Podiatrists are considered the expert providers of orthotic treatments and biomechanical problems related to gait and the lower limbs. Daniel's extensive experience in Sports Medicine is probably what the clinic is most known for. Daniel treats the elderly, the very young, elite athletes, and the weekend warriors.

Orthotic treatments come in various forms including both firm and soft depending on the patient's needs and sports played. Prescription Orthotics involves a casting process and computer manufacturing of the orthotics by a leading Orthotics Laboratory. The Clinic also offers off-the-shelf devices which might be a viable option for children who are growing or for people who need minimal correction to foot posture.

Sports Podiatry is the arm of Podiatry focused on treating foot and lower limb conditions that arise as a result of exercise and sport, and includes people of all ages, amateur and professional athletes, and those that are just out to get fit. Soft tissue stretching, strengthening, and massage all make up part of the treatment regime in Daniel's treatment of injuries.

Daniel has vast experience with a variety of different sports including triathlon, running, football, soccer, hockey, basketball and netball. These sports are all high intensity and cross directional and cause significant stress on the feet.

Daniel also receives cross referrals from other health practitioners which are not just foot related, but include shin splints, recurrent calf injuries, achilles tendon injuries, knee and ITB pain, along with general heel, foot and ankle pains.

Nail surgery is a common procedure performed by the podiatrist to effectively treat an ingrown nail (onychocryptosis) . A ‘Partial Nail Avulsion’ (PNA) is performed under local anaesthetic to the toe to numb the toe in question. The offending portion of nail is cut away and taken out without the need to stitch. A chemical known as Phenol is then used to prevent the re-growth of the nail and thus providing a permanent solution to the problem.

The consultation for this procedure is 60 mins and there are usually 1-2 follow up visits to ensure everything has gone well and healing of the site is beginning to occur. This type of treatment is great for people whose ingrowing toenails reoccur.

A child's foot is not just a tiny version of an adult foot but a mixture of bone and cartilage. Foot shape is not determined until the teenage years, however arch profile can be seen around the age of 3 years. It is imperative that shoes are fitted correctly and any problems (no matter how small) are addressed before the foot is fully developed.

There are many conditions and sports injuries that Podiatrists will treat in the Paediatric population, therefore it's important that they are treated by podiatrists who are experienced with children. Common conditions treated are Sever's syndrome, in-toeing, toe walking, arch pain, warts, and nail pathology.

Many patients would wonder why their feet are important in the education of Diabetes. Through a complex physiological action the nerves and blood vessels can be affected with a prolonged elevation of glucose levels in the bloodstream. Your feet are supplied with blood to keep them healthy and have a large number of nerves to detect pain and act as an early warning system for potential injury. For example, if you have a rock/stone in your shoe, nerves will send a message to your brain to remove the stone and hence prevent injury to the feet.

Peripheral neuropathy is the term given to the feet where there is a reduced sensation usually starting at the toes. Reduced blood supply occurs when the middle layer of the arteries calcify, thus reducing blood flow to extremities. Nerve damage may mean that you no longer notice small objects like a stone in your shoe, due to loss of sensation to your feet. This could then lead to a wound or injury that you can’t feel, and a possible infection. If you have poor circulation, any injuries or infections to your feet, even seemingly minor, will take longer to heal as there is less blood flowing into the arteries in your feet. Blood provides energy to working muscles and aids in healing damaged or injured tissue. If you have poor circulation, you will need to take extra care to protect your feet from injury. Most foot problems in people who have diabetes occur when injuries, and often infections, go unnoticed and untreated, and when healing is delayed due to poor circulation.

Having your feet checked every 6-12 months will help detect changes early to minimise the chances of problems occurring. A diabetic foot assessment involves:

• Examining the circulation by feeling foot pulses
• Examining the nerves supplying your feet by testing your ability to detect vibration and light pressure
• Checking for any problems with foot posture that may be creating areas of excessive pressure

    in the form of corns and callous that may have the potential to develop into an ulcer
• Examining your footwear to ensure they are the correct shoe for your foot, ie supportive and correct

    fit
• Ensuring that there are no other problems with the nail and skin
• Determining what level of risk (high, moderate or low) you may be for developing foot problems

    related to diabetes and whether you need to be reviewed at closer intervals.

At Vermont Podiatry we recognise the importance that general foot care has in maintaining your mobility and comfort. We believe that the treatment of small problems often avoids more serious issues developing.

We offer care, advice and treatment for many different conditions and these include concerns with your toenails e.g. ingrown, thickened, discoloured or just simply difficult to manage. Corns and calluses are also common causes of foot pain and reduced mobility. They can usually be easily and painlessly removed by a Podiatrist.

We can provide thorough evaluation of skin conditions affecting the foot and provide comprehensive advice on the management. This includes common problems such as callous and corns. Correct footwear selection is often vital to active comfortable feet. We can provide advice with regard to choosing the appropriate shoe for your foot type and activities.