Frequently Asked Questions
Find your answer to the most common podiatry questions.
General Podiatry
A podiatrist is a health professional who deals with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of medical conditions of the lower legs and feet.
Our team of experienced professionals include children’s podiatrists and sports podiatrists that specialise in the specific individual treatment needs of these patients.
Many of our patients have recurring conditions that require ongoing treatment, while many problems, such as ingrown toenail surgery, may be fixed with a one-off visit to your podiatrist. Pain or discomfort in the feet is a good indication that it is time for another visit to our foot clinic.
Melbourne Podiatrists & Orthotics treat patients of all ages including:
- Private patients
- Medicare CDM (formerly EPC)
- Veterans’ Affairs
- TAC
- Worksafe
- NDIS (Unregistered provider)
Our sports podiatrists specialise in sports injuries, whilst our children’s podiatrists specialise in children’s feet and development.
Private patients do not need a referral from their GP to visit a podiatrist, however Veterans’ Affairs and Medicare CDM patients will need a referral. TAC and Worksafe patients will also have specific requirements.
We are an unregistered NDIS provider so can only treat patients who have self managed or plan managed plans. A referral is not required.
Please see our general information page for more specific information on referral requirements. If you are still unsure, our receptionists can help answer your questions.
Melbourne Podiatrists & Orthotics is currently classified as an unregistered NDIS provider. This means we can only treat NDIS participants who self-manage their plans or have a registered plan manager.
For more information on the services we can provide to eligible NDIS patients please download our NDIS Unregistered Provider Patient Information Handout.
Yes. Our hours are structured to suit your needs. We have early morning, late evening and Saturday appointment available at our Melbourne Foot Clinic.
MONDAY: 8.00 am – 7.30 pm
TUESDAY: 8.00 am – 7.30 pm
WEDNESDAY: 8.00 am – 7.30 pm
THURSDAY: 8.00 am – 6.00 pm
FRIDAY: 8.00 am – 5.00 pm
SATURDAY: 8.00 am – 12.30 pm *
* The practice is open approximately every 2nd Saturday and will have a team of 2 podiatrists working.
When you visit our foot clinic in Melbourne, it is important to bring in any relevant history of your foot problem. This includes specialist referrals, previous scans or x-rays, a list of medication you are on and anything else you deem relevant. Also it is helpful if you bring along appropriate clothing and the shoes that you most commonly wear or any shoes that may relate to the cause of your problem.
If your concern is a nail problem or you wish to have a general treatment (your nails cut and filed along with corn and callus removal) or nail fungus treatment then you will need to remove your nail polish before your scheduled podiatry appointment.
Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
If you experience arch or heel pain then you may be suffering from plantar fasciitis. The earlier it is diagnosed and treated the better the outcome. You should visit our Melbourne Foot Clinic at the first signs of plantar fasciitis.
Podiatrists have the greatest knowledge of the foot and its function. They can diagnose and address the important factors associated with the cause of your plantar fasciitis. Our podiatrists have great experience dealing with this debilitating condition and patients often talk of our success rate.
Were the custom-made orthotics prescribed accurately by a podiatrist? Was the cause of plantar fasciitis successfully addressed? Was other treatment programs used in conjunction with the orthotics? These are the important questions you have to ask yourself. Orthotics only form a part of successful plantar fasciitis treatment. Our podiatrists can assess your current orthotics and help provide you with other key treatment to help resolve your plantar fasciitis.
Ingrown Toenail Treatment
Ingrown toenails can be caused by trauma, poor nail cutting technique, poor fitting footwear and even poor foot mechanics. They can be caused by a single factor or a combination of factors.
No. Antibiotics are prescribed by a GP to treat infections secondary to an ingrown toenail. They will help clear infection but unless the offending nail spike is removed they will not cure an ingrown toenail and the toe will most likely get re-infected. Our Melbourne podiatrists can treat ingrown toenails by removing the nail spike and advise you if you need to see a GP to get antibiotics to treat secondary infections.
This can only be determined after an initial consultation and assessment with a podiatrist. Generally mild ingrown toenails treated early can resolve quickly without the need for ingrown toenail surgery. Chronic or severe ingrown toenails are almost always better resolved through nail surgery.
This will depend on the activity but generally speaking most patients find they can resume normal sporting activities 2 weeks after ingrown toenail surgery performed by our Melbourne podiatrists.
Podiatrists can perform simple but effective ingrown toenail surgery safely under local anaesthesia. The procedure is ‘walk in and walk out’ and performed at our Melbourne Foot Clinic. Podiatrists can also diagnose the cause of ingrown toenails whilst giving advice and treatment to help prevent their reoccurrence.
Nail Fungus Treatment
Your nail will often be discoloured with a yellow or brown appearance. There can be associated nail thickening and brittleness. It is important to remember that there are other conditions which can look like nail fungal infections so it is imperative you get your nails diagnosed first by one of our podiatrists.
Nail fungus can be caused by a number of factors including trauma, ill-fitting footwear, poor foot hygiene and tinea. The fungus then infects the skin underneath the nail plate causing a nail fungus infection.
Common nail fungus treatments include anti-fungal topical solutions, oral medication, laser treatment and photodynamic therapy.
No. Compared to other laser nail fungus treatments, PACT nail fungus therapy is relatively cheap. Only 5 podiatry consultations are required at our Melbourne Foot Clinic and the success rate is comparable to taking oral medication.
Topicals only have limited success and oral medication can cause a number of side effects including liver damage making it not suitable for everyone. Melbourne Podiatrists have a new state-of-the-art nail fungus treatment called PACT and its 100% safe. PACT nail fungus therapy uses photodynamic light to destroy nail fungal cells without any side effects.
Gait Analysis
Gait analysis is a diagnostic method for in-depth examination and assessment of the way we walk or run.
Yes. Our Melbourne Podiatrists use a computer gait analysis system called siliconCOACH. Using a treadmill, digital video and computer we can analyse your gait or running style frame by frame. Biomechanical faults are more easily detected and this greatly assists in detecting the cause of injuries.
For biomechanical assessment and gait analysis please bring appropriate clothing that can be easily pulled up above your knees. Also bring along your current walking/running shoes or any other shoes that may relate to your problem.
Orthotics
Orthotics are pre-manufactured or custom-made medical devices inserted into your footwear to improve foot function and lower leg alignment. Custom-made orthotics are professionally prescribed by a podiatrist to your specific needs.
All patients from children, adults to seniors can benefit from orthotics. They are designed to help your feet function better. This can help relieve pain from a number of foot and lower leg problems and are often used as part of plantar fasciitis treatment.
Pre-fabricated devices are made to only one standard foot shape hence they do not suit and support all foot types. For this reason they are often made out of soft materials, provide limited support and have a short life span.
Custom-made orthotics are prescribed by trained health professionals following thorough assessment of your foot problem, gait analysis and casting. They are more supportive, suit all foot types and can be made out of range of materials and thicknesses. Custom-made orthotics are custom-made to your feet and tailored to your individual needs.
Orthotics can be made from a range of materials that determine their rigidity. They can be soft, flexible, semi-flex, semi-rigid or rigid. Your podiatrist will conduct a thorough assessment of your biomechanics before determining which rigidity is right for you.
This is mostly determined by the type of orthotic, the material and the activity it is primarily used for. Custom-made and rigid orthotics will last longer than pre-fabricated and soft orthotics. Our podiatrists will advise you on the expected life span of your orthotics. Generally speaking, we recommend an orthotic assessment if your devices are over 5 years old.
If you are experiencing pain or discomfort from wearing your orthotics it’s time for an assessment. If you feel your orthotics are not supporting your arch adequately or you notice flattening or fatigue of the device then it’s also time to get them checked by one of the Melbourne Podiatrists in our foot clinic.
This is a common misconception. The only custom-made orthotics that are uncomfortable are the ones that have been incorrectly prescribed. Our podiatrists are experts in orthotic prescription and follow strict prescription guidelines. They have extensive experience with prescribing custom-made orthotics and through comprehensive assessment and follow up will ensure your orthotics are prescribed accurately.
No need to despair. Melbourne Podiatrists offer a range of orthotic options to suit your budget. Remember orthotics may only be part of the solution to your problem hence it is vital you undertake a thorough assessment and consultation at our foot clinic.
When you visit our foot clinic in Melbourne, bring along any previous pairs of orthotics you may have and relevant shoes that relate to your problem. For biomechanical assessment and gait analysis please bring appropriate clothing that can be easily pulled up above your knees.
Podiatrists are university trained in all aspects of orthotic therapy from biomechanical assessment and gait analysis to orthotic prescription and manufacture. They are also experts in diagnosis and treatment of problems that orthotics are often prescribed for.
Children’s Podiatrist
If you have a concern about your child’s feet, if you notice uneven shoe wear, an awkward gait or if your child experiences symptoms you should get them checked by a children’s podiatrist. It never hurts to get children’s feet checked even if you don’t suspect a problem. No age is too young and in most cases the only treatment is parent reassurance. Any treatment that is required will have better outcomes if implemented early. Our children’s podiatrists have experience working with children of all ages and can diagnose and treat all children’s foot problems.
Children can be affected by flat feet, in-toeing, knock knees, growing pains and a wide range of other issues. Most of them will naturally grow out of their condition, but if your child’s case seems more severe or is causing pain, we recommend a visit with one of our children’s podiatrists.
Yes. Our children’s podiatrists are experts in children’s orthotic prescription. Orthotics can help treat a number of common children’s problems including tired and aching legs, growing pains and severs disease.
Your child’s first steps is an ideal time to get their gait assessed by one of our children’s podiatrists. Age 3-4 is another key development age to get your child’s gait checked. By this age your child should have a more normal looking adult gait. The saddest words we often hear from parents are “I wish we brought our child in earlier for podiatry treatment.”
Sports Podiatrist
Athletes should visit a sports podiatrist if they are suffering from an acute or chronic lower leg sports injury or are concerned about their gait and foot function. Our sports podiatrists can help determine the cause of their lower leg injury using computer gait analysis and prescribe orthotics to help improve biomechanics. Injuries are more easily treated if diagnosed early. For example, plantar fasciitis treatment in athletes is more effective before it reaches a chronic stage.
No. Our sports podiatrists can directly refer for x-rays and ultrasound scans to help diagnose sports injuries and bone fractures.
By ensuring that an athlete has an optimal functioning gait, we avoid over straining the muscles and joints of the feet, ankles, shins and knees. Putting continuous strain on these parts of the lower legs can lead to chronic problems, stress fractures and even arthritis. Visit a sports podiatrist for a complete biomechanical assessment and gait analysis to detect any biomechanical faults today.
Custom-made orthotics prescribed by one of our sports podiatrists can help improve lower leg alignment and gait function. This will help reduce muscular fatigue and reduce the chance of injury.
There are many different types of running shoes to suit different foot types. Some are more cushioned and allow more movement whilst other are more rigid and prevent excess foot pronation. Our sports podiatrists can assess your feet and gait and advise you on the best type of running shoes to suit your feet.