Author: Hanan Kane

Get Rid Of Painful Corns and Callus – Instantly!

Corns and callus are a big problem for many of our patients here at Perform Podiatry. Unfortunately, they’re often a problem that goes untreated for far too long and causes much unnecessary pain, that can otherwise be relieved instantly – in just a single appointment! We were inspired to write this by two patients that came in first thing today, one after the other. The first has corns that she gets taken care of regularly, so they never build up enough to cause her pain. The second patient hadn’t seen us in over a year as life had become busy and she just put off making those little maintenance appointments – which is totally understandable – until she realised that her corn had started causing her quite a fair bit of pain!

So, what causes corns and callus and why do they develop?

The answer to the cause is friction and pressure. It’s the rubbing or excess pressure (usually from walking) on an area of the foot that’ll lead to the development and longevity of the corn. We joked with a patient this morning that if you were to stop walking, then your corns wouldn’t come back, because of their direct result from excess pressure. However, we’re also all busy people that rely on our feet to get us everywhere so that’s not an option just yet. The reason you’ll develop a corn on the bottom of your foot but your walking buddy won’t, however, is also largely related to your foot biomechanics. Of course, there are other factors at play like your footwear, the type of ground you walk or run on, and many more. But most likely, it’ll be that a bone in your foot is sitting that little bit lower than the others – and not because of anything you’ve done – and there’ll be a lot more pressure on that bone with every step you take. Next minute, you’ve got a corn.

And why are some corns painful and not others?

Corns (and callus) is really just a build-up of hard, dead skin. It’s actually a protective mechanism from your body – think about it like this: There’s an area of your foot that is constantly undergoing a lot of pressure. Your body thinks ‘If I don’t do anything to protect this normal skin, it might tear/break/wear down and I’ll be susceptible to infection’. So the skin hardens. You develop protection from the regular pressure. But then… It keeps building to the point that it feels like you’re walking on a pebble with every step. The thick mass irritates the regular skin around it. It becomes tender and may redden. It becomes too big, and now uncomfortable and painful. Here we have identified the sweet spot… You’ve got to manage your corns and callus before they get to that painful point. And as podiatrists, that’s something we can do very easily for you. Just like this corn below – just one appointment and boom, the pain is gone. It really is that simple! To get rid of the corns, we use a scalpel very skillfully to debride the thickened skin. Because it’s just hard, dead skin, you don’t feel a thing. What you do feel is a feeling of relief as you place your feet back on the ground and no longer feel that painful lump. Success! If you or any of your family is suffering from painful or uncomfortable corns and callus, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at Perform Podiatry. There’s nothing better for us as practitioners than to see patients who initially came in with painful feet walk out feeling great and pain-free. It’s why we love what we do! To book in with our fantastic practitioners, you can give us a call on 09 523 2333 or book online here.

Why A Diabetic Foot Check Will Literally Save Your Feet!

Diabetes is a condition that affects a LOT of us New Zealanders. Five years ago, it was estimated that it affected around 300,000 of us (both diagnosed and undiagnosed), and undoubtedly this figure has continued to grow since then. When most people think diabetes, they think of blood sugar levels. But what does this have to do with the feet and why is your Podiatrist so important when it comes to diabetes? Let us explain.

Feet are often the first to suffer the consequences of diabetes

That’s right. Being the furthest away from the heart (with the longest blood vessels and nerves to reach the ends of the feet), the feet are prone to incurring damage from the effects of diabetes. There are two main ways that diabetes affects your feet:
  1. Abnormal sensations (and loss of sensation) in the feet
  2. Decreased blood supply to the feet

Abnormal sensations in the feet

These unusual sensations can range from burning, numbness, tingling, pins and needles, mixing up hot and cold or sharp and dull, and more. This occurs because of the damage to the nerves that occurs in diabetes changes the way your body interprets physical sensations. The most dangerous of these, is just the absence of feeling in the feet. Here, we’re not talking about a numbness, but a complete absence where you don’t even realise that you’ve lost the ability to feel. The risk here is that you sustain an injury – like a cut or standing on something sharp, and then are unable to feel it. If you can’t feel it, then you don’t know to move your foot and clean/dress the wound, and it becomes vulnerable to infection and ulceration. If infections linger long enough untreated, they can spread to the bone. This is known as osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis is very serious and difficult to treat, and is a major reason that diabetic ulceration is the leading cause of amputation worldwide, other than from trauma/accidents.

And when the blood supply decreases

Damage to the blood vessels as a result of diabetes also means less blood to the feet. Decreased circulation means your ability to repair wounds and damage decreases – and so does the ability to fight off the aforementioned infections.

So what difference does a foot check make?

A diabetic foot screening examines your sensation and circulation around your feet to determine your risk level for serious complications. Aside from having your feet thoroughly examined by a professional for any signs that something is going wrong, you’ll know exactly what’s going on, what stage you’re at (as the effects of diabetes gets progressively worse), what you should be looking out for and what you do if something goes wrong. It may seem like something so simple and routine, but the consequences of not having your feet assessed regularly if you have diabetes can be severe, so just like your regular dental appointment, make sure to put it in the calendar. If you have diabetes and are worried about your feet, we’d love to help! You can get in touch by calling us on 09 523 2333 or booking online here.

Easily Fix Your Forefoot Pain! Our Podiatrists Explain How

There’s nothing worse than feeling pain shoot up your foot with every step you take – especially if you’re like us and don’t have time to stop or slow down! Our lives are busier than ever and this calls for pains like these that interfere with our everyday lives to be treated quickly and effectively. So how can forefoot pain be simply and effectively managed to not only alleviate pain now but also keep it gone in the future? Our podiatrists share their secret weapon when it comes to forefoot pain – custom foot orthotics!

Why are custom foot orthotics the PERFECT tool for treating forefoot pain?

We know, forefoot pain can be caused by MANY different conditions and injuries. However it was caused, the area now needs to heal and repair. In order to do this effectively, painful pressure (such as from constantly walking on it) must be removed from the equation. After all, would you continue to catch and throw cricket balls if you had a broken wrist and still expect it to get better efficiently? Exactly. This is where orthotics come in. Orthotics are designed specifically for your feet and your injury after a comprehensive examination and diagnosis of what has happened and is causing your pain. They’ll then work to redistribute pressure away from the injury, support the foot, cushion certain areas and whatever other functions are deemed beneficial for you by your expertly trained Podiatrist. This means that you can continue to walk, work, and continue with your day without continually putting pressure on the injured part of your forefoot and making your injury that much worse – and not to mention more painful!

Don’t wait for the pain to get worse

If you’re suffering from pain in your forefoot – or anywhere in your feet and ankles for the matter, use the expertise of our team to get it sorted quickly and efficiently before it gets worse! Our team are proud to be a cornerstone of our community here in Remuera and Newmarket, and is located at the One Health Building at 122 Remuera Road. To speak to our team or book an appointment, you can give us a call on 09 523 2333 or book online here.

What is causing your heel pain?

Heel pain is frustrating – and that’s the mildest description of it that we hear from our patients on a regular basis. Heel pain, and foot pain generally, is one of those painful problems where you suddenly realise how much you’ve taken walking around pain-free for granted for your entire life. And it’s true – it’s a debilitating injury that impacts your whole day and ability to not just perform at your best, but also complete your everyday tasks and chores. It comes with no surprise that one of the first things that comes to mind when pain develops and you realise it’s not going away is: let’s consult Dr. Google. Despite Google’s numerous degrees, years of clinical experience and uncanny ability to assess and analyse your exact symptoms without even seeing or speaking to you, we thought we’d save you the ‘terminal’ diagnosis you’d otherwise stumble across and give you the most common causes of heel pain that we see here at Perform Podiatry daily.

1. Plantar Fasciitis

What is it? Plantar fasciitis is probably the most common cause of heel pain we see. It describes damage to, and inflammation of, the plantar fascia, a soft tissue band that runs from the bottom of your heel and fans out along the bottom of your foot to attach to your toes. You’re more likely to develop plantar fasciitis if you have a flatter foot type. What does it feel like? Plantar fasciitis is characterised by pain at the bottom (and for some toward the inside) of the heel which may radiate into the arch. Pain tends to be worse first thing in the morning and when standing after rest, though may ease after the first few minutes of walking. Some swelling may or may not be present.

2. Abductor Hallucis Tendinopathy

What is it? Abductor hallucis tendinopathy describes damage to the abductor hallucis muscle, which runs from the heel to the inside of the big toe. This cause of heel pain is often misdiagnosed as plantar fasciitis because it shares similar attachment points as the plantar fascia. Your abductor hallucis works in the movement of the big toe and helping to stabilise your foot as you walk. What does it feel like? The symptoms are similar to plantar fasciitis – everything from pain and tenderness at the bottom and inside of the heel to first step pain in the mornings and after rest. You may feel the pay through the arch and the border of the foot more with abductor hallucis tendinopathy compared to plantar fasciitis.

3. Achilles Tendinopathy

What is it? Achilles tendinopathy describes damage to the achilles tendon, the thick band that connects the muscles at the back of your leg to the back of your heel bone. The achilles tendon plays an important role in helping us walk and run, so this damage can make it more difficult to perform daily tasks. What does it feel like? Pain is generally present at the back of the heel, and can radiate up the back of the leg. Running (particularly uphill) and other physical activities will worsen the pain, and stiffness may be experienced at the back of the leg. Initially, there may be some swelling, but the pain can continue even when the swelling has subsided.

4. Sever’s Disease

What is it? Don’t worry, despite the name, sever’s disease is not really a disease, but a temporary condition present during stages of growth in kids. It describes the irritation of the growth plate located at the back of the heel. Growth plates are present in all growing bones and solidify once the bone has reached full maturity. Irritation and discomfort occur when strain and forces from surrounding muscles and tissues pull on the area around the growth plate. This is most common in active, growing kids between the ages of 8 and 15 years old. What does it feel like? Pain, tenderness and aches are felt at the bottom of the heel, usually during (and after) physical activity, particularly in running sports. The pain can range from sharp to dull and some swelling at the back of the heel may be present. The muscles at the back of the leg and heel may also feel tight.

5. Heel Fractures (Regular & Stress Fractures)

What are they? There are two types of fractures of note: regular fractures and stress fractures. Regular fractures are your standard fractures that you think of when a traumatic injury is sustained, like a tackle or jumping down from a high surface. It involves a break or crack(s) in the heel bone. A stress fracture, however, doesn’t usually involve an incident but builds up from repetitive activity and stress over time. This results in tiny cracks through the bone. What do they feel like? Regular fractures can cause sharp pain and aching at the heel. Stress fractures can range from mild, dull aches to sharp pain in the heel. In both cases, the heel can be very tender, may swell, and you may have trouble bearing weight/walking.

Other Causes

Of course, there are multiple other causes of heel pain. This can include skin conditions such as warts, corns, cracked heels and more. You may experience problems with the fat pad, which otherwise serves to protect the heel bone, but it can atrophy or become displaced. Nerve issues can also cause pain, alongside other neural problems such as numbness, tingling and pins and needles. This is where your Podiatrist will differentiate exactly what’s going on, the exact cause of your heel pain.

Treating Your Heel Pain

The trouble with heel pain is that you use your feet and heels to take every step, so it makes relieving pressure away from your feet so that the injury can heal significantly harder. This is why it’s important to see your Podiatrist so you can start recovering effectively. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll get back to performing at your best and feeling great! Our team of foot health experts here at Perform Podiatry specialise in heel pain and help hundreds of people every year with these conditions alone. For more information or to make an appointment, you can give us a call on 09 523 2333 or book online here.

Orthotics: Why Your Shoes May Be Limiting Your Recovery

If you’ve got pain or injury at your:
  • Heel
  • Midfoot
  • Forefoot
  • Arch
  • Ankle
  • Shins
  • Knees
Then orthotics can be a fantastic component of your treatment. The efficacy and function of your orthotics, however, can be influenced by your footwear – especially if they’re one of those ‘I know I probably shouldn’t be wearing these’ pair. Here’s why.

Orthotics have a specific function to help you recover

Orthotics work to relieve pressure away from the injured area, alter the way your foot functions so that you have minimal strain, and support the damaged bone, muscles or tissues. They do this because they are prescribed specifically for your feet, your foot characteristics, and your injury and the symptoms you’re experiencing. Despite the umbrella term ‘orthotics’, each pair are usually very different and have different additions and modifications. Your podiatrist knows what you need so you can recover in the shortest timeframe and prescribes your orthotics to achieve this. Your orthotics are then popped into the ‘good, suitable shoes’ we chat to you about and your gait (the way you walk) and stand are assessed to make sure the orthotics are doing what we’d like them to for your feet.

Does this mean orthotics are only suitable for one pair of shoes?

Absolutely not. When we fit your orthotics, we get you to bring in the shoes you’re going to be regularly wearing them in (work shoes, sneakers, etc) and we make sure they fit well into these shoes. The reason for needing to check is because different shoes have different widths at the base of the shoe, with some being significantly narrower than others. If this is the case, we make a few adjustments to the orthotics to get them fitting well in the pairs you’ve brought in.

So, how would my shoes affect my recovery?

If you were to go and put your orthotics into a pair of shoes that haven’t been checked, then there’s a high chance that the orthotics won’t be sitting properly in the shoes. The orthotics may:
  • Be leaning stiffly up against the inside or outside of the shoe (usually if the new shoe is too narrow)
  • Not be completely supported in the heel (allowing the foot to move from side to side and the supportive functions of the orthotic to not work)
  • Cause the foot to sit too high up in relation to the top of the new shoe, causing discomfort, irritation, rubbing or pain (and pain will also change the way you move your foot, changing your gait)
  • Result in a different biomechanical function because of the new foot position created by the way the orthotic sits in the new shoe which may be counterproductive to your recovery
The biggest takeaway from this is that your shoes have the ability to alter the function of your orthotics, resulting in less support for your feet. The more additional strain on the damaged area, the longer it’ll take for you to recover.

And the solution? It’s simple.

When you get your orthotics fitted, or at check-up appointments, bring your shoes to us! Let us have a look to see how the orthotics are sitting in the shoes and how your feet and legs are positioned in them too. It can honestly make a world of difference. The best part? The sooner you’re better, the sooner you can get back to wearing whatever shoes your heart desires without pain or discomfort. If you’re unsure about a pair of shoes and whether you should wear them, you can give us a call too. There may be a good chance that if you get a pair of sneakers in the same brand that we fitted your orthotics to, then they’ll be a good fit. BUT don’t forget that different models of sneakers have different levels of inbuilt support too which can change the way the orthotic will sit in them. So it’s always safest to bring them in for a check. If you’ve got any questions about your shoes, orthotics, or any pain that you’re experiencing, you can give us a call on 09 523 2333 to talk to our team or make an appointment, or you can book online here. We hope that your recovery is going smoothly and we look forward to having you back on your feet and feeling your best!

Ingrown Toenails: Why it’s time to throw out the home remedies!

We have the pleasure of seeing and treating a lot of ingrown toenails. That’s not sarcastic at all – successfully treating ingrown toenails provides an immense amount of relief to suffering patients and using our skills to do this successfully is something we’re very proud of. There’s a common theme to many of the first visits we have with our patients, however, that we thought we’d shed some light on in case you happen to find yourself in this boat too. This theme is the I-googled-it-so-it-must-work home remedies for ingrown toenails. Now, don’t get us wrong. Some of the strategies you try may well alleviate your pain and have you feeling much better. There’s almost always a catch though: It’s temporary.

Repeated ingrown toenail occurrence

The unfortunate truth is that if you’ve suffered from the terrible pains of ingrown toenails more than once, the reality is that you’re almost definitely going to suffer from them again. One-off ingrown toenails absolutely do occur, but the cause is usually a particular pair of tight shoes that push the nail into the skin and they don’t tend to occur again after you’ve stopped wearing them. Repetitive ingrown toenails are the best indicator that there’s something going on, that the nail has now started growing in an abnormal way that ends up penetrating the skin, and that it’s going to continue to happen.

So, why advise against home remedies?

The first reason is that without knowing exactly what you’re doing, you could be further encouraging the nail to continue to grow in a way that will cause you a tremendous amount of pain. Take the way your nail is cut, for example. If you think that cutting down into the corner and removing the piece of nail will discourage it from growing there again – the reality is the exact opposite. Curving down and removing that painful nail edge will likely encourage the nail to keep curving a growing down – unless you know what you’re doing and understand the characteristics of nail growth. The second reason is that as health professionals, we don’t want you to suffer with ongoing pain. Experiencing pain every 3 months from an ingrown toenail isn’t a great solution in our opinion, and especially not when you can have a one-time permanent procedure that will have you saying goodbye to ingrown toenails for good.

So, what is this procedure?

The procedure we’re talking about is called a partial nail avulsion (PNA). It involves removing a small part of the nail (the part that causes you pain!) and applying a chemical that will stop that small portion of nail from growing back and continuing to cause you grief, over and over again. We love this procedure because:
  • It’s done simply and effectively in-clinic
  • It’s completed in 60 minutes (with the procedure time typically around 20 minutes)
  • It’s performed under local anaesthetic so is pain-free
  • You do not need to take any additional time off work/school following the procedure & can go home immediately
  • You don’t need any special boots or braces while the toe heals
  • The procedure causes very little post-procedure discomfort
  • We dress your toe, provide you with a take-home dressing pack & re-dressing instructions
  • We monitor your progress to ensure it’s healing well
While we perform conservative one-off care for first-time ingrown toenails or those with a definitive cause that is not likely to recur, the PNA is our best recommendation for those that are repetitively putting up with and suffering from ingrown toenails. We have tremendous success with the procedure and have prevented hundreds of patients from continuing to regularly suffer. Our team are experts when it comes to ingrown toenails and we love seeing the difference that having this procedure makes in the lives of our patients. For more information about the PNA procedure, click here. To book an appointment, you can give us a call on 09 523 2333 or book online.

About to hit the slopes this winter? This is for you!

Winter is coming! Yep, after a long and hot summer, winter is now just around the corner and with it comes the opportunity to partake in all the best winter sports and activities. We’re not talking about Netball, but the much *chillier* winter sports – including skiing and snowboarding! These brilliant activities are enjoyed by many Aucklanders each year as we make the drive down to Mt. Ruapehu for the weekend or are even lucky enough to fly down to the South Island ski fields. With the fun and excitement, come the massive physical demands, especially on the legs and feet. That’s why we highly recommend having your feet and legs, as well as your ski or snowboarding boots assessed before starting the season so you can continue to feel your best throughout! Here are a few of the ways we can help you have a comfortable ski season:

We can check the size and fit of your boots

If you’re a skier or snowboarder, you’ll be very familiar with the effect that having a pressure point in the boot or ill-fitting boots will have on your feet, pain levels and comfort. When you bring your boots to us, we can check the fit of the boots in combination with any symptoms you’re having (if any), your foot posture, walking style (gait) and any signs of rubbing or a poor fit. We can then look for ways to improve the comfort in your boots, or if you’re after a new pair, let you know what you should be looking out for and feeling for when you’re buying them. Even if you’ve had your boots for years, as our feet can change over time with things like bunions developing or our arches flattening, this can make even your favourite and trusty pair of boots much less comfortable – so don’t be surprised if it feels different from one season to the next! We’re also one of the only podiatry practices in New Zealand with the expertise and facilities to make footwear modifications – though ski boots will need to be assessed on a case by case basis to assess their suitability for any modifications.

We make custom slimline orthotics that can fit comfortably inside your boots

We understand the extreme size constraints that come with ski and snowboard boots – we’ve felt them for many seasons ourselves! These boots struggle to fit regular orthotics without compromising the comfort and space available for your feet. We not only create slimline orthotics that do fit comfortably inside your boots but also make them specifically tailored for your feet to optimise the way you move and help you perform at your best when hitting the slopes. In order to create these custom orthotics, we…

Conduct a comprehensive biomechanical assessment of your feet and legs

This helps us to not only see exactly what’s going on with the movement and function of your feet and legs, but also see how this function is helping or impairing your performance and enjoyment on the slopes. During the assessment, we check your:
  • Muscle strength in the feet and legs
  • Muscle and tendon overuse
  • Available range of motion at your joints, especially any restrictions that are impacting the way your feet and legs move
  • Your foot posture
  • The way you walk (gait)
  • Structural abnormalities
  • Any areas of high pressure that are or may become problematic
  • Footwear
We use this to answer why are experiencing certain problems, as well as form a prescription for the right orthotics and other treatment modalities that will help solve your problem. Our team have had decades of experience in sports medicine, orthotic prescription and injury and pain management and prevention when it comes to a variety of sports. We’re proud to serve our local community and be recognised as leaders in the field of Podiatry in Auckland. We’d love to help you have the best winter season in 2018! If you have any questions or you’d like to book an appointment, you can give us a call on 09 523 2333 or book online.

Shin pain when running? You could have shin splints!

As we approach the colder winter climate here in New Zealand, some us will start to struggle when it comes to staying active and continuing, or beginning, our exercise regimes. We don’t blame you – the temperatures are dropping, the rain is starting to set in and the mornings are getting dark. But when you DO find that motivation to go for a run, hit the gym, or engage in your favourite sport, the LAST thing you need is shin and leg pain stopping you in your tracks. Because shin pain affects many of us each year, we thought we’d tell you a little about it and what you can do to treat it and reduce the risk of it coming back or even starting! Let’s start with the basics:

It’s called shin splints

Well actually, it’s called medial tibial stress syndrome if we’re going to get technical. It’s often coined as “too much, too soon” because of the tendency of it develop when people suddenly increase their exercises intensity or duration without working up to it over time.

There’s a reason your symptoms have started

Shin splints would never occur without a cause, which is usually relatively simple to identify when we complete a biomechanical assessment and have a chat through your medical and exercise history. This is especially true if you’re a runner (or are attempting to be one!). Associated causes can include:
  • Lots of physical activity
  • Flat feet and pronation
  • Unsupportive or worn-out footwear
  • Issues with your foot biomechanics (mechanical functioning of the feet and legs as you move)
  • Tight or weak muscles

The pain can come and go

For some, the pain, tenderness and swelling around your shins can come and go with activity, as well as being worse in the mornings. Others may instead feel a persisting tenderness and discomfort. The pain tends to affect one leg, but can affect both. Regardless of what you are and aren’t experiencing, if you think you have shin splints or have developed shin pain, come and get it checked.

When it’s not shin splints…

Both stress fractures and compartment syndrome have similar symptoms with pain around the front of the lower leg. That makes it important to get the right diagnosis and treatment from an experienced podiatrist.

It’s about treating your symptoms and your cause

I feel we need to highlight the word ‘your’ because the experience of shin splints can be very different. Some will find it a temporary discomfort, while others may struggle to run and do the things they enjoy because of a crippling pain. That’s why treatment needs to be specific to your clinical assessment, goals, symptoms and circumstances. It also needs to address the initial cause of your shin splints to reduce the likelihood of it happening again in the future. Our podiatrists have years of experience in sports medicine and the biomechanics of the feet and legs, so will give you the best care to optimise your outcomes. Our goal is to help you exceed your goals and get you back to feeling your best! For more information or to book an appointment, you can give us a call on 09 523 2333 or book online

Taking the worry of infection out of pedicures with medical pedicures!

There’s nothing like treating yourself with some well-deserved pampering. Spa treatments, massages, facials… There’s a warm, fuzzy feeling even thinking about taking an hour or two out to relax and be pampered. When it comes to getting your nails done, however, this warm feeling can become a little tainted. This taint comes from seeing the instruments used on your feet, being pulled out of a drawer or a cup, without any signs of sterilization on sanitation, and that uncomfortable thought creeps through your mind… “Who was this used on before me? Were they cut? Did they have any fungal infections or other infections that may spread to me? How hygienic is this really?” If you’ve ever thought this, you’re definitely not alone. We’re absolutely speaking from our own experience from before we got into podiatry and from the feedback that we still regularly receive from friends and patients. And it’s a very fair thought to have. Fungal nail infections are spread through contact. Plantar warts are spread through sharing surfaces like the foot spas and floors you frequent barefooted in a local nail parlour. While these risks are also present at gyms, saunas and the like, the risk is definitely higher at nail salons due to the tools that are used from person to person, without knowing the salon’s hygiene and sterilization protocols. What we do know, however, is our sterilization and hygiene protocols when we perform our medical grade pedicures.
  • We use an autoclave on every single instrument, before every use. This uses heat/steam to completely sterilise every piece of re-usable equipment that comes into contact with your feet.
  • Following the best-practice guidelines, the instruments are heated to at least 134 degrees to effectively kill anything that has previously come into contact with the instruments.
  • We bag and record every single instrument set, the autoclave cycle it went through, the date it was sterilized, and the autoclave’s printout declaring that the cycle was successfully completed.
  • We don’t open this bag until we’re with you in the treatment room.
And that’s just the beginning. We disinfect all of our surfaces, treatment chairs, floors, and go above and beyond to ensure our hygiene standards are top-notch. This is because our goal is not only to make you look and feel great, but care for your health and well-being. That’s what makes our medical pedicures different – plus the fact that with each appointment, your feet are also being checked by an expert podiatrist and we can make you aware of any risks or things we notice that you may not be aware of. So if you or any of your family would like to have a pedicure without the risk or worry, come in and see our team. You can book by calling 09 523 2333 or click here to book online.  

Growing Pains Explained!

Many of us have heard of or even experienced growing pains, but very few know what they actually are – aside from a pain that occurs while we’re still growing. When it comes to the feet and legs of kids and teenagers, there are two types of growing pains we often treat. Pain at the back of the heel (Sever’s Disease) and pain at and just below the knee (Osgood Schlatter Disease). Note: Growing pains are also mistaken for active kids overusing muscles of the feet and legs to a point where they are very tired, achy and sore. The cause is very different and treatment will vary too. If you’re unsure what your child is experiencing, bring them in for a check with your Podiatrist.

What are growing pains and how are they caused?

Growing pains are caused by tension and strain on the vulnerable part of your bone that is currently growing and lengthening. This vulnerable area is called a growth plate. It is the weakest part of the bone and is weaker than the surrounding soft tissues (tendons, ligaments, muscles). When a muscle or tendon attached to the bone is tight and pulls on the growth plate, it causes pain. Because during growth spurts our bones and muscles may lengthen at slightly different rates, we may end up with a muscle that is very tight for a time (until it lengthens) and so will trigger the pain with every step taken, and particularly with running and physical activity.

What and where exactly are these growth plates?

Growth plates (medically known as epiphyseal plates) are areas of bone located at the ends of long bones in kids. When we reach maturity, these growth plates turn into solid bone and we stop growing. Every long bone (such as our thigh bone, femur, or leg bone, tibia) has at least one growth plate on each end of the bone. New bone is added to these areas by the body while we grow.

What are the symptoms?

Depending on which part of the foot or leg is affected, symptoms can include:
  • Sharp, stabbing pain
  • Mild, dull aches
  • Pain that comes and goes
  • Cramping
  • Pain that wakes you up at night
  • Pain exacerbated by physical activity including running, jumping and sports

What can be done for growing pains?

We often hear from patients and parents who have been told there’s nothing that can be done for growing pains, aside from waiting them out and avoiding activities that trigger the onset of pain. Thankfully, when it comes to the feet and legs, there definitely are things that can be done to ease the pain and discomfort. Often, we can also reduce the time it takes for the pains to disappear, meaning your kids can get back to doing the things they love. The best options will depend on your child’s symptoms, but may include:
  • Custom prescribed orthotics to keep the foot in a position that places less force from tight muscles onto the bone
  • Footwear that supports the foot in the best position and doesn’t add undue stress or tension to the feet and legs
  • Pads specific to the area of pain, such as heel raises for pain at the heels
  • Stretches that support the affected muscles and bones, working to ease the overall tightness that may be contributing to the painful symptoms
  • Strengthening muscles and joints to support a good position of the foot that reduces strain on the affected areas
  • Massage (where appropriate) of the affected areas to help with muscle tightness and therefore painful symptoms