Services we provide
Biomechanical Assessment
Here, we look at your foot and body function when moving.
By taking a thorough history, we aim to discover when certain symptoms or injuries that exist with your presenting concerns. We also take into account at all other medical history, lifestyle factors and potential occupational hazards that might contribute to your condition.
We then move on to the physical examination side. This involves investigating the mechanics of your body and realising why your joints, muscles, ligaments perform the way they do. This physical examination is non-invasive and primarily involves a combination of joint and muscle testing, nerve testing and a gait analysis, which focuses on looking at your walking and/or running style.
At times, further investigation may be warranted, for example X-ray, ultrasound or MRI imaging or perhaps referral to your GP regarding relevant blood tests that may need to be conducted.
Once the assessment is completed, a treatment plan will be constructed for you. This may include orthotic therapy, strapping, exercise prescription, stretching and strengthening programs, gait retraining, footwear advice and also, acute injury treatment.
Orthotics
What are exactly orthotics you ask? They are custom-made devices that fit into your shoes to correct your foot function.
As you may already be aware, there is a range of orthotics (also given the term insoles) available from chemists, footwear stores and other retailers. We offer customised orthotics, whereby we cast a mold of your feet which are then designed according to the correct prescription tailored for you and the condition we are treating.
We also offer semi-custom orthotic options. Essentially, these are pre-molded orthotics that we can modify to improve your foot function. The type of orthotic therapy that is chosen will always be a joint decision between you and us.
Sports Podiatry
Whether you’re an avid walker, runner, cyclist, or into any type of training for that matter, you are going to be putting increased demands on your lower limbs, We help those seeking preventative help, as well as solving existing issues.
This can include:
A biomechanical assessment.
Diagnosing the condition.
Prescribe recommended exercises to aid in muscle strengthening and conditioning.
Assess and recommend footwear and possibly orthotics.
Some of the common sport-related injuries Podiatrists encounter include:
Heel pain.
Ball of foot pain, e.g. Morton's Neuroma.
Knee pain, e.g. Patellofemoral syndrome.
Hip and back pain (both referring to and from the feet).
Ankle injuries.
Footwear Assessment
Whether it is school shoes, work shoes, running shoes or even casual footwear, they all require the basic principles when it comes to assessing the right fit for you.
When considering any intervention that addresses your lower limb mechanics or condition, footwear must always be considered.
Your current footwear can influence:
Your presenting condition.
How it interacts with other treatments (e.g. orthotics).
Modifying footwear characteristics can aid in treating your condition.
Here are a few tips for finding the right fitting shoe for you:
Always measure both feet. It is not uncommon for one foot to be a different size to the other.
Try to measure your feet towards the end of the day – when they are at their largest. This is vital for those who experience swelling with their feet and ankles.
Measuring the width of your foot is just as important as the length. Also pay attention to the width of the shoe; the shoe should be a similar shape to your foot to allow enough room. This is especially important if you are adding an orthotic to the shoe. Inadequate room in the shoe may cause further pain or limits the time the orthotics are worn.
Nail Surgery
Those who suffer from severe or recurring ingrown toenails may very well benefit from a surgical intervention. A partial nail avulsion surgery involves the application of a local anesthetic and the removal of a portion of the nail border. Any abnormal tissue on the side of the affected nail is removed and a chemical called phenol is applied to the nail bed to prevent regrowth.
So far, this is the most permanent solution according to the current research. However, if you experience recurrence or your ingrown does not improve, we may recommend a total nail avulsion surgery, which involves the removal of the entire toenail. We can perform either procedure.
Skin and Nail Treatments
This involves assessing the condition of your skin and nail concerns.
Some of the more common issues people present to Podiatrists include:
Calluses and corns.
Athlete's foot (Tinea Pedis).
Warts or verruca.
Fungal nails.
Thickened or damaged nails.
Once we have completed our assessment, the appropriate treatment and recommendations will be provided to you regarding prevention, maintenance and at-home care.
Diabetic Assessment
Diabetes and cardiovascular health go hand in hand. Your feet are the furthest body part from your heart, making them one of the first to be affected if you have any form of Diabetes.
This is why those with Diabetes are urged to get their feet checked regularly, to detect any issues that could put these individuals at risk. Seemingly simple conditions such as cracked heels, calluses, or blisters could potentially cause these patients with complications including ulcerations or amputations.
All Diabetic assessments are non-invasive. We will look at the:
Blood circulation of your feet.
Nerve function.
Skin and nail condition.
Muscle strength.
Bone and joint function.
Even if your Diabetes is well controlled, an annual assessment is highly recommended to pick up on any chance of deterioration in these areas.
Dry Needling
Dry needling is an effective treatment that is quickly gaining popularity amongst the podiatry scene. It is used to treat muscular pain by targeting the trigger points in the affected muscle/s. Trigger points are referred to as the “knots” in your muscles that can be painful but also reduce the muscle’s function.
Dry needling is a safe, invasive procedure and involves the use of extremely fine needles (not painful!) that go into the trigger points in an attempt to release these knots. Multiple needles are used on the muscle groups needed to treat and the number of needles will always vary.
Sometimes patients may feel a “twitch” when the needle enters a trigger point area. This is nothing to be concerned about and in fact is both a good diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Healthy muscle tissue will not twitch when stimulated by the needle. So once a “twitch” response has been elicited, the muscle fibers in that area relax, and any inflammation is reduced and circulation improves.
Some benefits of dry needling include:
Pain reduction: An emerging body of evidence exists to suggest that dry needling can provide immediate or short-term improvements in pain by targeting trigger points.
Improved range of motion: Trigger points in muscles are associated with tightness felt in these muscles, causing the muscle to become shorter as a result. When trigger points are released within muscles, the shortened (tight) muscle band becomes longer, hence allowing a greater range of motion within the muscle.
Quicker recovery time: When a needle targets a trigger point, it enables increased blood flow to the area. This blood flow is responsible for bringing essential micronutrients to the area, which is needed for oxygenation and healing.
At Sole Purpose Podiatry, we offer dry needling for conditions including:
Heel pain and plantar fasciitis.
Achilles tendinopathy.
Shin splints.
Calf cramps.
Peroneal tendinopathy.
Tibialis posterior tendinopathy.
Claw and hammer toes.
Quadriceps-related pain.
Hamstrings-related pain.
Children's Feet
As a parent, you will notice every little quirk of habit about your child. This may well include their walking pattern, movement cues and even foot appearance. You are likely to be the first to discover if something isn’t “normal” in regards to their development. The sooner you address any issues with your child’s feet, the more likely you are able to achieve a positive outcome.
Sole Purpose Podiatry offers podiatric care for babies, infants, and adolescents for a range of conditions your child may present with, but we also focus on preventative treatment where needed.
Many adult-acquired injuries relating to the lower limb may have originated at a young age but went undetected. This is why we believe looking after your child’s feet at a young age can provide them a better chance of well-being in the future.
Some of the common conditions we see in our younger patients and can assist with include:
Flat feet.
Ankle pain.
Heel pain.
Knee pain.
Knock knees.
Toe walking.
In-toeing/Out-toeing.
Growing pains.
Ingrown toenails.
Warts.
Medicare
If you have received an ‘Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Plan’ or ‘Complex Disease Management Plan’ by your General Practitioner (GP), you are entitled to receive a rebate on your Podiatry Visit with us. The rebate is equivalent to $54.60. A maximum of 5 visits to any Allied Health service is allowed for each patient. Your GP will assess you if you are eligible for an EPC Plan.
If you require management of chronic medical issues including, but not restricted to, that of: Diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, arthritis, cancer, mental health illness, please discuss with your GP or Medicare for further information.
Home Visits
Sole Purpose Podiatry services the southwest Sydney areas including:
Moorebank
Chipping Norton
Hammondville
Wattle Grove
Holsworthy
Liverpool
Casula
Prestons
Miller
Hoxton Park
Fairfield
Glenfield
Milperra
Revesby
Warwick Farm
Georges Hall
East Hills
Panania
Padstow
Please contact us if you are located outside these suburbs to see if we are able to schedule and appointment for you.
Home visits are payable by cash or an online bank transfer. Your home visit appointment can certainly be claimed on private health insurance if you are covered for Podiatry.