If you have injured yourself in your chosen sport, it is advisable to seek professional car as soon as possible. An example is following an ankle sprain, where your tendency may be to just sit it out until the injury gets better, and then attempt to return to your sports activity as soon as possible. There are very good reasons for not following this line of management. Let’s look at the facts. When a soft tissue injury takes place, the tear or damage to soft tissue structures is an unknown quantity. Until you have the area properly checked out, you cannot establish the degree of damage thathas taken place. Why is it so important to establish?

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Without doubt, road deaths and accidents are one of our biggest major concerns for our community safety around the globe. What I want to alert readers about is the huge responsibility we have each time we get behind the wheel in a car. We are given charge of an extraordinarily wonderful transport medium that has helped society develop in fantastic ways. But our big problem is complacency. Yes, you, me, and just about every other driver that we hurl criticism at. One thing is for sure, we are not paying enough attention on the road. Remember, you do not just have a responsibility to the other people in the car and other road users; you have a responsibility to your family, friends and society, for all the indirect costs associated with road accidents and fatalities. Driving and road safety has some foot related considerations, and at GeoClean Health Podiatry at our Cairns Podiatry surgery, we share the passion for road safety in the communities of Far North Queensland and Australia. If you have any foot or lower limb conditions which you feel may affect your driving ability, please consult us for further information.
On a more positive not, what can we do to improve our foot and lower limb involvement on the road, to ensure better safety? We need to consider many different things. Some of them we will discuss today.

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An optimist once said “see the glass as half full, not half empty.” I know you have heard that before. Do you believe it?

Feet are very much like your eyes, kidneys and heart, as they all have minutely sized blood vessels. The specialists who look after these areas share the same dedication and passion, to maintain optimal anatomical and physiological function of these parts of the body.

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Good eating plus GeoClean lifestyle

Pain free feet

Fit feet

Feet carrying acceptable weight

Assessed feet to identify barriers to GeoClean lifestyle health

Why do we need to change our health habits?

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Hip2Toe foot and lower leg pain and physical therapy, at our Cairns Podiatry surgery

Very often physical therapy is overlooked, following injury in sport, work or at home. Our discussion here today is about the values of physical therapy at our Cairns podiatry surgery. The value of physical therapy should not be overlooked. An example, at Hip2Toe Podiatry at our Cairns podiatry surgery, we will arrange a physical therapy management program following a sprained ankle. The value of modalities such as therapeutic ultrasound and compression bandaging, in addition to x-ray if there is any risk of fracture, will assist in reducing swelling and making damaged soft tissue more comfortable. Rest ,ice ,compression and elevation are also most beneficial. The requirements for allowing full range of motion to return again are most important. In this situation we would give you exercises to help return the range of motion again, and give you proprioceptive exercises to re-orientate the joint range of motion in space and time again. Programs of rehabilitation exercises to gradually build strength back into the supporting muscles takes place. Depending on how the injury took place, we also carry out lower limb biomechanical assessment, to establish what anatomical, physiological, biomechanical or muscular reasons may have contributed to the injury. Another physical therapy benefit can be the preventative role it has in stopping chronic conditions from developing. Very often lower limb injuries can become worse, if they are not managed professionally. At Hip2Toe Podiatry at our Cairns Podiatry surgery, we are fully trained in physical therapy techniques pertaining to the lower limb, and can fully manage your rehabilitation of sports, work and home injuries to the foot and lower limb.

Another physical therapy example is where there has been a history of cramping or pain in the calf area of the lower limb. Very often what has happened is that certain muscle groups in the area have gone into spasm, and may very well develop into painful cramps. Sometimes the bones in the feet can be pulled into positions that are biomechanically inefficient, due to one of these cramped muscles. Cramping like this can decrease circulation to the lower limb, which can be problematic and should therefore be examined. We carry out a Hip2Toe Lower limb muscle assessment at our Cairns Podiatry surgery. We are then able to recommend a treatment plan that includes physical therapies such as massage, manipulation and Myofascial trigger point release. As these techniques are very specialized, we need you to come in to see us, so we can carry out an assessment for you. Very often our patients comment that they have had these pains for many years, and that they are surprised what a difference they feel once treatment has been carried out. Normally after 3-6 treatments, the outcome is very positive. If any other treatment recommendations or 3 monthly assessments are required, we can tell you when you come in.
On some occasions we will physically strap bones in the foot into a better biomechanical position, and allow injured tissues in the feet some time in a more supported position. Hip2Toe Podiatry strapping of the foot, at our Cairns podiatry surgery can be an excellent part of your treatment plan and recovery. An example of where this is very helpful is when heel pain has caused chronic pain, and our techniques of strapping can give you up to 3 days of supported comfort, allowing a rest to tissues such as the plantar fascia insertion into the calcaneus bone. So, whenever considering physical therapy for your foot or lower leg, come and see us at Hip2Toe podiatry, at our Cairns Podiatry surgery, and we can tailor a program for your short, medium and long term treatment plans. Remember that there are alternatives in pain management, and we can explore them with you. If you are more comfortable, then it is easier to exercise, and by exercising you are often improving the long term outcomes of certain conditions.
Hip2Toe Podiatry. Your partner for lifetime foot health.