Sports Podiatry

What is Biomechanical Podiatry?

Biomechanics is that study of how the body moves. In podiatry, we use this study to determine how injuries develop and persist, and it is particularly helpful in active people during sports.

What level of athletes can we help with?

To date we have treated... 

  • World Champion Iron-women (Custom orthotics, ESWT for tendon injuries)

  • QBL Championship Winning Basketball players (Custom orthotics for Achilles tendonopathy, plantar fasciitis, chronic ankle injuries)

  • State League Netball players (ESWT for chronic achilles tendonopathy, FMT for chronic ankle injuries)

  • Ultra marathoners - up to 108 kilometre trail running events (Custom carbon fibre orthotics for light weight in trail running shoes, chronic hamstring injuries)

  • Hundred of young school aged athletes, playing soccer, football (rubgy league and rugby union), hockey, netball, basketball, cricket, athletics, dance, martial arts, you name it!

  • Thousands of adults training for fitness, fun, and friendship.

If you fit anywhere in this group of athletes and you have foot or leg pain limiting you in any way, we are here to help you!

When to seek treatment?

If you are having pain during or after sports or training, you should come see us for a full evaluation of your foot and leg function. 

Acute vs Overuse Injuries

A sports injury may be categorized as an acute injury or an overuse injury, depending on the cause of injury and the onset of symptoms.

Acute Injury may be due to extrinsic causes, such as a direct blow from a player or equipment, or intrinsic causes such as a ligament sprain or muscle tear. Therefore, acute injuries occur suddenly, the pain (or symptoms) start instantly, and in a lot of cases these injuries are out of the players control or ‘freaky’ injuries.

Examples of Acute injuries include:

  • Bone fracture (especially the tibia or fibula of the lower leg) or bone bruising

  • Ligament (sprain, tear or rupture) – commonly ankle or ACL of knee

  • Muscle (strain or tear) – commonly calf or hamstring

  • Tendon (partial or complete tear) – commonly hamstring or achilles tendon

Overuse injuries do not occur from an acute injury (such as an ankle sprain or a blow from a ball), but instead have a slow onset of pain. To treat an overuse injury properly, the underlying cause needs to be determined. The cause can usually be divided into extrinsic factors such as increasing training load, training surfaces, poor footwear, equipment and environmental conditions; or intrinsic factors such as muscle imbalance, lack of flexibility, structural malalignment such as knock knees or collapsed feet.

Common overuse injuries include:

  • Sever’s Disease and Osgood Schlatters Disease

  • Shin pain

  • Patella-femoral joint pain (or pain under the knee cap)

  • Iliotibial Band Syndrome

  • Achilles Tendinopathy

  • Plantar Fasciitis

  • Metatarsalgia

  • Stress fractures

  • Generalised fatigued muscles or ‘growing pains‘ in children

How to treat Overuse Injuries

Treatment of overuse injuries may include rest from aggravating activity and physical therapy (ice, massage, stretching and anti-inflammatory medication) similar to acute injuries. Overuse injuries often indicate there is an underlying cause that needs to be addressed so the problem can be resolved completely and does not reoccur.

Don’t let those niggly injuries stop you from reaching your fitness goals, give Pioneer Podiatry a call today!