Flexible joints, sports injuries & netball: What it means for you

Yep, if you’re very flexible and you’ve found that you sustain more injuries during sport than your fellow teammates, you’d be right. And it’s got nothing to do with accidents or clumsiness – the structure of your joints and tissues is actually putting you at a higher risk! This blog is for all adults and parents of kids that are very flexible, or ‘hypermobile’ as we classify it, and we’ll give you the low-down on WHY this is the case, WHAT the studies have found and HOW you can reduce the risk of injury specifically in one of our favourite sports, netball.

The low-down on hypermobility

Joint hypermobility, or joint laxity, can be defined as having joints that exceed the normal range of motion for that joint. Without getting into the exact degrees that are and aren’t normal for every joint, just ask yourself this: can you twist or move your joints past what looks normal and get comments from others about how flexible you are (without stretching and working hard to be that flexible)? If you answered YES on behalf of yourself or your child, then there’s a good chance that you or they may be hypermobile.

While hypermobility can serve for many cool party tricks and make you naturally talented when it comes to gymnastics, it also brings with it some significant challenges. These are around the increased prevalence of injuries both during sport and everyday life. Because the joints allow for a broader range of movement, there is a higher chance that the bones may move out of place within the joint (subluxation), dislocate or sprain.

Clinical studies have proved increased injury rates in hypermobility

Studies have already shown the significant injury rates in Netball in Australia, and hypermobility has also been studied in relation to Netball injuries. The findings of a 2005 study that examined 200 netball players in Australia showed that there was a statistically significant relationship between self-reported injuries and the presence of hypermobility, with 35% sustaining an injury while playing (Smith et al., 2005).

Other studies that have looked at the greatest risk factors for injury in non-elite netball did not identify hypermobility as a risk, instead identifying them as not warming up before the game and not being open to new ideas (McManus et al., 2006). This means that while having hypermobility can make you more susceptible to injury, there are numerous other factors that can also increase your injury risk.

The implications for us and you

The good news is that if you know you have hypermobile joints then you can work on specific training techniques that work on strengthening the framework around joints, particularly those that are often injured in netball such as the ankle. Better yet – we can help you do that and form a pre-season strengthening and training plan specific to you, your level of activity and the range of motion you have in your joints. We can also use other supports to reduce your risk of injury and give you greater stability and control during play, such as:

• Strapping
• Bracing and guards
• Orthotics
• Specific supportive footwear

Combined with good warm-ups and cool-downs and other identified risk factors for injury in netball, you’ll be doing the best by your feet and joints for the game. This’ll help not only in netball, but also during other sporting activities that use similar motions (such as quick side to side movement and rapid changes in direction is soccer), as well as during everyday life – such as spraining your ankle on the sidewalk.

A final note from a podiatrist with joint hypermobility syndrome

Our final note as a podiatrist that is very much hypermobile is that the implications of not looking after and strengthening your joints can be significant and should be taken seriously. It takes time and effort to strengthen joints, especially around the foot and ankle, but is well worth it to avoid painful injuries that may have long-term consequences. Footwear is also something that should be invested into, as good shoes are a fantastic support to very mobile feet and give lots of stability to the ankle.

If you’ve got hypermobility and are worried about the effects not only for netball but other sports or activities, give our team a call on 1300-FX-FEET. We’d love to help you perform at your best and reduce your risk of injury. You can also book online here.

Plantar Fascitis and Low-Level Laser Therapy in Melbourne

One of the most common forms of foot pain in adults is that of chronic heel pain. The heel bone gets too much pressure and stress as it is the largest bone in the foot, and then it is also the first part of the foot that contacts the ground while any activity like walking or running. Typically, as the foot absorbs the weight of the body during any activity, the arch area joint locking mechanism provides as much as 80% of the stability to the foot. The remaining 20% of biomechanical stability is provided by the plantar fascia and muscles, ligaments and tendons. Any abnormality tends to cause inflammation of the structures attached to the heel bone that results in heel pain.

According to health experts, eighty percent (80%) of heel pain is caused by plantar fasciitis, with 10% of the world population at the risk of being afflicted by it over a lifetime. A considerable number of patients are treated for plantar fasciitis each year in Melbourne. It is more common in women than men especially those aged 40-60 years.

Plantar fasciitis is a chronic heel pain that is a result of small tears and inflammation in the wide band of tendons and ligaments that stretch from the heel to the ball of the foot. This band is the arch of our foot that is known to be a shock absorber for the body. Some of the most common causes of plantar fasciitis include poor footwear, sedentary lifestyles, obesity and sports injuries. Symptoms of plantar fasciitis are a pain at the bottom of the heel on weight bearing, particularly early in the morning, and after a prolonged period of rest.

There have been many conservative treatment options for plantar fasciitis that include rest, stretching, strengthening, massage, physical therapy, orthotics and shoe inserts, etc. and it is usually after these conservative treatments fail that podiatrists treat the condition through surgical release or removal of the plantar fascia. However, the conservative approaches are usually less effective whereas the plantar fascia surgery has significant complications.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is the solution to this problem as it offers a quick, painless, non-invasive, side-effect free alternative to relieve the debilitating pain of plantar fasciitis. On being applied to injuries and lesions, low-level laser light has resulted in stimulating healing and reducing the pain by accelerating the speed, quality, and strength of tissue repair and reduction in inflammation as well.

Low-level laser therapy in Melbourne has found to be particularly effective over other standard treatments for relieving pain and other symptoms associated with chronic problems and injuries. Sole Motion Podiatry is a Laser Pain Clinic in Point Cook that is known to be incredibly impactful in treating the complete system of targeted muscles, tendons, ligaments, connective tissue, bone, nerve, and dermal tissues of the feet. They believe that excellent foot care gives their patients the freedom to live the life that they love and that is the driving force behind everything they do.

Are You Making Your Heel Pain & Foot Injuries Worse?

Heel pain is frustrating. At times, you can feel the tenderness with every single step you take. It can be severely limiting to your daily activities at home and work, and to life in general. It’s no surprise then, that when heel pain develops, our patients are after the same thing – to get rid of it as fast as possible.

This is absolutely our goal for you too, and we put everything in place to help make this happen and address both your symptoms and the causes of your heel pain too. Whether you have plantar fasciitis, a tendinopathy, a bursitis, a capsulitis or any problem that’s causing you heel/foot pain, we’ve got the treatment solutions to have your injury fixed, and reduce the chance of your injury recurring again in the future.

Unfortunately, there ARE things you may be doing that are worsening your injury and resulting in a longer healing and recovery time than either of us would like for you. We thought we’d highlight the top FOUR common mistakes so you can stay on track to your best recovery.

1. DON’T TAKE THE PAIN OR SYMPTOMS SERIOUSLY EARLY ON

It is a common tendency these days, especially in the early stages of injury, to brush off any niggles or tenderness in the thought that it will just go away on its own. It’s not until the pain becomes severe, or has persisted for over a month, that it begins to be taken seriously and with greater care. 

Unfortunately, by the time the pain is severe or long-standing, the injury will be much worse than when you first felt it. This means a much longer recovery, much to your (and our) frustration. An example of this is a mild case of plantar fasciitis that progresses to a plantar fascial tear when proper care isn’t taken.

We know it’s easy to think that when a tenderness or mild pain comes on during running or an activity, that it’ll go away just as quickly as it came on. The truth is that for pain to occur, that muscle or tissue will have been overloaded and pushed past its limits for some time now, until it has been too much and damage has occurred. As it’s left untreated, the injury worsens and becomes more serious (and painful).

The lesson: Listen to your body when pain, tenderness or niggles occur, and manage it effectively so that it doesn’t worsen.

2. KEEP DOING THE ACTIVITIES THAT CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THE INJURY

This links into the last point in that when you don’t take an injury seriously, you don’t take it easy, rest properly, or stop doing the activities that led to your injury in the first place.

Because most non-traumatic, overuse injuries are linked to certain activities that are done regularly and repetitively, failing to rest and continuing with regular activities will cause further damage and leave you with an even longer recovery time. This may be a sporting activity, or just a high-load activity like always choosing the stairs at work.

We understand that for many people, accepting that they are truly ‘injured’ when they haven’t been to the hospital or have a cast on is difficult, and so they try to keep life and daily activities as normal as possible. The truth is that you DO have a serious injury and we haven’t put a cast on for both your quality of life and because we’ll gradually introduce movement and range of motion exercises into your treatment plan, which won’t work with a cast.

The lesson: If your podiatrist tells you to stop doing certain activities, stop them. If you want to recover optimally and in a timely manner, that is. Your daily activities will change but only until you recover. The time it takes for recovery will depend on what you do, and don’t do, in this time.

3. CONSTANTLY TAKE ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES AND PAINKILLERS FOR A PROLONGED TIME

While anti-inflammatories and painkillers have a role to play in helping to manage painful symptoms in the initial stages of recovery, they cannot be continually relied upon throughout the weeks of recovery (unless indicated by your GP). Doing so, may actually have a detrimental effect. There are two reasons for this:

While decreasing inflammation helps settle painful symptoms, inflammation is an essential part of the healing and repair process. When an area is inflamed, blood is directed to the area and with it come oxygen and nutrients necessary for tissue repair and healing.

If you’re constantly taking painkillers, you may ‘feel’ better than you are, and start using your foot and heel normally as you cannot feel the pain so much. This can actually cause further damage and result in a longer recovery time. Pain on certain movements is our body’s way of telling us not to do that movement because it involves the damaged tissues/structures.

The lesson: Painkillers and anti-inflammatories definitely play a role in helping manage painful symptoms in the initial stages of injury, but if you’re taking them longer than 3-5 days following your injury, check with your GP.

4. DON’T DO YOUR STRETCHES AND PHYSICAL THERAPY REGULARLY

During your treatment at the appropriate times through your recovery, we’ll prescribe a series of stretching/strengthening exercises for you to complete daily. This is something that some patients can struggle with, and unfortunately, this is much to their detriment.

These exercises are given to you because sufficient repair has occurred that you can safely handle the exercises, and because your tissues, joints or muscles will have weakened and lost some flexibility/range of motion as you have been recovering. This makes you vulnerable to re-injury (and susceptible to other injuries) if we don’t get you back to your healthy and strong pre-injury state. This is what these exercises are designed to do and doing them as prescribed will mean the best short and long-term recovery.

The lesson: Make time for your exercises, even if that means setting a reminder or alarm on your phone. If you’re struggling to complete the exercises due to pain or other limitations, talk to your Podiatrist as they will have alternative versions for you to do instead.

The good news is that you’ve already done the best first step and sought treatment quickly. Often patients wait weeks, if not months, before seeking professional care in the hopes that the pain will just go away on its own. Unfortunately, even if the pain does resolve, the improper healing of the tissues leave the area weakened and vulnerable to future re-injury.

Our expert team at Sole Motion Podiatry specialise in helping you recover from lower limb injuries and get back to doing the things you love. Whether you have a new or long-standing injury, we’d love to help you feel your best. To book in, give our expert team a call on 1300-FX-FEET

Source:  Ankle Care Clinic Altona Meadows, Ankle specialists Point Cook

Recovering From Injury : How long does it really take?

“How long will it take to heal?” is a question that we, alongside every other health practitioner, hear many times a day when diagnosing a condition or talking to patients about their recovery. And rightly so – It’s important that you know what you can expect and be able to plan the following weeks or months around your recovery.

Unfortunately, overly-optimistic perceived recovery times is a common trend we’ve noticed over the last years and after some research can conclude that this seems to be the case across numerous healthcare disciplines, injuries and procedures. Because recovering slower than perceived can have a significant negative impact on a person’s mental, emotional and physical health, we thought we’d talk about WHY these variances in recovery can occur and what you can expect from us here at Sole Motion Podiatry.

 WHY ARE THERE LARGE DISCREPANCIES IN RECOVERING FROM THE SAME INJURY?

It all begins with being able to receive so much information from so many sources about recovery. With so many statistics on-hand at the touch of a screen, we are constantly being surrounded with this information (if we look for it) without considering whether it is specific to us and our personal circumstances.

If you look for it online, you’ll undoubtedly find someone that recovered from their tendinopathy or muscle strain in just two weeks, as opposed to the recommended 6-8 weeks. For patients, this can plant the seed for a very optimistic recovery time.

The truth is that just because you and the person next to you both have ‘plantar fasciitis’ or ‘achilles tendinopathy’, does not mean your injury is the same or that you will experience the same recovery process. That blanket term for your injury provides no detail on:

• The extent of the damage to your tendon, muscle, joint or ligament
• If a tear is present, and if so, how big the tear is
• Whether the injury is an acute one-off injury or it has been building up and weakening over many months
• What bio-mechanical, physical and other factors are contributing to the development of your injury (and contributing to its progression and future recurrence)
• Your muscle strength, previous injuries, the composition of tissues and bones that will affect your recovery process
• Your overall health and body’s ability to efficiently heal and repair
• Anatomical and biomechanical variances that may slow down or speed up your recovery

And the list can go on. The reality is that you are unique, your injury is unique, and while we can give you a general idea of a recovery time, your personal recovery process will be unique, and you can’t compare yourself to anyone else – especially people you know nothing about online other than that they have an injury in a similar area to you. This is also why estimated recovery periods can be so broad (much to the patient’s displeasure), such as saying approximately 12 – 16 weeks.

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT YOUR CHOSEN TREATMENT

While different treatment options may also present significant variances in recovery time, there’s also a lot more to the story. When two patients undergo the same treatment for their injuries, even though their injuries may have differing levels of seriousness and differing causes, they will also approach their treatment differently. You will differ in:

• How much time you are spending resting the foot
• The measures you take to offload your injury
• The time spent icing, protecting, compressing and elevating the foot
• The daily adherence to strengthening, stretching and physical therapy exercises
• How closely you adhere to each component of your treatment plan
• How quickly you return to physical activity

The way you approach the above will result in varying recovery times, even if all the other factors were relatively similar. While we provide you with all the information and treatment modalities you need for optimal recovery, it is your actions that will impact how effectively and efficiently your recovery goes.

This is why it’s always important to follow the advice of your health practitioner carefully, and listen to their estimation of your recovery time, which will take into consideration your personal circumstances.

REMEMBER

To recover from pain is relatively quick and easy, but to recover from injury and get your muscles and tissues back to their full functioning capacity takes MUCH longer.

For more information on how to maximise your recovery and get back to your best, give our fantastic Podiatry Specialists a call on 1300-FX-FEET. We are not only experts in the field of sports medicine, but are equipped with leading technology, such as the THOR laser, to speed up the repair and recovery of various musculoskeletal injuries and tendinopathies.

Bunions & Bunionettes: How to stop them in their tracks!

Bunions are the primary cause of foot (and footwear!) troubles for both women and men alike. They can be unsightly, painful, and make the simple task of choosing well-fitting footwear nearly impossible. What’s worse is that bunions (and bunionettes) progressively worsen over time, meaning the frustration you feel now will only be amplified as the years go on. So what can you do about bunions & bunionettes – and how did they even come about in the first place?! The Sole Motion team talk bunions!

WHAT EXACTLY IS A BUNION AND A BUNIONETTE?

Medically known as Hallux Abducto Valgus (HAV), the term ‘bunion’ describes a bony bulge that develops on the inside of the big toe at the ball of the foot. The bump is caused by a malaligned position of the big toe joint where the long bone (metatarsal) moves out towards the other foot, and the connecting toe (phalanx) bends in on it, toward the other toes.

A bunionette is similar to a bunion but affects the little (fifth) toe at the ball of the foot. A bunionette is smaller than a bunion and is also known as a tailor’s bunion because of their historical prevalence among tailors who regularly worked sitting cross-legged with the side of the fifth toe rubbing against the ground.

WHAT CAUSES THESE BUMPS TO DEVELOP?

The causes of bunions and bunionettes, but generally come down to increased pressure on the sides of the joints that push the toe bones inwards, and the joint itself outwards. Causes may include:

·         Poorly fitting footwear, especially shoes with pointed toes

·         Abnormal foot biomechanics, such as instability at the joints at the ball of the foot

·         Regularly wearing high heels

·         Flat feet

·         Genetic predisposition

·         Increasing age

·         History of injury to the big and little toe joints

·         Arthritic conditions

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS?

The biggest sign is the change in appearance (protrusion) of the big and little toe joints. You may also experience:

·         Redness

·         Swelling

·         Pain at the big and little toe joint

·         Thickened skin and/or corns around the affected joint

·         Pain on bending the toe

·         Difficulty wearing shoes, especially if they are narrow at the toes

As bunions and bunionettes progressively worsen, the affected toe may push into the neighbouring toes. Over time, the toes may begin to overlap.

HOW SHOULD THEY BE TREATED?

Early intervention is the key to stopping bunions and bunionettes in their tracks. It is much easier to manage a bunion or bunionette that is still relatively flexible and has recently begun changing shape/position, as opposed to one that is fixed in place and has been present for decades. Once they become fixed in place, the symptoms can be managed and reduced, though it is very difficult to alter the position and structure of the deformed joint.

The first thing we do here at Sole Motion Podiatry is conduct a thorough examination of your foot and determine if there are any other biomechanical factors/abnormalities in play aside from the presence of the bunion/bunionette. We want to address any contributing factors to limit any similar future changes of the joints.

Concurrent conditions such as arthritis, if present in the joint, may alter the best treatment options for your feet, and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. If painful symptoms are present, resting and icing the foot can help offer relief. Depending on the severity of the changes to the joint, we may use the following tools in the treatment of your bunion:

·         Footwear assessment to ensure your shoes are helping and not hindering your bunion/bunionette

·         Orthotics to correct any abnormal foot biomechanics and relieve pressure away from the first or fifth toes

·         Splinting where appropriate

·         Padding

·         Mobilisation techniques

·         Stretching and strengthening where appropriate

·         Low-level laser to reduce any pain/swelling where present

We will run through everything you need to know to address your bunion/bunionette appropriately now and get the best long-term outcomes as we slow down and limit any future progression, where appropriate. In severe cases, where symptoms or the deformation is not reducible, surgery may be indicated. We’ll talk you through all of this and answer any questions you may have.

Here at Sole Motion Podiatry, we’re a team of experts that specialise in foot biomechanics and helping you overcome any pains, problems and obstacles so you can be on your feet and enjoying the activities you love. We understand how disheartening and frustrating foot issues can be, and are with you every step of the way. To find out more or to book in, give our friendly team a call on 1300-FX-FEET.

To see what’s happening around our clinic, check out our Facebook page here.

Pilates & Podiatry: How Pilates can help your feet!

Every day the team here at Sole Motion Podiatry have the privilege of helping patients with pain and injury in their feet and legs. Almost always, part of the treatment and prevention strategy will include components of stretching and strengthening. Often, it is actually weak or tight muscles that cause the problem to develop in the first place. Either way, it’s an important step.

Unfortunately, because a majority of foot problems make it difficult to walk and bear weight on the feet, it can make following a stretching and strengthening plan difficult. So today, we thought we’d focus on an activity that can help you regain your strength and flexibility while you recover from your injury: Pilates!


Pilates is great for both stretching and strengthening
It doesn’t need to be said that Pilates is great for both stretching and strengthening. Depending on the class you take, a large component of pilates typically involves static stretching – the kind that moves your joints and muscles through their full range of motion and pushes them past that to improve long-term flexibility. Pilates can also have an element of repeated movements, or dynamic stretches, which work to warm up and loosen joints. These get you ready for the day ahead and reduce the risk of injury throughout your day.


Pilates doesn’t require standing on injured feet
Pilates exercises are often done in a non-weight bearing (off your feet) or with not a great deal of pressure on your feet, so are ideal when you want to avoid pressure away from injured bones and structures. Exercises that may aggravate your injury are relatively easily adjusted to conduct the same movement but without the pressure. This means you recover faster while gaining the strength and flexibility you need.


Pilates allows you to focus in on your muscles and technique
Usually, when we carry out movements and activities, there is so much going on at the same time and we’re having input from so many senses that it can be difficult to focus in on the goal. The relaxed nature of pilates allows our brain to really hone in on the muscle or joints that we are working, and allow us to really feel any weakness or tightness present. This gives us a greater opportunity to focus on our technique and get our alignment right, so we get the most out of these exercises.


Your feet aren’t affected by shoes
Shoes have a great influence on the alignment of our feet and legs when we’re on our feet, and may make it more difficult for us to perform certain target movements. Stretching and strengthening without our shoes means we can carry out more precise movements, such as the curling of our toes and the inwards/outwards movement of our feet without being restricted by the tops of our shoes around our ankles.


Pilates is great for your whole body
As an added benefit we’ll add that while pilates is great for the feet and legs, you’re also working your whole body at the same time. When we treat your feet and legs, we always think of your whole body and the impact from your feet up. Maintaining good overall body conditioning and strength will help reduce your risk of injury in the future and will generally help you to feel better!

After years of treating foot and leg pain, we understand how difficult it can be to follow your rehab plan when you’re in pain, and we believe this is a great solution. To find out more about what strengthening and stretching exercises are best for your injury, give our expert podiatry team a call on 1300 – FIX – FEET. You’ll be able to take the exercises we prescribe to your pilates session and we can show you the most effective ways of integrating them in.

For a recommendation on a great pilates instructor in the area, we highly recommend Julie Ojeda from Pilates Nation. You can also check out her Facebook and Instagram! And while you’re there – don’t forget to have fun and say hi from us!

Justin & the team at Sole Motion Podiatry
Source: 

Podiatry Clinic Point Cook

Laser therapy or cortisone – which is better?

If you’ve ever damaged a muscle, tendon, ligament or joint, you’ll know how incredibly painful and frustrating it can be. When the injury is in the area of your feet or legs, you feel it with every step you take. It can stop you from carrying out even the simplest daily activities and household chores. It can interfere with your ability to work, and importantly, your ability to spend time with your family and those you care about.

In that moment, you just want something – anything – to ease the pain. Low level laser therapy (LLLT) and cortisone injections are two of the main options you may consider. But what’s the real difference between the two and which is better? Here are five facts that you need to consider.

1. Cortisone inhibits healing, laser promotes it

Cortisone impairs the healing process, meaning it’ll take longer for your injury to heal. This is because cortisone works by reducing inflammation at an injured area. Inflammation is our body’s response to injury and a cause of pain. It is also the process by which the body heals and repairs itself. Inflammation directs blood flow to the injured area which carries the materials our cells need for regeneration and repair. Because cortisone limits the inflammatory process, it impacts the rate at which the body repairs the injured area.

Laser, on the other hand, promotes healing and repair. It works by a photochemical process which affects the tissues at a cellular level. This results in:

Faster wound healing
Rapid cell growth
Less scar tissue formation
Improved circulation
Reduced swelling
Stimulated nerve function

2. Cortisone puts you at risk of causing further injury, laser doesn’t

The pain-relieving effects that cortisone is most used for can be effective, but do nothing to repair the injury, instead merely masking the symptoms. During this pain-free time, you begin to use the injured tendon or area as you normally would if it was uninjured. It’s easy to do when you don’t feel any pain and so don’t know that a particular action is actually causing further strain and damage to the injured site. This means you are left off with more damage than when you started, which you’ll then feel once the cortisone wears off.

Laser doesn’t mask the symptoms like cortisone, so your body still ‘guards’ against movements and positions that’ll cause further injury and pain. Paired with the enhanced healing effects of laser, you don’t have that same risk (or any risk if you’re careful) of worsening your injury.

3. Cortisone will wear off, the effects of laser are long-term
The effects of cortisone are short-lived and temporary. Various researchers have unanimously described cortisone as “a short-term treatment of a chronic problem”. Many studies and physicians agree that the duration of pain relief cannot be guaranteed above two months. The length of time can vary greatly between patients and are influenced by the overall health, the amount of inflammation and its cause. Generally speaking, the effects of cortisone can last from several days to several months. It is the hope that in this time, the body will have repaired enough to relieve symptoms once the cortisone has worn off. However, for many of our patients, this is not the case, and their pain persists.

Laser, on the other hand, works by stimulating healing and repair to deliver the best long-term results. Its focus is on getting the body to efficiently repair the injury and get the affected tissues back to full strength and function. Therefore, while it may not deliver the same numbing effects as cortisone initially, it delivers the better long-term results by a mile and keeps your overall strength and health as a priority.

4. Cortisone has many potentially harmful side effects, laser has none
Cold laser therapy has no harmful side effects, with the FDA finding no red flags or adverse effects, other than just needing to avert your eyes from the infrared light of the laser. This makes it the perfect option for those that are health conscious.

Unfortunately, cortisone does come with a long list of harmful side effects. These range from weakening the tendons and cartilage in the injected area, to “cortisone flares” in 2% of patients, to infections at the injection site. Cortisone also impairs healing, encourages more scar tissue formation, inhibits growth hormone release, impairs calcium uptake in bone, to name a few.

5. Laser has shown superior results to cortisone in clinical studies
Research into various tendinopathies and conditions conclude that while cortisone provides pain-relief in the short-term, their effectiveness has not been demonstrated long-term. Laser has repeatedly shown positive clinical results and efficacy in the short, medium and long-term. It is described as a “promising and consistent treatment for tendinopathies”. It has shown to boost the effectiveness of strengthening exercises and other treatment modalities.

In our clinical experience at Sole Motion Podiatry, we find laser therapy to be superior to cortisone in producing the best long-term outcomes for our patients. Our focus is on delivering the most effective, safe and pain-free results for our patients, and laser therapy achieves all of this and more. We love the results that laser therapy achieves and have seen countless patients back on their feet and out of pain much faster than expected. We successfully manage a range of conditions including tendinopathies, ligament strains and even arthritic pain.

For more information about the laser or to book an appointment, give us a call on 1300-FX-FEET!
References:
Clin Orthop Relat Res 2008 Jul 466(7) 1539-54
Photomed Laser Surg 2014 May 15
J Pain Res 2015 8 247-52
J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2013 Sep 9 29C 272-285