Sports and running podiatry in Esperance
Whether you're training for your first parkrun, a marathon or a multi-day trek, or you play weekend football, netball, tennis or golf, your feet and legs take a lot of load. When something starts to hurt, the aim is to work out why, keep you as active as possible while it settles, and get you back to full training safely.
Rebecca has a special interest in sports podiatry and endurance athletes. She has volunteered as a podiatrist at multi-day ultramarathons, and has published research on preventing foot blisters in active people.
Who we see
Runners, from beginners to marathon and ultra runners
Walkers and hikers, including people training for multi-day treks
Team sport players: football, netball, basketball, hockey, soccer
Racquet sports, golf, cycling and gym-goers
Children and teenagers in sport (read more about children's feet)
People returning to exercise after a break, injury or surgery
Common problems we help with
Achilles tendon pain, shin splints, ankle sprains and knee pain
Ball of foot pain, including stress reactions and sesamoid pain
Toe pain, including black or bruised toenails from running downhill or in shoes that are too small
Flat feet and foot posture-related pain
Footwear fit and selection
What your assessment includes
Rebecca will talk with you about your symptoms, your activity and training (how much, how often and what's changed recently), any past injuries and your goals. She'll then:
examine your feet, ankles and legs, including strength, flexibility and joint movement
watch you walk and, where relevant, run on a treadmill
check your footwear, including the shoes you train and compete in, and your leisure footwear
explain what's causing the problem, and agree on a plan that fits your training and your event dates
How we can help
Load management
Most sports injuries or aches and pains are related to doing more than your tissues are ready for. Rather than stopping completely, we'll work out how much you can do now, what to change, and how to build back up with targeted exercises that you will progress through as you improve. The aim is to strengthen the tissue that’s been overloaded, whether it’s a tendon, ligament, muscle or bone, so the same injury is less likely to come back.
Footwear advice
Some symptoms and injuries are highly affected by the properties of the shoes you wear, both during your sport and in your everyday life. Bring your current shoes, and Rebecca can tell you whether they're helping or hindering.
Orthotics
We keep a large range of ready-made orthotics that can be fitted on the day, and also offer custom orthotics and carbon fibre plates. Read more on our orthotics page.
Taping and bracing
To protect an injury and help you keep training, or to prevent repeat ankle sprains.
Skin and nail care
Corns, callus and damaged toenails can stop you in your tracks. We treat them, and help you prevent them coming back.
Blister prevention and treatment
Blisters are one of the most common reasons runners and hikers stop, and they’re often preventable. Rebecca’s published research showed that blisters are caused by repeated shear within the skin, not just rubbing at the surface, and that changes how they’re best prevented. If blisters keep stopping you, Rebecca can build a prevention plan for your feet, footwear and event. Read more about friction blisters.
Preparing for an event
Training for an event or the start of the season, or worried a niggle might hold you back? Book in as early as possible if you’d like
a footwear and foot check
time to wear in new shoes or orthotics
a blister prevention plan
callus and toenail care well ahead of race day (not the day before)
When to see a podiatrist
Book in if:
pain is stopping you from training, or keeps coming back
pain is getting worse rather than better as you train
you keep getting blisters, black toenails or losing toenails
you're starting a new sport or stepping up your training or exercise, and have had problems before
you have a niggle and you want to be proactive with it so it doesn’t hold you back
you have an event coming up and want your feet ready
Book an appointment
No referral is needed. Please bring the shoes you train and compete in, and any orthotics you use.
Call (08) 9072 1514 or visit us at Suite B, 116 Dempster Street, Esperance.