A balancing act – all is not always what it seems
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.
Read the full storyRunning injury free and a little more ambitious (and see what he wears!) – physiotherapist Jeremy Duggan tells how
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.
Read the full storyFalls prevention and sloppy slippers
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.
Read the full storyMinimalist running shoes – what one should you choose?
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?
Read the full storyDoes barefoot running really improve foot health and performance?
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.
Read the full storySports Podiatrist Simon Wheeler uses Formthotics™ on his athletes
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.
Read the full storySymptoms and causes of 3 common running injuries
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.
Read the full storyCommon questions about Plantar Fasciitis
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.
Read the full storyWhat are the best orthotics for Plantar Fasciitis?
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?
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.
Read the full story
