The most common problems that can come from neglected feet are corns, calluses, nail problems, plantar warts, hammer toes, bunions and ingrown toenails. These can be both painful and unattractive, especially upsetting for those who enjoy a nice shoe. But fear not, there are ways to help prevent these problems at home in your everyday beauty routines.

Step 1: Soak your feet

This can be done either in a tub for a minimum of ten minutes or, for a more fun (and mobile) option, you can fill plastic bags with water and tape them around your ankles to soak your feet as you walk around the house. Or out in public if you are really keen.

Step 2: Remove Dead Skin

Before drying your feet, use a foot file and/or pumice to remove as much dead skin off your feet as you can. Using a towel or paper towel you can then dry (and continue to exfoliate) your feet.

Step 3: Moisturise

Again using plastic bags, you can now moisturise your feet for added softness. Squeeze lotion into each bag and place foot on top, and then apply lotion to top of each foot. Tape bags around each ankle and you are then free to roam the house doing your everyday activities while you treat your feet. The longer you leave your feet moisturising, the more effective the result.

Step 4: Nail care

Once your skin is moisturised and beautiful, apply cuticle oil to your toe nails to soften and nourish.

These simple steps should be done weekly to keep your feet as cared for as possible. Some foot problems, however, need more than a plastic bag full of lotion. If you are experiencing persistent ailments on your feet, it is best to see a podiatrist. All Podiatry in Brisbane and Indooroopilly is the leading podiatrist and footwear specialist that can help you take your foot care and repair to the next level. They can prescribe shoe insoles or medications to help with slightly more serious conditions, such as heel spur syndrome, plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia and skin splinters. Visit their website: www.allpodiatry.com.au.

All Podiatry creates custom orthotics based, as the name suggests, on your individual needs. As such, there is a process that is followed. An initial consultation will determine whether you need custom orthotics through an analysis of your walking and running style via video-recording. Slow-motion playback should reveal the source of your discomfort and the ways in which your feet need realignment. Poor foot alignment, untreated, can cause symptoms to spread up the leg to shins, knees, hips and backs. When prescribing orthotics, a podiatrist will take into consideration your foot type, shoe type, body weight and usual activity.

After the initial consultation, a plaster or foam casting appointment should be made. The podiatrist will create a cast of your foot while it is held in a neutral and desirable alignment position. This will be the shape of your orthotic.The cast is sent to a lab which digitally scans the mould and then creates the orthotic based on that size and shape data. The orthotic can be made from a variety of materials ranging from soft to firm and might be half, three quarter or full length depending on your specific needs.

When you are fitted with your orthotic, the podiatrist may make some minor adjustments to fit the shoe so it is important that you come wearing the shoes you intend for the orthotics to spend most of their time in. A check-in appointment will also be made for a few weeks later just to make sure everything is going fine and down the track alterations and updates can be made as your needs change.

Custom orthotics in Brisbane cost around $350 dependent on size and material, but if you consider the cost to your wellbeing, if you ignore the need for them, it is very worth it. Custom orthotics help people with rolling feet, calluses, heel spurs, bunions, joint pain after exercise, outward pointing feet, flat feet, and sore feet in general.

Contact All Podiatry today to enquire about custom orthotics: www.allpodiatry.com.au .

Improper footwear is the major cause of the formation of bunions and if left untreated the problem can aggravate, making walking and wearing shoes extremely difficult.

One should visit a foot doctor in Brisbane on the first signs of bunion formation. Early detection can prevent the problem from aggravating. Various podiatrists for bunions treatment in Brisbane provide adequate treatment options and therefore, should be contacted immediately.

Treatment for the bunions

Non surgical methods:

• A foot doctor in Brisbane would firstly recommend a change of footwear to relieve the symptoms of bunions. This would also inhibit the progress of bunion formation. The shoes should have a good arch support, wide toe-box with minimal slope so that the feet get adequate rest and support. Replace aesthetics with comfort.

• Medications are effective in reducing the size of the bunion, the pain and the associated discomfort to an extent.

• Application of ice packs is another method which provides relief from bunion pain. It also reduces the swelling.

• Bunions treatment in Brisbane include the use of spacers and cushioning bunion pads, which provide relief from pain when any kind of pressure is exerted on the toe or the bunion. The toe spacers provide proper positioning of the toes and hence relieve the big toe pain.

• Alternative medical procedures like acupuncture are also helpful in treating painful bunions. The use of acupuncture needles at the right place stimulates the energy meridians promoting healing of the bunions naturally.

• A foot doctor in Brisbane can also recommend physical therapy as a non-surgical treatment method for the bunions. Regular massages can reduce the bunion size and even cure it altogether.

Surgery: severe cases of bunions have to be treated surgically. Bunionectomy or the surgical removal of the bunion involves the removal of the extra mass of tissue at the base of the big toe along with the removal of some part of the bone so that the big toe straightens up.

A surgical procedure involves some risk, however; surgeons in Brisbane are efficient and experienced to carry out the procedure. However, one must remember that new bunions may appear on the metatarsophalangeal joint if proper foot care is not taken.

The problem is more common in men than women while it is a rarity to find the problem occurring in infants and children. Although all toenails are susceptible to grow inwards, it is usually the big toe that is mostly affected.

Ingrown nail treatment is extremely important because an untreated ingrown toenail can result in an infection or form an abscess which can be removed only surgically. Before knowing the ingrown nail treatment it is imperative to understand the causes of the problem.

Causes of ingrown toe nails

• Ill fitting, tight or too small shoes are a major cause of the toenails growing inwards. The tight shoes compress the nails against the skin causing them to grow in the tissue.

• Diabetic patients are more susceptible to have the problem as diabetes leads to poor blood circulation to the feet increasing the chances of ingrown toenails

• Improper trimming and cutting of the nails also contribute to the ingrown toenails. Rounded toenails, cause the nail edges to grow into the skin of the toe

• Injury to the toe by way of someone stepping on the toe, stubbing of the toe or continuous pressure on the toe, as in the case of playing football can cause the nails to grow inwards.

• Fleshy toes are more likely to have the problem of ingrown toenails and therefore, people having swollen feet should take adequate care to prevent the problem.

Preventive tips to avoid getting ingrown toenails

Nail treatment in Brisbane provides the following preventive tips so that the problem can be avoided.

• Adequate and good feet care is very important. Therefore, trim the nails properly and keep them straight and not rounded. Let the nails grow beyond the toe sides and then trim them so that they are straight. In addition, do not cut the nails too short as this would make the shoes press them against the skin and cause them to grow inwards.

• Professional ingrown nail treatment is required if the condition occurs due to diabetes. Podiatrists can diagnose and provide relevant solutions to the problem with effective diabetes management.

• One should not wear too tight or too small shoes or socks as this, causes the feet to be compressed. In addition, one should avoid wearing closed shoes for a long time.

Often women hide their fungal toenails with the help of nail polish, but this only aggravates the problem of fungus and does not bring any respite. The only way to be free of the ugly fungal toenails is to get them treated. Various podiatrists experienced in nail treatment in Brisbane offer a wide range of services to remove the fungus and make one’s feet healthy and fungus free. Here are some of the methods of nail treatment in Brisbane:

Vinegar Baths: since vinegar helps in stopping bacterial growth, it is the ideal product to cure fungal toenails. Therefore, as a nail treatment method one should soak their hands and feet in vinegar bath to stop the growth of nail fungus. One part of vinegar with two parts of lukewarm water is the ideal vinegar bath mixture, which should be used daily for 15-20 minutes. However, one should dry off the hands and feet thoroughly so that the nail fungus does not get the conducive moist environment to grow again.

Oral medications: oral medicines are helpful in the sense that they help in the growth of new nails. As the new nails grow the existing fungus infected part can be trimmed off gradually giving way to new and healthy nails altogether.

Antifungal lacquer: certain antifungal lacquers are helpful in inhibiting the growth of the fungus found in nails, skin and hair. The lacquer can be applied as a nail polish every day to be completely removed after a week’s repetition. The procedure may then be started again after complete removal.

Nail Laser Therapy Treatment

Laser treatment: an effective nail treatment in Brisbane is that of the laser therapy, where a laser is used on the fungus to kill it. A specific wavelength of laser energy is directly focused on the fungus killing it while the surrounding tissues, skin and nail remain intact. Often a single session of laser treatment is enough for treating the fungal toenails, however, in more severe cases, there could be more sessions.

Of all the fungal toenail treatment methods, the laser treatment is not only the best one, but it is also the safest, the quickest and the most effective treatment method. Therefore, anyone suffering from fungal toenails should opt for the laser therapy to get rid of those ugly, discoloured and infected toenails.

One of the most well respected and pioneering names to emerge from the list of podiatrists in Brisbane, are the All Podiatry and The Shoe Company which functions under the expert guidance of Mr. Alan McCulloch. From extensive treatment and counseling services for international sports teams he has also helmed the footwear department for international shoe brands.  The few trendsetting reasons as to why the All Podiatry and the Shoe Company has quickly surged ahead of the rest of competition among podiatrists in Brisbane can be traced to:

• High emphasis on customized shoe culture (Orthotics) in order to help make the most of your condition of legs and feet. Improvement in performance and sustained health of lower feet and ankles are some of the long term effects.
• In depth examination and professional assessment of the right type of treatment for the long term durability of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and other delicate nerve in lower leg regions. Result oriented consultation to overcome overall symptoms.
• A thorough and eye-opening process of education and treatment from all kinds of abnormalities relating the nails and feet.
• Treating the children with the best options and consultancy for a healthy and eventful future. The young legs are assessed and then treated aptly on grounds of shape, abnormal pains and other symptoms and cases of tightness, alignment and weakness of the foot.
• Tailor-made treatment methodologies within limited budgets. Expertised modification and care for all kinds of symptoms and delegated techniques in Orthotics.
• A superlative standard of research in modern areas to develop better walking and running conditions. Diabetic care is also a conscious area of development undertaken here.

The cause of Podiatry in Brisbane still in its formative stage and as such is yet to fully come of age. However the conscientious approach applied by some podiatrists in Brisbane like the All Podiatry and Shoe Company have had lasting impacts.

Australian residents now have access to some of the best nail treatment options in Brisbane. Besides the regular treatment methods, the nail treatment center in Brisbane provides the ultra-modern laser treatment, which is non-invasive and highly effective for treating the fungal toenails.

The new laser treatment method used by the centres of nail surgery in Brisbane treat fungal toenails by directing the laser light energy of a specific wavelength on the infected area. The direct focusing of the laser on to the fungus heats it to the point that it gets killed without harming the surrounding tissues and skin. The procedure is relatively safe and has fewer side effects than other fungal toenail treatment methods. There are several other benefits of the nail laser therapy and these are as follows:

• The procedure is safe and has no side effects as compared to the oral medications and topical treatments pursued for treating fungal toenails.
• While the topical treatment methods and medicines take a long time to treat the fungal infection, the laser therapy provides a quick treatment solution and a person can be free of the infection in an hour. Generally one session of the laser therapy is enough to get rid of the fungal infection.
• Effective fungal removal is the USP of the laser treatment as the fungal toenail causing spores are removed by the root inhibiting the chances of a recurrence. Moreover, one can be assured of healthy and pink nails with the freedom to wear all types of shoes.
• Convenience and ease of the treatment method adds to the list of benefits of the laser therapy for treating the fungal toenails. One does not have to smear ointments, creams or remember to take pills. Centres for nail treatment in Brisbane usually call for a single session of laser therapy.

With the new nail treatment in Brisbane, one can forget the ugly and discoloured fungal toenails or hide them in embarrassment. The laser treatment provided is the safest and the most effective treatment for fungal toenails.

Dry Needling Physiotherapy is a form of therapy for muscle pain which uses a solid filiform needle (often incorrectly referred to as an ‘acupuncture needle’). The needles are inserted into trigger points and are most effective in treating myofascial pain (generally chronic, and in some cases severe pain). The symptoms of myofascial pain are most commonly a loss of the range of movement and strength as well as chronic pain.

The Benefits of Dry Needling Physiotherapy have recently been published in a number of studies worldwide. A study from the University of Sheffield looked at the shoulder injuries of four international female volleyball athletes during a month long competitive phase. The four athletes each had myofascial pain in the shoulder area. Records were taken for range of motion, strength and pain before and after treatment with results indicating that dry needling has successful short term effect as well as the possibility of maintaining results and further reducing pain in the long term.

If you’re after dry needling in Brisbane then take a look at All Podiatry. Specialising in orthotics, injury treatment and prevention, general skin, nail and feet care as well as diabetic feet treatment. All Podiatry can help you get back to peak performance as quickly as possible as well as provide running analysis in Brisbane to perfect and prevent injuries to your feet today.

With diabetes sufferers being more prone to infection, damaged nerves and blocked arteries – the legs and feet are particularly exposed to severe problems that can and often lead to amputation and severe pain in the lower limbs. There are a few factors that increase the risk of damage, these include:

• The length of your diabetes
• Extended period of high blood glucose levels
• Smoking
• Inactivity

Luckily, there are ways to prevent damage occurring with the most basic forms of prevention as follows:

• General foot care – this includes attending to injuries (such as cuts, blisters and sores) immediately, cutting toenails straight across, avoiding direct heat, regular moisturising, use of loose fitting socks (to allow blood flow) and know your foot well.
• Regular podiatrist check ups – Diabetes Australia recommends annual check ups for low risk feet and every 3 – 6 months for high risk. Check ups will generally monitor and treat blood flow, feeling and reflexes, dryness, calluses and infections etc. If you’re after a podiatrist in Brisbane, visit All Podiatry. A podiatrist is also able to give further information on foot care around the home.
• Shoes – shoes for diabetics should have a looser fit than normal to allow for continued blood circulation. All Podiatry, a podiatrist in Brisbane can fit shoes for diabetics to allow circulation as well as prevent ulcers and blisters.

With this simple care preventing severe foot problems will become a regular, simple task. All Podiatry in Brisbane also specialise in custom orthotics in Brisbane, toe and nail care and all other things foot related.

Painful ankles, toes, feet, shins or knees? If you want to get relief from these problematic areas, then there is a solution for them – Sports Orthotics. It is a ‘shoe sole’ which has been introduced to provide relief and functionality to feet and nearby regions.

The primary motive of this device is to provide natural functionality to feet so that all encompassing pains can be completely alleviated from it. Besides, making the feet completely relieved also boosts up the working mechanism of the overall body, thereby making an individual feel relaxed and refreshed. Sports orthotics – A true pain reliever!

In addition to this, it is also used as a tool by podiatrists in order to correct structural problems of feet. It is necessary to eliminate these issues as they can lead to further problems in muscles and joints of the upper body. Chances of such problems are more among athletes and other individuals who carry on more physical exercises.

Individuals must be thinking how this shoe insert can help them out in getting relief from all kinds of feet related pain.

• Sport orthodics can help individuals to overcome their genetic foot conditions related with flat fleet. It is also useful in curing high aches that can cause hindrance to proper pronation of the foot.
• People can also make use of this amazing device to get rid of pain from all around the feet to maintain the pressure level which increases the over performing of sports activities.
• Injuries that can cause Achilles tendonitis, pain in ankle, knee, toe and shin, sports orthotics can provide instant relief with use of this truly effective unit.
• Gait issues related with walking, running and sometimes even standing of a person can be easily corrected with the use of Sports orthotics.
• It is even suitable for people with more weight. Due to their excess weight they are not able to walk properly and tend to have pain in their legs and upper parts of body. In such situations, this amazing device can be used. It relieves out the senses of the feet, thereby making them less stressful and tired and suitable for walking for long hours.
• Plantar fasciitis is another problem that occurs on the sole of the feet due to excessive stretching of bad tissues. A bad pain is felt in the morning and only Sports orthotics can cure it.
• Corns, heel pain, bunions, pain in foot top, ankle sprains, sesamoiditis, metatarsalgia, shin pain, neuroma and arch pain are other attackers that can be combated with the use of this device.

Sports orthotics are designed uniquely. From toe to heel, the entire foot length is covered by them. Along with an arch support crafted with EVA it is inclusive of shock absorber which makes it suitable to wear all day long. Extra cushioning, greater absorbent of sweat and suitable to be worn for combating all types of foot pains make the Sports orthotics a must use unit by all.