podiatryhamilton Archives - Waikato Podiatry

Heel Spurs

Heel Spurs and Heel Pain: What you need to know Heel pain is one of the most common reasons people seek podiatric care, and heel spurs are often blamed. In fact, heel spurs are present in approximately 20–40% of the population. However, the presence of a heel spur does not automatically mean pain, and this…

Causes of Forefoot Pain

Forefoot pain can come from many different structures, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, and soft tissues. All of which work closely together every time you stand, walk, or push off the ground. Because these structures are small and tightly packed, even a slight change in alignment, footwear, or loading can lead to significant discomfort. This is…

What is a Verruca?

What Is a Verruca (Plantar Wart)? causes, symptoms, and treatment A verruca, also known as a plantar wart, is a small, rough skin lesion caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Verrucae usually appear on the bottom of the foot or toes and can easily be mistaken for a corn or callus. While they are typically…

Fungal Toenails

Fungal Nail Infections, causes, treatment, and prevention Fungal infections of the foot are very common — affecting around 1 in 5 people at some point in their lives. One of the most persistent forms is fungal nail infection (onychomycosis), which can cause thickened, discoloured, or brittle toenails that are difficult to manage without professional care.…

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…

Hypermobile Joints

Hypermobile Joints, also known as being ‘double jointed,’ or Ligamentous Laxity Ligaments are short bands of tough and flexible connective tissue which connect bones together at the joints. Approximately 5% of the population may experience ligamentous laxity, which is when the ligaments are more stretchy than normal and the joints become loose or hypermobile. In…

Live Stronger for Longer

When we talk about life longevity and healthy aging, one of the most significant yet often overlooked factors is fall prevention. Falls can devastate elderly individuals, creating a cascade of consequences that extend far beyond the initial injury. Today we’ll explore how falls impact life expectancy, why podiatry care is crucial for prevention, and how…

Heel Cracks

As the warmer months approach, many of us are eager to slip out of our winter boots and into sandals and bare feet. However, this seasonal transition often brings an unwelcome surprise: painful heel cracks. At our clinic, we see a significant increase in heel fissure cases during this time of year, but the…

How to Treat a Verruca

What is a Verruca? A Verruca is a small viral skin lesion or (plantar wart) found on the bottom of the foot or toes, which closely resembles, and is often confused with a corn. Its size is usually under 1cm in diameter but can grow larger and can also occur in clusters (mosaic warts). Children…

Warts – Let Us Help You!

Oral Zinc for the Treatment of Warts Plantar warts can be a persistent challenge for both patients and clinicians. Recently, oral zinc supplementation has been suggested as a beneficial adjunct to conventional wart treatments. The first study exploring the effectiveness of oral zinc for wart treatment was published in 2002 in the British Journal of…