Sports
We want to help manage your foot or ankle condition so that you can recover and move forward in life. There are a number of conditions affecting the foot and ankle that are common to those who play sport. This information is not intended to cover the entire spectrum of foot and ankle conditions, but provide extra information to those who want it.
- SHOE INSERTS (ORTHOTICS)
HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD YOU NEED ORTHOTICS BUT YOU’RE NOT SURE WHY OR WHAT PURPOSE THEY SERVE?
Orthotics or correctly termed orthoses in Podiatry terms are a customized or prescription device that assists your foot in its correct function. When you get pain in your feet and legs, it can often be due to the structure and hence function of the foot.
The functional movement of the foot and leg is termed biomechanics, which in simple terms translates to a biological structure made of soft tissue and bone that has a mechanical function. Just like your motor vehicle needs to be tuned and the tires balances in order to run smoothly and efficiently, the movement of your foot needs to be timed and balanced correctly in order for the muscles and ligaments not to fatigue and become painful. Your foot is made up of 28 bones, 33 joints, 103 ligaments, has 19 muscles in 4 layers and an extremely intricate network of blood vessels and nerves. With nearly 25% of your entire body’s bones located in your feet and your entire body weight resting on them, you can begin to understand why they are so functionally important.
What an orthotic does is enables the correct timing action of your foot when it is in contact with the ground. It is much more precise than a simple ‘arch support’. As the foot remains in contact with the ground for milliseconds, it is required to act like a shock absorber when it initially hits the ground and then transform into a rigid lever for efficient propulsion as it leaves the ground. This action works even quicker when you are running and 3 times your body weight is transferred through your foot. Poorly functioning feet can also be a contributing factor to lower back, hip and knee pain.
Just like spectacles, you can get simplistic ones over the counter that are not made for your specific individual problem. These may assist you partially, or they may even make things a little worse. If you see an Optometrist, you will have your eyes tested and if there is a problem with them, you may be fitted with prescription spectacles, with one lens being slightly different to the other, depending on which eye needs more correction. Foot orthoses are similar, where simple ‘arch supports’ can be purchased over the counter and are not specific to your individual needs. You may find that these devices do not help with your particular problem.
This does not mean that you don’t need prescription orthoses. If your particular problem requires biomechanical intervention, then a prescription pair can be made to match your individual needs such as activity, weight and footwear constraints. Our Podiatrists at Junction Podiatry are experienced practitioners in this area and can assist you on your road to recovery.
For more detailed information, see our Acrobat pdf Information sheets on Orthotic instructions and selecting the proper shoe which are available on our website.
Please remember that the information in these documents should not be used as a substitute for podiatric or medical attention.
Related Information Sheets:
- SESAMOIDITIS
Pain under the ball of the first toe joint, also known as Sesamoiditis.
Do you ever suffer from pain under the ball of the first toe joint?
If you do, then you could have a condition know as sesamoiditis.
Sesamoid literally translates from a Latin word meaning seed, which is the shape of these two small bones in your foot. Located inside a tendon which lies under the first toe joint, these sesamoid bones serve a very important function during walking and running.
Much of the load transfer which occurs during the propulsive phase of walking and running is transmitted through the first toe joint, which is why it is larger and more robust than the other toe joints in your foot. In order for this weight transmission to occur effectively, adequate leverage is required. The sesamoid bones help provide this much needed leverage force, hence their strategic position under the first toe joint.
If this mechanical load or the timing it occurs is incorrect, then these little bones can become inflamed, and hence the condition sesamoiditis occurs.
For further information on other causes of this condition and treatment modalities, please see our Acrobat pdf information sheet on Sesamoiditis which is available on our website.
Please remember that the information in these documents should not be used as a substitute for podiatric or medical attention.
Related Information Sheets:
- ANKLE SPRAINS
Has your ankle ever ‘given way’?
Did you feel a sharp pain followed by swelling? Is weight-bearing difficult? Is bruising present at the site of the injury?
You may have an ankle sprain.
An ankle sprain describes strain to the ligaments supporting the ankle joint.
Ankle sprains are common sporting injuries especially with running and jumping sports.
An ankle sprain with trauma can also occur in everyday activity, or spontaneously due to poor foot biomechanics.
For more detailed information, see our Acrobat pdf Information sheets on Ankle sprains which is available on our website.
Please remember that the information in these documents should not be used as a substitute for podiatric or medical attention.
Related Information Sheets:
- STRETCHING EXERCISES
STRETCHING EXERCISES ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
Your Podiatrist may recommend a range of stretches as part of your treatment plan.
These should be carried out at least 2–3 times a day and especially before and after exercise.
The correct way to properly stretch muscles is slow and relaxed. Do not bounce, as this will only pull the muscles rather than stretch them. You should hold the stretch to the point of mild tension, rather that to the point of pain, as this may cause damage to the muscles.
Each stretch should be held for at least 15 seconds and remember to breathe rather than holding your breath. With each repetitive stretch, try to take it slightly further than the last.
For more detailed information, see our Acrobat pdf Information sheets on Stretching exercises for home which is available on our website.
Please remember that the information in these documents should not be used as a substitute for podiatric or medical attention.
Related Information Sheets:
- HEEL PAIN
…ALSO KNOWN AS PLANTAR FASCIITIS
Have you ever wondered why your heel hurts when you first get up in the morning?
Or the first few steps you take really hurt your heel especially after you’ve been sitting down for a while?
You are probably suffering from a condition called plantar fasciitis, or you may have a heel spur. This very common problem can be effectively treated by our Podiatrists using a range of current modalities to subside the inflammatory process. If your foot function is one of the causes of your heel pain, then it can be addressed. Our Podiatrists may use a computerised gait analysis system to assist in this process. We also have a Swiss Doloclast shockwave machine which enables this therapy to be used in conjunction with other measures specifically targeted at resuming function.
For more detailed information, see our Acrobat pdf Information sheets on Heel pain and Plantar fasciitis which are available on our website.
Please remember that the information in these documents should not be used as a substitute for podiatric or medical attention.
Related Information Sheets
- FOOTWEAR
Incorrect fitting footwear can spell disaster for the comfort of your feet.
Footwear is not just a fashion statement, it is an extremely important factor in how our feet function and feel!
Not only should they fit correctly, they should suit the activity they are being used for. Our Podiatrists at Junction Podiatry are extremely familiar with how important footwear is and are able to advise you on all the features to look for.
Most of what we do as Podiatrists relies on the correct footwear to compliment our treatment plan. Thankfully, we know places to send you which have fashionable footwear which is also good for your feet!
For more detailed information, see our Acrobat pdf Information sheets on Footwear which is available on our website.
Please remember that the information in these documents should not be used as a substitute for podiatric or medical attention.
Related Information Sheets:
- SHIN SPLINTS
DO YOU SUFFER FROM PAIN AT THE FRONT OR SIDE OF YOUR LEGS?
Deep pain on the front or inside aspect of your legs during walking and running can often be so bad that it prevents you from participating in these activities.
The pain is often due to inflammation of the soft tissue attachment of your leg muscles to the adjoining bone and gladwrap-like bone lining called the periosteum.
Your individual walking and running style is the direct result of the architecture and function of your feet, called biomechanics. Our experienced Podiatrists, who have a keen interest in these biomechanical related problems, can assess how you walk and run. They may use a computerised gait analysis system to assist in this process. We can then help you in overcoming this shin pain with the possible use of prescription orthotics or shoe inserts, in conjunction with all important footwear advice and guiding you with the correct exercises.
For more detailed information, see our Acrobat pdf Information sheets on shin splints which is available on our website.
Please remember that the information in these documents should not be used as a substitute for podiatric or medical attention.
Related Information Sheets:
- ARCH PAIN
Do the arches in your feet ache after standing for a while?
Or do they hurt when you are walking and running?
Seeing as the arches in your feet are specifically designed as a mechanical structure to support your feet and all that is above them, it is no wonder they can hurt from time to time! Quite often, arch pain is due to them collapsing gradually over time, which reduces the amount of support the foot can provide.
Other times it is simply due to poor structure and function of your feet which can be an inherited feature. This very common problem can be readily addressed and corrected using the proper assessment techniques such as computerized walking assessment technology using the SiliconCoach digital analysis software which we have onsite.
We can also examine and recommend the appropriate prescription orthotic device if required to assist in supporting and maintaining the arches in the desired mechanical position and hence reduce the amount of fatigue and discomfort that you are experiencing.
For more detailed information, see our Acrobat pdf Information sheets on Footwear and Flat Feet and Accessory Navicular which are available on our website.
Please remember that the information in these documents should not be used as a substitute for podiatric or medical attention.
Related Information Sheets:
- ARCHILLES TENDONITIS
Do you get pain in the back of your heel or along the heel cord when you walk or run?
Does it hurt in that area when you take the first few steps in the morning or after you’ve been sitting for a while?
You could be suffering from Achilles tendonitis or simply inflammation of the Achilles tendon.
This tendon is part of a very powerful and important muscle used when walking and running called the calf muscle. If the tendon becomes mechanically stressed or fatigued then it can become inflamed and hence painful. One of the major causes of this mechanical fatigue is foot function.
That is why it is essential that you have your feet checked as part of your treatment for this common problem, along with getting the correct advice regarding exercise regimen, stretches, footwear and medical management with anti-inflammatory agents. If your foot is unstable during walking and running, this can place unnecessary strain on your Achilles tendon. The use of prescription orthoses is a successful way to address any mechanical foot problems and aid in the recovery of this problem, and hopefully address any future mechanical causes which may result in re-injury in the future.
For more detailed information, see our Acrobat pdf Information sheet on Achilles Tendon Problems which is available on our website.
Please remember that the information in these documents should not be used as a substitute for podiatric or medical attention.
Related Information Sheets:
