Services
Our Services
At Belridge Podiatry, our experienced podiatrists offer a wide range of services to diagnose, treat, and prevent foot and ankle related issues. Our services include:
General Podiatry Including Corn And Callus Care
General podiatry involves the treatment of skin and nails, often regularly.
During this procedure, podiatrists carefully examine your feet, assess any issues, and use specialized tools to gently remove dead skin, calluses, and corns.
They may also trim your toenails and provide advice on proper foot care techniques. General Podiatry can be particularly beneficial for individuals with diabetes or other conditions that affect foot health, as they can help prevent complications such as infections or ulcers.
Overall, regular visits with a podiatrist can help keep your feet healthy and pain-free.
Commonly treated conditions during a General Podiatry Consult:
- Ingrown toenails
- Curved toenails
- Thickened nails
- Hard nails
- Callus removal
- Cracked heels
- Corns
- Chilblains
- Warts
- Fungal and bacterial skin conditions
- Management strategies for hammertoes, claw toes, and bunions. This may include therapeutic strategies, offloading devices, custom-molded toe props and splints
- Footwear can be a significant contributing factor to foot deformity or skin conditions. We assess your shoes and provide you with the appropriate advice
Foot And Ankle pain Management
- Overuse and repetitive strain: Feet and ankles bear the body's weight and absorb shock with every step, leading to wear and tear.
- Poor foot mechanics: Abnormalities in foot shape, function, or alignment can put excessive stress on joints and tissues.
- Improper footwear: Shoes that don't fit well, lack support, or are worn out can contribute to pain.
- Age: Foot and ankle pain increases with age due to natural wear and tear, reduced cushioning, and decreased flexibility.
- Obesity: Excess weight puts additional stress on feet and ankles.
- Sports and activities: High-impact activities, sudden stops, and sharp turns can lead to injuries.
- Poor posture: Abnormalities in posture can lead to uneven distribution of weight and stress on feet and ankles.
- Genetic predisposition: Some foot and ankle conditions, like bunions or hammertoes, can be inherited.
- Warts
- Fungal and bacterial skin conditions
- Management strategies for hammertoes, claw toes, and bunions. This may include therapeutic strategies, offloading devices, custom-molded toe props and splints
- Footwear can be a significant contributing factor to foot deformity or skin conditions. We assess your shoes and provide you with the appropriate advice
As podiatrists, we are trained to assist in the following ways to help manage foot and ankle pain:
- Identifying the underlying cause of pain using advanced diagnostic techniques.
- Developing personalized treatment plans addressing specific needs and conditions.
- Prescribing exercises and stretches to strengthen foot and ankle muscles
- Recommending proper fitting shoes and modifications to reduce pain.
- Creating custom-made devices tailored to redistribute pressure and alleviate pain.
- Guiding you to modify activities i.e. avoiding exacerbating activities that may worsen your pain, and gradual progression back into these activities when pain is resolved to prevent ongoing injuries.
- Implementing pain relief therapies such as corticosteroid injections, PRP therapy, and shockwave therapy.
- Educating about self-care techniques, pain management strategies, and prevention methods.
- Referring patients to surgeons for procedures when necessary
Biomechanical Assessment And Gait Analysis
It typically includes both non-weight bearing and weight-bearing assessments:
- Visual examination: Observing the feet and ankles at rest and during movement.
- Range of motion testing: Evaluating the flexibility and movement of joints in the feet and ankles.
- Muscle strength testing: Assessing the strength of muscles in the feet, ankles, and legs.
- Palpation: Feeling the feet and ankles to identify areas of tenderness or abnormality.
- Foot posture assessment: Evaluating the shape and position of the feet, including arch height and alignment.
- Functional assessment: Performing specific tests to assess joint stability and identify potential issues, as well as assessing the range of motion in the ankle joint.
- Leg length and alignment assessment: Evaluating the length and alignment of the legs.
- Gait analysis: Assessing walking patterns, including stride length, cadence, and foot strike using technology to record and analyze walking patterns.
As podiatrists, we are trained to assist in the following ways to help manage foot and ankle pain:
- Identifying the underlying cause of pain using advanced diagnostic techniques.
- Developing personalized treatment plans addressing specific needs and conditions.
- Prescribing exercises and stretches to strengthen foot and ankle muscles
- Recommending proper fitting shoes and modifications to reduce pain.
- Creating custom-made devices tailored to redistribute pressure and alleviate pain.
- Guiding you to modify activities i.e. avoiding exacerbating activities that may worsen your pain, and gradual progression back into these activities when pain is resolved to prevent ongoing injuries.
- Implementing pain relief therapies such as corticosteroid injections, PRP therapy, and shockwave therapy.
- Educating about self-care techniques, pain management strategies, and prevention methods.
- Referring patients to surgeons for procedures when necessary
Orthotic Therapy Including 3D Scanning
Orthotic therapy can help with:
- Pain relief: Reducing pain in the feet, ankles, legs, and lower back.
- Injury prevention: Preventing injuries by providing support and stability.
- Improved foot function: Enhancing the way the feet move and function.
- Gait correction: Correcting abnormal walking patterns.
- Pressure redistribution: Reducing pressure on sensitive areas.
- Arch support: Supporting the arch and promoting proper foot alignment.
- Stability: Providing stability for ankles and feet.
Orthotic therapy can be used to treat various conditions including:
- Flat feet
- High arches
- Plantar fasciitis
- Heel pain
- Ankle sprains
- Diabetic foot issues
- Arthritis
- Sports injuries
The process of prescribing custom-made orthotics typically involves the following steps:
- Initial Consultation: A thorough examination and discussion of the patient's symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle.
- Biomechanical Assessment and Gait Analysis: An evaluation of the patient's foot and ankle structure, function, and movement, as well as walking pattern.
- Foot Impressions: 3D feet impressions are obtained using a 3D laser scan of the foot using a special laser scanner.
- Prescription Writing: We then write a prescription outlining the specific requirements for the orthotics, including material, design, and modifications.
- Orthotic Fabrication: We work alongside an orthotic laboratory to create your custom-made orthotic devices, which can take up to 2 weeks.
- Fitting and Adjustments: A fitting appointment will be made for you to fit the orthoses to your shoes and assess you walking in them.
- Follow-up Appointments: We will review you after 3-4 weeks to make sure your devices work well and are meeting your needs.
How long do custom-made orthotics last:
The average lifespan of custom-made orthotics is between 1-5 years, however this varies depending on several factors, such as the materials used, the frequency and intensity of use, and the wearer’s weight and activity level. It is important to follow the instructions provided by your podiatrist on how to care for and maintain your orthotics to ensure they last as long as possible. We recommended a yearly review to make sure you are getting the maximum benefit from your devices.
By using orthotic therapy, podiatrists can help patients achieve optimal foot health, alleviate pain, and improve overall well-being.
Ingrown Toenail Management
Ingrown toenails are a common condition in which the corner or edge of a toenail grows into the skin surrounding the nails.
Management of ingrown toenails:
We take a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating ingrown toenails by identifying the underlying causes of the condition and providing a personalized treatment plan considering your medical history, lifestyle, and personal preferences.
During an initial consultation for an acute ingrown toenail problem, we would generally undertake a conservative approach by trimming the offending piece of nail back, suggesting antibiotics if necessary, and providing you ways to aid in the recovery process (such as footwear advice, nail-trimming technique, taping techniques, saltwater baths and wound care).
For more chronic/recurrent cases of ingrown toenails that have a tendency of recurrent infections, we may recommend surgical intervention to obtain a long-term resolution of ingrown toenails.
How does ingrown toenail surgery work:
Surgical intervention of ingrown toenail involves a minimally invasive, in-office surgical procedure to permanently remove the offending portion of the nail, such as partial nail avulsion (removal of a portion of the toenail) or a total nail avulsion (removal of the whole toenail). It is generally performed under local anesthetic, however in special circumstances we may refer you to a podiatric surgeon for removal of ingrown toenails under general anesthetic.
See our podiatrists to help the best management approach for your ingrown toenails.
Wart Management
Plantar warts are small, rough growths on the soles of feet, and are caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which can enter the skin through tiny cuts or breaks on the bottom of the feet. They usually have tiny black dots in the centre and can be spread to other parts of the foot or to other people.
Podiatrists have the expertise of correctly diagnosing plantar warts and establishing a safe and effective treatment plan personalized for you. This may involve debridement/removal of hard skin build-up and wart tissue, and topical treatments containing salicylic acid, cantharidin, or other medications to stimulate immune response and wart resolution. In addition, we may also suggest freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen to destroy infected tissue. For the stubborn warts that don’t respond to these conservative methods, we may recommend surgical excision of the wart, usually under local anesthesia, by a surgeon.
It’s important to seek professional wart removal to ensure that the entire wart is removed and to minimize the risk of it returning, scarring or spreading to other areas of the body.
Diabetic Foot Assessment
When managing diabetes, foot care often takes a backseat to other pressing concerns. However, foot issues are incredibly prevalent and can significantly impact daily life for those with diabetes. So slapping on a band-aid, ignoring foot changes, or saying ‘it’ll be right in a few weeks’ can lead to serious diabetes-related foot complications, putting your feet at unnecessary risk.
See how diabetes can affect your feet (**Link to common conditions page – Diabetes and foot care section no. 2)
Do you know your foot risk status?
It is important that all people living with diabetes undergo at least a yearly foot screening by our trained registered team of podiatrists to determine foot risk status.
A thorough assessment generally includes:
- Blood flow to your feet (circulation)
- Feeling and reflexes (nerves)
- Finding cause of unusual foot shapes (bunions, claw toes, hammer toes)
- Footwear assessment
- Dryness, calluses, corns, cracks or infection
If you have misshapen feet and nerve damage, you’re more likely to get:
- Ulcers from too much pressure over some areas of the feet
- Corns and calluses from too much pressure being put on one area.
- A podiatrist can remove calluses or corns before they become ulcers to prevent infection and amputation.
- Dryness, calluses, corns, cracks or infections.
Children's Foot Conditions
Unlike adult feet, children’s feet are still developing and haven’t reached their full shape. At six months old, the foot is primarily composed of cartilage, and the final bone doesn’t start forming until around age three. It isn’t until age 18 that the bones in the foot are fully developed. Because children’s feet are soft and flexible, they are vulnerable to damage from improper forces, such as ill-fitting shoes. However, this pliability also makes it easier to correct foot deformities or functional issues, providing a unique window for early intervention and treatment.
Podiatrists are skilled in assessing the developmental milestones and growth patterns of children’s feet, enabling them to diagnose and treat various foot issues. We consider a range of factors and perform a thorough examination of the feet and legs, to identify potential problems, including:
- Family medical history
- Participation in sports or physical activities
- Shoe wear and footwear choices
- Presence of any underlying medical conditions
If you have any of the following concerns with your child’s feet, you should contact your podiatrist:
- Abnormal crawling or tripping when walking, which may indicate hypermobility
- Toe walking
- Walking with their feet pointing inwards or outwards
- Flat feet
- Heel pain
- Knee pain
- Ankle sprains and sports injuries
- Ingrown toenails
- Warts
Manual Therapy - Dry Needling (acupuncture)
Podiatrists use dry needling to treat various foot and ankle conditions, including:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendonitis
- Ankle sprains
- Heel pain
- Forefoot pain related to Morton’s neuroma
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