A balancing act – all is not always what it seems

26 August 2015 - posted by Formthotics HQ

Robert* is a fit and active man in his early sixties. A regular at the gym, casual runner and part-time running coach. He presented as a referral after sustaining a mid-shaft 5th metatarsal fracture. An intramedullary screw fixation had been performed. The surgeon had given him the green light to return to activity and considered a podiatry review a good idea.

Running injury free and a little more ambitious (and see what he wears!) – physiotherapist Jeremy Duggan tells how

15 July 2015 - posted by Formthotics HQ

An active life no longer in pain

Stress fractures, shin splints, knee pain and hamstring strains. All injuries I have encountered in the past, but not the present. As an amateur athlete growing up through the 'olden days' (circa 1990s), there were copious amounts of stress put on my joints as I worked my way up the fitness ladder – from a child playing rounder’s to a 20-something year old in the division hockey finals.

Falls prevention and sloppy slippers

1 August 2014 - posted by Formthotics HQ

If you are over 65 years old, you have a one in three chance of falling this year. For people aged 80 and over, the risk increases to one in two (ACC, 2012). Read on to find out more about falls, how to prevent falls and what Resonance Podiatry© is doing to help.

By Anita Kay and Lisa Whiteman, Resonance Podiatry©, Podiatry and Gait labs, New Zealand

Falling over happens to the best of us and might just seem like an embarrassing inconvenience! However, injuries directly resulting from a fall are the leading cause of hospitalisation, and one of the top three causes of injury-related death, in New Zealand (ACC, 2012). Also the fear of having a fall can be debilitating and lead to severe restrictions in activity and social interaction.

Minimalist running shoes – what one should you choose?

6 June 2013 - posted by Rebecca Gifford

Right now there is a lot of interest in minimalist shoes and also barefoot running shoes. Most of the shoe companies now have a light, low support shoe aimed helping you to achieve a running technique that is more like running barefoot. The theory being that this is a more natural running style and should mean you are able to run faster with fewer injuries. So are these shoes and this theory right for you? And which shoe should you choose?

Does barefoot running really improve foot health and performance?

29 November 2011 - posted by Formthotics HQ

The issue of barefoot running is one that has gained quite a bit of traction in recent years, particularly since the release of Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall. McDougall researches the running techniques of ancient peoples and comes to the conclusion that humans are not naturally born to run in high-tech sports shoes. We wanted to explore if there is more to this story, and does the same principle apply to ‘flat-footed’ urban runners.

Sports Podiatrist Simon Wheeler uses Formthotics™ on his athletes

20 October 2011 - posted by Formthotics HQ

Simon Wheeler is a Sports Podiatrist, based at Active Health in Christchurch (formally at QEII). Simon is a preferred provider to High Performance Sport NZ, working with many elite NZ sportspeople from a  wide range of professional and amateur sports including rugby, football, triathlon, cycling, cricket and softball over the last 15 years.

Symptoms and causes of 3 common running injuries

25 May 2011 - posted by Formthotics HQ

If you suffer from recurring overuse injuries, you may be well accustomed to how to treat the symptoms.  However, you may not know as much about how to treat the causes of common running injuries.

Common questions about Plantar Fasciitis

11 May 2011 - posted by Formthotics HQ

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is an injury to the tendon (the plantar fascia) which is a band of fibrous tissue which supports the arch. This tendon is flexible but not elastic. When it becomes inflamed at its attachment to the heel bone this results in pain on the bottom of the heel and sometimes also under the arch of the foot. The pain is often described as feeling “like a stone bruise”. It’s on set is usually gradual and it is often worst in the morning or after sitting for long periods. 

What are the best orthotics for Plantar Fasciitis?

6 April 2011 - posted by Dr Charlie Baycroft

Plantar fasciitis is an injury caused by overuse (it’s especially common in runners). The injury presents as heel pain and sometime pain under the arch of the foot.

Do orthotics help with chronic ankle instability?

2 April 2011 - posted by Formthotics HQ

What is chronic ankle instability?

Chronic ankle instability is when the ankle often “gives”, causing the foot to roll outward. Typically, this instability occurs when running or walking especially on uneven terrain, though it can also occur standing still.