronic sports injuries. Chronic injuries can be treated by our FootWise podiatrists with therapies like ultrasound and infrared therapy. These modalities transfer heat into tissue, tendons and joints, allowing for increased blood flow to the injury site which helps with healing. Our podiatrists also use computer gait analysis to help identify biomechanical faults and the cause of an overuse injury. Finally rehabilitation along with important stretching and strengthening of key muscles can all be organised by our team of podiatrists.
Orthotic Therapy
Orthotics are tailor-made functional foot devices which follow a prescription based on your symptoms, your footwear and your biomechanics. These devices provide the most accurate support you can get for your feet.
Orthotics work by supporting the foot’s natural alignment and correcting biomechanical faults. When we walk or run we rely on our feet to function smoothly and efficiently. Stability and movement of the lower leg is affected by how much the foot moves. For example, when the feet excessively pronate it leads to excess internal leg rotation, which then causes the knee to internally rotate, which rotates the hip and drops the pelvis. The end result is too much lower leg rotation, poor alignment and instability.
When placed in appropriate orthotics it will help to eliminate abnormal loading and this results in improved lower leg mechanics and gait. This leads to increased stability, better muscle function and can help treat and prevent many lower leg symptoms including foot, ankle, lower leg, knee, hip and back pain.
Orthotics are prescribed by our FootWise podiatrists following thorough biomechanical assessment and we have a range of different orthotics to suit different needs. Our podiatrists follow strict orthotic prescription guidelines and a thorough follow up process to ensure quality and accuracy of your devices.
Children's Foot Health
Children are super active, they run around, play with their friends and do all kinds of fun stuff that kids do. At times you may notice something that's a little bit different with the way they walk, or they may complain about some kind of discomfort or pain in their feet or legs.
It can be really tricky to tell what is and isn’t normal when it comes to children feet as they grow and develop during early years. This is why it’s important to bring your kids to FootWise, and have our friendly and highly experienced podiatrists check for you. Especially if you’re concerned about:
*The way your child walks
*Pain in the feet or legs
*Not being able to keep up with friends
*Constant tripping and falling
*Limping (after physical activity)
*Abnormal foot or leg position
*Skin rashes between toes
*Discoloured or ingrown toenails
*Uneven shoewear
*Hard skin lumps or bumps; or
*Any other problems or abnormalities
Identifying and addressing issues early can help save a lot of work later in life so if you're unsure, definitely get it checked. No child is too young to be seen by a podiatrist. We're parents too, so we know how important it is to make sure your child feels comfortable and happy during consultation with FootWise.
Aged Care
FootWise is passionate about Aged Care podiatry because we understand how difficult it becomes over time to care for your feet, toenails and skin. We offer a wide range of foot and leg health services including:
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Toenail care
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Callus and corn removal
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Athlete’s foot and fungal toenail diagnosis and treatment
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Ingrown toenail treatment, surgical correction and prevention
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Wart treatment
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Regular diabetic foot health review
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Monitoring and addressing circulatory and sensation issues that may cause complications in clients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and/or diabetes
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Assessing and improving stability on your feet and legs to reduce the risk of falls
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Off-loading high-pressure areas on the feet and legs
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Attending to lower-limb wounds and ulcers
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Altering foot biomechanics to improve your gait
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Reducing pain and improving comfort in arthritic conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
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Assisting in the best shoe selection specific to your feet and foot problems
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Providing expert advice on caring for your feet and managing any problems that you are experiencing
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Orthotic prescription to manage complex conditions