Blog Archives - Page 4 of 12 - Waikato Podiatry

Do I need an Xray or a Scan?

When to x-ray, MRI or ultrasound for foot Injuries? This is a question we hear often at Waikato Podiatry, and here are some guides to help you better understand the role of imaging in podiatry and when it can help. If you require an X-ray, MRI, or ultrasound, we can prescribe and organise this for…

How Can You Tell If You Need Orthotics?

Seen the guys on your sports team wearing orthotics? Maybe your coworker just got some, or a friend mentioned she was taking her child to get fitted for a new pair. If you’ve never had a pair of foot orthotics before, it’s natural to wonder: how do I know if I need orthotics, too? …

Arthritis

Understanding foot arthritis and its management Foot arthritis is a degenerative condition that gradually wears away the cartilage in joints, leading to pain, swelling, and limited mobility. Initially, you may notice stiffness and aching in the affected joint. As the cartilage deteriorates, bones begin to rub against each other, causing discomfort and eventually leading to…

320 km Hiked, Zero Blisters: Tony’s Success Story

Preventing blisters with orthotics for hiking

Meet Tony We’re excited to share an incredible story of perseverance and success from one of our patients, Tony, who we helped prevent blisters by prescribing custom orthotics. Tony and his wife, Rose, are avid long-distance hikers who have explored some of the most beautiful trails around the world, over the past few years, they’ve…

The Healing Power of Shockwave Therapy

What is Shockwave Therapy? It is easiest to think about this modality as a “tissue reboot”, not unlike rebooting a computer system. The tissue involving collagen in our bodies has a tendency to become disorganised and confused in the healing cascade, much like an overloaded computer. If we reboot the tissue, this then allows for…

Stress Fractures: The Risks You Must Know

Stress fractures make up between 10% and 20% of all injuries in sports medicine, and slightly more so in runners. This makes them an important area of focus for our podiatrists here at Waikato Podiatry. We’re sharing about them today because there’s a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to stress fractures…

Heel Pain Myths: Are You Mistakenly Believing One Of These?

Heel pain: it’s a common problem our podiatrists see and treat every day, here in our Hamilton clinic. For some of our patients, heel pain is debilitating, affecting their ability to work and live comfortably. Others put up with mild to moderate pain around their heels for months, on and off. Some experience that classic…

What is Hiker’s Wool?

Hiker’s Wool: An Explanation When you first come out of Podiatry school, you feel like you are cutting edge, and have all the answers on how you are going to help people (at least I did). Hiker’s Wool for blister prevention, Lambs wool seems like an outdated, useless solution, and something you would never consider…

How Do Orthotics Work?

Foot orthotics go by many names these days: insoles, shoe inserts, arch supports, custom foot orthoses, and orthotic devices – to name a few. They’re also successfully used to help manage a range of lower limb conditions, from those affecting your spine to your big toe joint and everywhere in between. So, what exactly are…

Never Treated Ankle Sprains Properly? Five Signs You Have Chronic Ankle Instability

Ever taken a “it’ll be fine in a day or two” approach when you’ve sprained your ankle? Then proceeded to keep walking on and using your ankle normally without a second thought? So have a lot of Kiwis. After all, ankle sprains are are one of the top most common musculoskeletal injuries in those physically…