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Services Provided Feet are an important but often neglected part of our body. Obvious foot deformities such as flat feet or bunions, and early symptoms of foot discomfort should not be ignored, and because feet are an integral component of our locomotor system, an individual’s general health and wellbeing may be affected in the absence of good foot health. Children’s Foot Care Many symptomatic foot problems we endure as adults, are present, but remain undetected as children. Indeed, a number of foot problems may be diagnosed and effectively treated within the first few months of a baby’s life. For this reason, we suggest all children should be screened for foot problems before the age of six months, again at 18 months, then at 3 years and 7 years of age. At The Foot Health Centre, the following children’s foot and leg problems can be assessed and helped:
Adult Foot Care Foot structure often changes as we age and may lead to the development of corns, callous, bunions and other ailments. Routine foot care can help prevent many of these conditions from becoming a chronic problem. At The Foot Health Centre we are well versed in dealing with the following conditions:
Sports Podiatry Abnormal foot mechanics is the cause of many overuse-sporting injuries affecting the foot and lower limb. Such conditions often respond well to advice on footwear, individualised stretching programs and/or the use of custom foot orthoses. The following common sports injuries can be addressed:
Orthoses Many foot complaints can be effectively treated with custom-made orthoses or foot supports. Orthoses are individually prescribed and made from plaster impressions of your feet held in their ‘neutral’ position. Such devices are designed to relieve abnormal stresses on the foot, ankle, leg, hip and lower back. Orthoses prescribed at The Foot Health Centre are usually constructed from ultra-thin carbon graphite composites or thin polypropylene materials that take up very little space inside the shoe. Carefully designed and constructed, such devices are usually comfortable to wear and effective in reducing or eliminating the symptoms of poor foot posture. Most private health insurance funds provide rebates for prescription foot orthoses. Surgery While most foot complaints respond well to conservative care, there are a number of conditions that respond best with corrective surgery. Podiatric surgery may be performed as an office procedure under local anaesthetic with or without sedation, or in hospital under either local or general anaesthetic. Most private health insurance funds provide rebates for podiatric surgical fees and associated hospital charges - Medicare does not rebate podiatry services or anaesthetic fees connected with podiatric surgery. Modern podiatric surgery is always performed painlessly with minimal post-operative discomfort. Immediate ambulation in specially designed post-operative shoes is often possible, reducing the convalescent period to a minimum. The conditions that we commonly treat surgically include:
Diabetic Foot Care Patients with diabetes are prone to develop foot problems such as infections and skin ulcerations as a result of reduced circulation, decreased sensation and slow wound healing. Diabetics should consult their podiatrist routinely to ensure preventative foot care measures are undertaken to reduce the likelihood of developing serious foot complications. Regular neurological and vascular examination of the feet of diabetic patients is a must. An exciting new technique of diagnostic plantar pressure measurements to screen the foot for areas ‘at-risk’ of developing neuropathic ulcers has recently been introduced at The Foot Health Centre. The technique offers a scientific approach to assist in the design of orthoses and insoles to dissipate pressure away from potential or existing ulcer sites. |
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©The Foot Health Centre 2001 A.B.N.
53 009 266 835. All Rights Reserved. |
