Lacing our shoes the right way is a small but powerful tool being used by Australian netball players to optimise their comfort, fix problems like the heel slipping or the top of the foot feeling tight, and prevent things like blisters or corns.
Read more
Pregnancy has a remarkable effect on our entire body – and while our key focus may be on our growing baby and belly, there’s one part of the body that has to take on all of the effects of both the physical changes as well as the hormonal changes that a woman’s body goes through – our feet.
With foot pain and discomfort in pregnancy having the potential to limit our daily activities, exercise potential, and add further strain on our already exhausted bodies, taking small steps to look after the feet can make a massive difference to the way a woman feels and how she experiences day-to-day life throughout her three trimesters. Here are eight simple and effective ways to look after your feet during pregnancy, as recommended and used by podiatrists.
During pregnancy, your blood volume increases by around 50% and your growing uterus can put pressure on the surrounding structures, including the vena cava vein that is responsible for helping return the blood from your legs back to the heart, slowing its flow. This combination, with the heart having a harder time to pump blood back up the legs, can lead to swelling, which often presents in the ankles and feet.
To help reduce your swelling and the associated discomfort, start by elevating your feet and legs above the level of your hips (or heart if you’re laying down) to allow the blood to return to the upper body more easily, and drinking plenty of water to help promote healthy kidney function. Next, invest in some medical grade compression socks that have a compression rating in mmHg. mmHg stands of millimetres of mercury and you can interpret a reading of ‘20-30 mmHg’ as the amount of compression will not fall below 20mmHg or exceed 30mmHg. The most common rating available at the chemist is between 15-20 mmHg, which is the recommended place to start. For anything higher, we recommend you consult your GP.
With the weight of your whole body resting on your feet with every step, achy feet are a common part of the pregnancy journey for many women. This is where orthotics may help restore a better foot posture, improve your comfort, and help your feet feel well supported throughout the day. Our orthotics are custom-made following a 3D scan of your feet and legs, paired with an extensive biomechanical assessment to ensure that you’re getting the right support for the best outcomes for your feet. Your orthotics will work every time you’re wearing them, so keep them in your everyday shoes and enjoy the relief.
The normal physiological changes that occur during pregnancy can mean your feet may flatten and widen. Many women find that the width of their feet increases – and the length increases by between half a size to a full size too. This is where choosing a wider, well-fitted pair of shoes can make a world of difference. Just like length sizing options, many shoe brands offer different width options, which looks like a letter rating near where the size is displayed on the side of the box. For example, for Asics, their styles range from an A for a narrow foot, to E ratings (e.g. EE, EEEE) for extra wide feet. See our shoe store for the styles we recommend.
With your body and immune system working tirelessly throughout your pregnancy to support and protect both you and your baby, it may not be as focused on things like fungal nail infections. As fungal nail infections start as a minor infection that may look like a white or yellow spot or streak, and progressively worsen over time to become the full-nail infection you often see, treating fungal nail infections early is key to preventing them from getting out of control and becoming much more difficult to successfully treat.
We offer laser treatment for fungal nails, which is pregnancy-safe and doesn’t require any repeated painting of nail lacquers or products daily – which can be almost impossible if you struggle to reach your feet.
The normal physiological changes that occur with pregnancy can mean our ankles may feel weaker or less stable than they used to. An easy way to help with this is to choose supportive shoes that have a firm heel counter that enclose and support your ankles.
Our podiatrists can recommend the best shoes to match your foot type at your appointment, and you can also visit our online shoe store to see our recommended styles.
As your baby grows, your centre of gravity shifts and makes you adjust the way you walk. This can affect your hips, knees, legs and feet. If you are noticing any aches or pains, particularly in your feet, come in and see one of our podiatrists to discuss what management strategies might work best for you.
With the extra blood volume in the body and swelling in the feet, this can mean that your nail is more likely to push against the skin surrounding the nail, which can then turn into an ingrown toenail. Even a small nail spicule piercing the skin can become incredibly painful – and with it being more difficult to see or reach your toes, the problem could quickly escalate if an infection occurs. If you have an ingrown toenail, see your podiatrist to get it treated ASAP, either as a one-off or if this isn’t your first ingrown toenail, consider getting it fixed permanently.
When it comes to caring for women’s feet, our podiatrists at My FootDr are trusted by hundreds of Australians every day.
Book your appointment with our experienced podiatry team by calling us on 1800 FOOT DR or booking online here.
Healthia Limited has recently announced
Craig Page as the newly appointed General Manager of Podiatry. Craig has been in private practice in Brisbane since 2005 and holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Podiatry) degree from Queensland University of Technology (2004). He is also one of the founders of the podiatry teams within the Healthia Group.
Healthia Limited has recently announced
Craig Page as the newly appointed General Manager of Podiatry. Craig has been in private practice in Brisbane since 2005 and holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Podiatry) degree from Queensland University of Technology (2004). He is also one of the founders of the podiatry teams within the Healthia Group.
Have you been watching your toes over these summer months and feeling unhappy with how they look?
While some people turn to a salon pedicure to help hide their toenails, a study that used ultrasound to observe the effects on nails when having a gel polish manicure found nail weakness, brittleness and nail thinning. This leaves two options: continue with pedicures indefinitely – or have to eventually deal with nails that are even more damaged than when you started. Or – you can start to improve the appearance of your nails today by using these five podiatrist-approved methods.
Read more
At My FootDr, we’re focused on the well-being of every person who steps through our clinic doors. This includes the health and safety of our local communities, which is you, our patients, as well as our team members. While a number of our clinics remain open and unaffected by the floods, some may be closed and clinic staff may be in contact with you to reschedule an upcoming appointment.
Read more
Just like any relationship in our lives, the one we have with our feet is two-sided: we look after them, and they’ll look after us as we take approximately 2.7 million steps every year. Whatever the challenge – hot ground, countless stairs, unsteady terrain, sharp rocks at the beach – we have the one pair of feet that get us through – and the way we treat and look after them will determine how long they can keep doing it for.
When it comes to caring for our feet – it’s easier than many people realise as it’s the little things over time that can make a big difference. To help treat your feet, our podiatrists have shared ten things your feet will love that will help them stay healthy and happy.
Read more
Keeping up with our children’s growth and development is a difficult task – and the feet are no exception.
A new day can see us noticing something different that our child has started doing, like the way their foot turns in when they walk, leaving us wondering whether that’s normal, if we should keep an eye on it, or if big alarm bells should already be going off.
Read more
The new school year brings a mix of excitement and chaos. Amongst the never-ending to-do list to get the kids prepared is a key priority: buying your kids a new pair of well-fitting school shoes that you feel confident will keep their feet supported and feeling great throughout the school year.
Read more
Feel like the cracks in your heels have come up out of nowhere this summer? You’re not alone. Cracked heels are a common source of frustration – from the dry ridges on the skin catching on socks, to the discomfort or pain when walking on the cracks, to their appearance in open-backed shoes that some try to hide.
Read more
Fungal nail infections are a frustrating problem that leaves approximately one in ten Australians feeling disheartened every time they look down at their feet. While it’s easy to ignore the problem during the winter months while keeping our feet constantly wrapped up in shoes and socks, this beaming summer weather means that those fungal nails are now difficult to ignore.
Read more