Understanding netball lower limb injury Passion Podiatry is a proud sponsor of Phoenix Netball Club and hence, it triggers a thought for us to write an entry specifically on how podiatry is related to netballers. Podiatry and netball go hand in hand. Netball is a fantastic sport and there are many different foot and leg injuries that are common to netball as netball involves plenty of sudden stopping, changes of direction, jumping and agile movements. Here are 4 of the most c

Understanding Idiopathic Toe Walking Most children begin walking at about 12 to 15 months of age. As they learn to walk, they often try different foot positions, such as walking on tiptoes. By around 24 months, they should walk with their feet flat on the ground. By 3 years of age, children should walk with a heel-toe pattern. Toe walking is a condition that occurs in childhood where only the ball of the foot rests on the ground while the child is walking. Toe-walking can var

What is intermittent claudication? Intermittent claudication is a symptom of the vascular disease. It is a predictable pattern of lower leg pain caused by inadequate blood flow to exercising muscles. Intermittent claudication pain has three characteristics: It is a cramping pain in the calves. It is relieved by rest. It is reproducible, almost always brought on by walking a certain distance. The pain may occur earlier if walking uphill or more quickly. Causes of intermittent

(Picture Credit: www.naturalfootgear.com) Understanding Sesamoid Injuries The sesamoid bones are two pea-shaped bones located in the ball of the foot, beneath the big toe joint. Like the kneecap, the sesamoids function as a pulley to provide leverage as the big toe pushes off. The sesamoids also serve as a weight-bearing surface for the first metatarsal bone that absorbs the impact forces placed on the ball of the foot when walking, running and jumping. Due to their location

Understanding Tailor’s bunion A Tailor’s bunion is similar to a bunion which is a bump on the outside of the foot. The main difference is that it occurs at the base of the little toe, instead of the big toe. It is known as a tailor’s bunion because many years ago, this deformity is found to be common amongst the tailors who worked sitting on the ground with their legs crossed and the side of the foot pressing into the ground. This pressure caused an enlargement of the little

What is the Achilles tendon? A tendon is a band of tissue that connects a muscle to a bone. The Achilles tendon or the calf tendon is a band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the calf muscle of the leg. It is considered the largest tendons in the body. Also known as the “heel cord”, the Achilles tendon facilitates walking by helping to raise the heel off the ground. Our calf comprises of 2 major muscles, the gastrocnemius which is a more superficial muscle that origina

Understanding Ankle Pain and Ankle Sprain Our foot and ankle support our body and keep us mobile on a day to day basis. Our ankle joints, in particular, are highly vulnerable to acute injury. Ankle pain is often due to an ankle sprain but can also be caused by ankle instability, arthritis, tendonitis, nerve compression (tarsal tunnel syndrome), fracture, infection and poor structural alignment of the lower limb. Ankle pain can be associated with swelling, stiffness, redness,