About Rebecca
Rebecca Rushton is the podiatrist behind Esperance Podiatry. She graduated from Curtin University in 1993 and has looked after Esperance feet since 2000.
Experience
Rebecca Rushton, podiatrist, Esperance
Rebecca began her career as a visiting podiatrist in the Central Wheatbelt (where she grew up), Great Southern and South East Coastal regions of WA. After five years in the country, she spent two years working as a locum in Perth, then moved permanently to Esperance in 2000. Rebecca serviced the towns of Norseman and Ravensthorpe for 15 years and the Esperance Aged Care Facility for 20 years. Nowadays, she works exclusively from her rooms at 116 Dempster St.
In more than 30 years of practice, Rebecca has cared for everyone from babies with curly toes and children with growing pains, to athletes with heel pain to older people who want to stay on their feet and remain independent. Rebecca enjoys every part of podiatry, and believes pain-free, healthy feet are a necessity, not a luxury.
A special interest in friction blisters
Rebecca's special interest is the management of friction blisters, particularly in endurance activities. It started with her own blister-prone feet and grew into more than a decade of clinical, educational and research work.
In the field. Rebecca has volunteered as a podiatrist at many multi-day ultramarathons, where foot blisters are the most common injury. Treating hundreds of blistered feet under race conditions taught her what works, what doesn't, and why.
Educating others. She founded the Blister Prevention website and the BlisterPod brand to share practical, evidence-based blister advice with runners, hikers and other active people. She continues to teach podiatrists and sports medicine practitioners about blister prevention and management through her role as Clinical Director at Blister Prevention.
Research. Rebecca has published peer-reviewed research on friction blisters. This includes two 2024 papers in the Journal of Athletic Training, co-authored with US podiatrist Dr Douglas Richie. The first proposed a new explanation of how foot blisters form: repeated shear within the skin, rather than rubbing at the surface. The second critically reviewed the evidence for common prevention strategies.
What this means for you: If you're training for a marathon, ultra, multi-day hike, or footy or netball season is about to start, or any sport where blisters keep stopping you in your tracks, Rebecca can help you work out why they happen and build a prevention plan that suits your feet, footwear and event. Read more about friction blisters.
Not in Esperance? Rebecca also offers blister telehealth consultations to active people anywhere in Australia or overseas.
Publications
Rushton R, Richie D. Friction blisters of the feet: a new paradigm to explain causation. J Athl Train. 2024;59(1):1–7. doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0309.22
Rushton R, Richie D. Friction blisters of the feet: a critical assessment of current prevention strategies. J Athl Train. 2024;59(1):8–21. doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0341.22
Rushton RJ. Exploring the mechanism for blister prevention using moleskin. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2020;19(11):451–453. doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0000000000000768
Qualifications and memberships
Bachelor of Science (Podiatry), Curtin University, 1993
Registered podiatrist, Podiatry Board of Australia (AHPRA registration number POD0001581293)
Member, Australian Podiatry Association
Member, Sports Medicine Australia
Book an appointment
No referral is needed. Call (08) 9072 1514 or visit us at Suite B, 116 Dempster Street, Esperance.
