Could you benefit from including Podiatry in your NDIS plan?
Firstly, what is Podiatry?
Podiatry is an allied health profession trained in specifically treating the foot, ankle and lower limb.
Podiatry is covered under NDIS.
We work towards achieving your goals.
What things may a Podiatrist help me with?
- Nail and skin care
- Trimming of toenails. People may struggle to reach their feet, may have difficulty holding clippers safely due to altered fine motor skills, hand contractures, they may be unable to see their feet due to eyesight difficulties. There may be balance problems and therefore leaning over to do your own nail care is deemed unsafe and a falls risk.
- Discoloured toenails – this may be a sign of trauma and/or fungal infections. If left untreated this can lead to pain, infections, and ulcerations. Often, discoloured thick toenails are too thick and unsafe to trim yourself and this requires attention by a Podiatrist. We are also trained to diagnose and treat your fungal infection with the correct products and antifungal regime.
- Why is nail care important? It is important not only for your comfort but for your safety.
- Changes in nail and skin care can also be an result of altered lower limb mechanics. For example, a build up of hard skin (callous) in patients with cerebral palsy have increased callous on the outside of their foot due to equinovarus foot position (foot and ankle turning inwards).
- Wound care – our Podiatrists are highly trained and skilled in the treatment and assessment of wounds. We work closely with community nurses, GP’s, vascular specialists and high-risk hospital settings.
- Help with walking
- Ankle braces – we fit off the shelf and custom-made ankle braces. These can be used for a range of different conditions such as hypermobility to prevent ankle sprains, they can help reduce muscle fatigue and pain, help with foot drop and allow easier ground clearance of the affected foot and leg.
- Foot orthotics – there are a huge variety of reasons as to why and how orthotics can help with walking. For some patients, orthotics can help reduce foot and lower limb pain, help with balance and proprioception, prevent deformity from worsening, help with toe walking and sensory input, reduce callous build up and prevent wounds from forming.
- Ankle Foot Orthotics (AFO’s) – these assist with foot drop and help with ground clearance when walking.
- Footwear – finding the right shoes for your feet can be tricky. Our Podiatrists can measure your feet and recommend the appropriate size and style to suit you. We also have access to a range of different brands where we can fit you correctly. There are also styles with velcro where needed to help with ease of putting on. We can also bring these shoes to your home for a fitting or we can fit you in our clinic.
- Pain relief
- Your Podiatrist can assess the reason for pain in your lower limbs and if appropriate use a range of different interventions such as shockwave therapy, High Power Laser, joint mobilisations, dry needling and exercise prescription to help with this.
- Often, having the correct footwear and/or orthotics and braces can be a great way to take pressure off of particular joints in your legs, feet and lower back allowing for reduced pain and easier mobility and achieving your goals.
- Reducing fatigue in your legs and feet
- Similar to reducing pain in your lower limbs, fatigue is often a common complaint from patients. This is especially the case in patients with hypermobility as seen in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and other connective tissue disorders.
Could I benefit from Podiatry?
The short answer is yes! It is recommended by the Australian Podiatry association that everyone should have an annual foot check-up with their Podiatrist. There are so many things we can do to help with your feet, ankles and lower limbs.
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact our clinic.
Podiatrists also work closely with occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and any other health professionals you have on your team to ensure you are meeting your individual goals.