foothealth Archives - Waikato Podiatry

A Ripple Effect: How Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy came to Podiatry

If you’re suffering from ongoing foot or heel pain, we may recommend Shockwave Therapy, also known as Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT). This treatment has been used successfully around the world for many years, but it’s only in more recent decades that high-quality scientific research has confirmed its clinical effectiveness for musculoskeletal conditions. Shockwave therapy is…

Blisters

Blisters: causes, treatment, and how to prevent them Blisters are one of the most common foot problems we see, particularly after long periods of walking, running, sport, or wearing new or ill-fitting footwear. While the body may recover from general aches and pains in a few days, blisters can remain painful, slow to heal, and…

Fallen Arches

Fallen Arches and Flat Feet A fallen arch, commonly referred to as a flat foot, is a condition where the arch on the inside of the foot appears lowered or completely collapsed. While many people associate flat feet with foot pain alone, the reality is that fallen arches can contribute to a wide range of…

Knee Pain

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS): causes, symptoms & how a Podiatrist Can Help Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common causes of pain at the front of the knee. Often referred to as “runner’s knee”, it affects people of all ages — from active teenagers and runners to adults who spend long hours…

Tendon & Ligament Problems

Understanding tendons, ligaments & foot injuries and how a podiatrist can help Ligaments and tendons play a major role in keeping your feet and ankles stable, strong, and capable of handling everything from daily walking to intense sports. When something goes wrong with these structures, it can lead to pain, instability, and long-term issues if…

Appropriate Footwear: 4 Features to Focus on

Why the right footwear is one of the most important decisions for your health and independence Our risk of falling during normal daily life significantly increases as we age. Approximately 30-40% of elderly individuals fall each year – with 5-15% of these falls resulting in serious injury. Such injuries are damaging to physical, mental, and…

Children’s Heel Pain (Sever’s Disease)

What is Sever’s Disease? This condition affects growing bone in the heel and is called Sever’s Disease. Severs often affects physically active children within the age range of around 8-14 years. Severs is one of a group of disorders known as “Osteochondroses”. At around 8 years of age the secondary growth plate in the heel…

Forefoot Pain – How can we Help?

What is Forefoot Pain? There are many different types and causes of forefoot pain. Some common conditions are: Morton’s Neuroma Morton’s Neuroma is by far the best known forefoot pathology. A Morton’s neuroma is a lump of nerve tissue fibers that occurs between the bones of the forefoot. Sesamoiditis Sesamoiditis is the injury of the…

Creaky Knees and Running – Mythbusters!

At Waikato Podiatry, we often hear concerns about knee pain, creaky knees, and the fear that running might damage the joints — particularly the knees. It’s a common belief that running causes arthritis. However, recent research suggests that this isn’t necessarily true. In fact, a publication in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has…

What to Look for in a Shoe

How to Choose the Right Shoes for Your Feet When it comes to selecting the perfect pair of shoes, most people focus on aesthetics—colour, style, or brand. However, the most important factor should always be how well the shoe fits your foot. Wearing ill-fitting shoes can lead to discomfort, foot pain, and even long-term foot…