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About the Podiatrist...
Maintaining adequate lower limb function
Podiatric services
When do I need a doctor's referral
Preventative Care
Acute Feet Health Concerns
Chronic medical conditions and the implications upon lower limb health
Assessment, Investigations and Diagnosis
Swollen legs and Feet
Evidence based lower limb health care
Our focus is to provide you with personalised, high-quality care with a strong emphasis on achieving optimal treatment outcomes. Knee to Toe Podiatry is dedicated to improving, monitoring and maintaining your lower limb and feet health to enable you to undertake the daily activities, work or sport you wish to do.
We provide you with evidence-based information to empower you with knowledge and an understanding of your condition(s), treatment options and the steps necessary to achieve a beneficial health outcome.
The Podiatrist
Graduating in 2008 from Charles Sturt University, Albury NSW, Knee to Toe Podiatry Business Proprietor; Alicia commenced her career in the Private sector in Bendigo VIC 3550.
Alicia gained extensive experience in the Public health care sector in Victoria providing Community and High Risk Feet Services, Residential Aged Care and Group homes.
Alicia has extensive experience & special interest in managing "at risk" feet including the Insensate Feet, Peripheral vascular Disease, Diabetes related feet & associated health complications, complex leg and feet wound(s), lower limb oedema (swelling) management and vascular assessment and diagnosis.
Alicia has a genuine enthusiasm in all areas of Podiatry and being able to assist people to improve lower limb function, maintain mobility and individuals independence.
From toddlers taking their first steps to those in the latter years of life that find it a little more difficult to reach down to attend to their feet.
Diligent and accurate diagnostic skills, a broad clinical scope and experience you can trust the most efficacious treatment and personalised management plan will be implemented to achieve a beneficial lower limb health outcome.
Maintaining adequate lower limb function...
If your hips, knees, legs or feet do not function properly, whether this is from an old injury, osteoarthritis, genetic anatomical predisposition of the musculoskeletal system not functioning effectively.
Parents often notice when their children, particularly during adolescence when they are growing rapidly whilst trying to be physically active, this can lead to the body having to compensate and work harder to maintain its functional alignment & mobility.
Over time this can cause repetitive tissue stress and overuse causing pain &/ or reduced function or a decline in sporting performance or increase in the incidence of lower limb injuries.
Using technology assisted gait analysis we can identify these anomalies, implement internal wedging, heel raises, orthotics or guidance insoles to improve alignment, reduce musculoskeletal stress and strain, pain and improve lower limb function.
This is complemented with identifying musculoskeletal weaknesses and strengthening deficits to resolve these issues long term.
An emphasis on footwear when undertaking particular sporting activities cannot be stressed enough.
We have the knowledge in providing specific recommendations.
We identify and address any lower limb biomechanical concerns at any age or fitness level.
A Professional you can trust
Podiatrist(s) who work at Knee to Toe Podiatry must undergo the following employment screenings:
- Working with children and vulnerable individuals check
- NDIS employee screening
- AHPRA Registered Podiatrist (For further details please refer to the links below)
i) Podiatry Board of Australia - Policies, Codes and Guidelines
Podiatric services
KNEE TO TOE PODIATRY OFFERS A DIVERSE RANGE OF TREATMENTS & ONGOING MANAGEMENT
- Diabetes Feet Health Assessments, education and report findings sent to your GP
- Medicare Chronic disease management plans for individuals who have a chronic health condition(s) requiring Podiatry care.
SKIN & TOENAIL(S) PATHOLOGY
- Skin concerns and treatment (including corn, callous, fissured heels &/or plantar soles of feet, chronic fungal or yeast skin infections of the feet and legs, warts, blister prevention & treatment, strategies to manage venous eczema/ dermatitis, managment how to maintain skin integrity in the presence of chronic swelling in the lower legs and feet.
- Ingrown toenail management, conseravatively &/ or permanent surgical removal options
- Treatment advice for excessive sweating or malodourous feet
- Treatment of toenail pathology including fungal toenail infections, thickened difficult toe cut toenails
- Vascular assessments (using noninvasive doppler ultrasound and toe pressure assessments to see how well the blood flows down your legs to your feet.
Recommendations of compression stockings to reduce lower limb swelling and maintain vein health in your legs & feet
- Neurological assessments by testing knee and ankle reflexes, pressure and vibration sensation to determine nerve function in legs and feet.
Active monitoring and implementation of preventative strategies to reduce the incidence of unrecognised injury in the presence of peripheral neuropathy (loss of feeling in your feet or painful neuropathy).
- DVA footwear prescription
- We do currently not stock medical grade footwear.
- Occupational footwear advice for individuals that stand for long periods of time on hard floors
- Footwear recommendations for your child's first steps, pre-school, kindergarten, primary to secondary school.
- Provision of referral(s) to Orthotist/ Prosthetist for custom extra depth and width medical grade footwear, Ankle Foot Orthoses or necessary aides and appliances. if eligible through State Wide Equipment Program (SWEP)
- Functional Feet orthoses,
- Accommodative high pressure offloading orthoses/ insoles to reduce recurrence of feet ulcer(s), corns, callous or bony prominences in the feet
- Provision of ankle braces, post operative and rehabilitative shoes & offloading boots
- Provision of referrals to Podiatric surgeons for professional insight into corrective foot surgery i.e. bunions, hammer toes, recurrent corns on toes.
- Management of soft tissue and bone pathology in the lower legs and feet - Bursitis, tendonitis, tendinosis, enthesopathy, neuromas, stress fractures in feet, splinting for broken toes, shin splints & more....
- Wound care and shared care with community & practice nurses.
Referrals may be provided to the Bendigo Health High Risk Foot Clinic should you require intensive multidisciplinary care or possible hospital admission in the presence of a wound infection.
- Lower back, hip, knee, lower leg, ankle, heel or generalised foot pain
- Identifying and addressing limb length dicrepancy
- Visual gait analysis to identify underlying biomechanical anomalies and muscular imbalances causing repetitive compensation leading to soft tissue overuse injuries
- Kinesio myofascial and sports taping
- Dry needling of the lower limb
Who can see a Podiatrist?
KNEE TO TOE PODIATRY IS A PRIVATE PODIATRY SERVICE.
Anyone, of any age can see a Podiatrist without a Doctor's referral.
Self referrals are welcomed.
If you have Podiatry ancillary/ Extras cover with your Private Health Insurer, you can claim the cost of Podiatric treatment/ management.
When do I need a doctor's referral?
Knee to Toe Podiatry welcomes & accepts referrals from all Medical Practices & Allied Health Professionals within the Greater Bendigo Region.
YOU WILL NEED A DOCTORS REFERRAL...
If you are eligible & will be receiving Podiatric treatment under the following initiative:
Chronic Disease Management Plans & Team Care Arrangements (formerly known as Medicare EPC)
Fact Sheet - CDM - Patient Info - Feb 2014.pdf (health.gov.au)
Should you require orthotics, internal shoe padding or wedging, digital splints or toe separators, ankle brace, removable walking boot etc. there is a full cost recovery for these consumables.
PLEASE FAX REFERRALS TO (03) 7067 9914
When do I need a doctor's referral?
Knee to Toe Podiatry accepts self-referral & referrals from all Medical Practices & Allied Health Professionals.
YOU WILL NEED A DOCTORS REFERRAL...
If you are eligible & will be receiving Podiatric treatment under the following initiative:
Department of Veteran's Affairs (DVA) Gold card or White Card
Requires a D904 GP referral annually or 12 Podiatry sessions from date of referral.
PLEASE FAX REFERRALS TO (03) 7067 9914
Preventative Care
Preventative feet and lower limb health recommendations and advice is provided to inform you of self-care activities that a necessary to reduce the likelihood of lower limb health concerns developing in the first place. "Prevention is better than Cure".
This can be as simple as being shown why a corn has developed if footwear is an incorrect fit for your foot shape.
Or the importance of regularly applying heel balm to prevent recurrence of cracked heels which can lead to tissue infections if left untreated.
Ensuring you wash, clean and dry well in between your toes to prevent potential fungal, yeast or serious bacterial skin infections.
Foot problems, particularly foot pain, hallux valgus and lesser toe deformity have been shown in many studies to be associated with falls in older people. Seeing a Podiatrist can identify the cause of pain and implement treatment techniques so you can regain your confidence walking in comfort.
If you have noticed changes in the colour, shape or function in your lower legs or feet, or you just want professional advice as to how to best look after your feet...see a feet health expert today.
Acute feet health concerns
These are typically concerns that arise within a couple of days...
- Ingrown toenails (with or without infection). Commonly people are nervous to seek help as this condition can be very painful and understandably do not want the area touched.
With specialist treatment techniques, we ensure minimal discomfort is experienced.
- Painful bruised or loose toenail after injuring the toenail plate
- Foreign body i.e. a splinter, prickle, glass or staple that has become embedded in your foot that can be removed conservatively
- Injuring your lower legs, ankles or feet after participating in sport or landing awkwardly i.e. ankle sprains, foot injury after a fall or stubbing a toe
- Painful corn, callous or large blisters that suddenly become red, warm to touch or swollen
- Sudden swelling, change in colour with or without pain in your legs, feet or toes
Chronic health conditions & the implications upon lower limb health
Many medical conditions have a direct impact upon our lower limb soft tissues, bones, joints, nerves and blood supply.
Actively monitoring your circulation, nerve and muscle function allows us to identify and address potential feet health complications early.
Providing vascular doppler ultrasound and toe pressures enables us as Podiatrists to measure how strong and how much blood flow is reaching your feet and toes. This is very important as it provides insight into individual's ability to heal should you injure your feet or lower legs.
We assess your nerve function to determine if you have pressure sensation which protects our feet from injury by sending pain signals to alert us to look down at our legs and feet prompting us to stop the activity/ action we were undertaking to prevent further injury.
When individuals lose this sensory function it is called peripheral neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy does not just occur in individuals with Diabetes, but also people who have undergone chemotherapy, have Vitamin B12 deficiency, lower back or spinal cord injury or people. Numerous chronic medical conditions can predispose a person to developing nerve ending damage in their feet or lower legs.
If you are experiencing changes in balance, experiencing a loss of confidence in walking or have noticed sensation changes it is advised to have your lower legs and feet health checked.
Assessment, Investigations & Diagnosis
Podiatrists have Medicare provision to request plain x-rays and ultrasound to investigate bone and soft tissue concerns of the ankle and feet.
In some circumstances the Podiatrist will refer you back to your doctor to get a referral for further diagnostic investigations to be undertaken.
This may include a CT, Bone scan, MRI, Vascular duplex scan of the veins or arteries in your legs down to your feet, a wound swab or recommended blood tests.
This gives us additional information as we piece your explanation of your presenting concern, clinical observations, assessment findings and Pathology or Radiology results to formulate an accurate diagnosis.
It can also determine if a referral is necessary to see a Specialist such as Neurologists, Vascular Surgeon Endocrinologist, Orthopaedic or Podiatric Surgeons. These health care professionals provide a higher level of specific specialist treatment &/ or professional recommendations to ensure the most officious management is provided for your presenting concern.
Swollen legs & feet
Problems with the circulation and drainage systems of the body can be detected in the legs and feet. Feet and legs can swell due to problems with circulation, the lymphatic system, heart, kidneys, the presence of an infection and/ or injury.
Circulation problems fall into two main types:
1. Not enough blood supply getting through the arteries, and
2. Not enough return of blood or fluids up the leg through the veins or lymph drainage vessels.
Circulation testing helps with diagnosis and directing the best treatment for each case.
Benefits of treatment include:
• Reducing the risks of clots, strokes and heart attacks
• Reducing the strain on vessels and organs from excessive fluid
• Improved mobility
• Prevention and management of skin problems such as dermatitis and leg and foot ulcers
Who needs circulation testing of their feet?
Recommendations by International guidelines suggest all people over 70, and people over 50 with any risk factor for heart and blood vessel disease; high blood pressure or high cholesterol should have their foot arteries tested.
People at an increased risk include individuals with diabetes & they should have a feet health assessment at least once a year even if you do not have any symptoms/ concerns. Testing can find hardening or narrowing of the large arteriies and small capillaries that provide essential blood supply to the feet that are necessary for absolute healing should any injury occur.
Results can show when specific medication, compression or other treatment is recommended.
Where do I get my foot circulation tested?
Skilled health practitioners, most commonly Podiatrists, listen to artery sounds with a Doppler ultrasound and may also do toe pressure testing. This can be done in the Podiatry clinic.
Should you require further detailed artery or vein duplex ultrasound this is undertaken most commonly by a sonographer at a local Radiology or Hospital clinic. Your doctor will provide a referral for this test to be undertaken.
With your permission/ consent your Doctor can be informed of your results.
Privacy Policy & Information Disclaimer
Disclaimer
Information and statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. No warranty is made that any information on or linked to this site is complete and/or accurate.
All information contained on the Site, including information relating to medical and health conditions, products and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. This includes any advice offered in the “Services” section and related pages.
Professional advice is required for each particular illness, disease, infection, injury, or other medical condition. This information is not to be taken as any sort of medical advice whatsoever. You take full and total responsibility for what you do with this information and any resulting outcomes from your actions.
The information contained in this Site is not intended nor is it implied to be a substitute for professional podiatric or medical advice or any information contained on or in any product packaging or labels. Always seek the advice of your Podiatrist, General Practitioner, other medical practitioner or qualified health provider when starting any new medical treatment, continuing with medical treatment or with any questions you may have regarding yours or any other party’s medical condition.
NOTHING CONTAINED IN THE SERVICE IS INTENDED TO BE OR SHOULD BE TAKEN FOR PODIATRIC OR MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENT ADVICE.
Podiatrists have a professional and legal responsibility to:
- Keep all information they collect and record about clients/ patients/ individuals confidential and secure.
- Retain, transfer, dispose of, correct and provide access to clinical records in accordance with the requirements of the laws of the relevant states, territories and the Commonwealth.
- Podiatrists must be familiar with the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988 as well as their state or territory privacy and health records legislation, including the provisions that govern the retention of health records and the retention of records relating to children and youth under 18 years of age.
- Third party access is subject to the provisions of the relevant privacy and health records legislation.
- Podiatrists must assist patients to make well-informed decisions about treatment procedures and not impose treatment upon patients/ clients/ individual's.
Your privacy is of uttermost importance and critical to us. The following details how we will manage your information and your privacy. We are committed to managing our practice in accordance with the above principles to maintain the privacy of the patient/ client/ individual. For further information please visit link below:
