Use It or Lose It!

Do you have private health cover? Have you used up your extras cover for this year?

Are you sick and tired of swapping your orthotics between shoes or are your orthotics looking a bit worse for wear?

Did you know most health insurance funds:

• Have an annual limit on how much you can claim on Extras.
• Will cover one set of orthoses per calendar year.
• IMPORTANT: The amount usually resets each calendar year.

This means you only have a short time left to use any remaining allowance you have. This is something you have already paid for, and in most cases, will lose whether you use it or not.

It is always a good idea to speak with your health fund to discuss your personal situation and your remaining benefits before you visit us. Just so you have no surprises when you settle your account.

The end of the year is one of the busiest times at Peak Podiatry, so it is important to make your appointment before the 15th December. This allows you to have enough time to complete any services and treatments you require before the end of the year.

Does your fat Hurt?

You may find it hard to believe, but you can in fact injure your fat. Pain in the base of your heel, and around the peripheral of your heel can be related to your fat pad, and the diagnosis of fat pad syndrome in the foot, is more common than you think.

The fat pad of the foot is a thick padding, that protects and covers the base of the heel and also wraps around the inside, outside and back of the heel. Structurally comprised of a series of vertical columns (called septa) that contain fat tissue. Think of these like little bean bag balls. These septa provide an organisational structure to these bean bag balls.

Read more.

Hypermobility Syndrome

This is a condition that features joints that easily move beyond the normal range expected for that particular joint. Hypermobile joints are sometimes referred to as “loose joints”, and those affected are referred to as being “double jointed”. Symptoms of the joint hypermobility syndrome include pain primarily in the feet, ankles and knees. In some cases joint hypermobility causes no symptoms and requires no treatment.

However for many, loose and unstable joints give rise to pain and limitation. This may be muscle pain as muscles work harder to provide stability, or even joint pain due to incongruence and dysfunction.

Treatment will be focused on relieving pain by strengthening surrounding muscles and stabilizing the joints through a variety of means. Footwear and orthoses are very effective for such individuals.

Read more.

Patellofemoral Syndrome (Knee Pain)

“The foot bones connected to the knee bone…”

Foot function is but one of a number of factors influencing knee pain, however an important one. As the foot collapses, the coupling affect is internal rotation of the lower leg.

Patello Femoral Syndrome refers to pain arising from under and around the knee cap. The knee cap is designed to move up and down within a special groove at the end of the thigh bone. If the knee cap starts to “track” to the side pain develops… The most common symptom experienced is pain worsening with running and also going up and down stairs.

Common causes can be poor foot mechanics, improper footwear and weakness or an imbalance of the surrounding and influencing muscles.

Treatment will include a global approach to all factors to enable a long term resolution. This may include an adequate gait assessment, review of footwear and orthotic therapy if needed to improve foot biomechanics. Along with importantly strengthening affected muscles and consideration to gait and activity technique.

Read more.