Articles & Posts in Category: Blogs

Browse our articles and pages tagged with Blogs. My FootDr brings the very best in Podiatry care to everyone in Australia.

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By Alexander Awwad

Motor racing is an exhilarating and adrenaline-fueled sport that puts extreme physical stress on the body, including the feet and ankles. With long hours on the track, repetitive pedal use and impact from crashes, drivers are at high risk of developing chronic injuries over time.

A 2021 study on injuries in wheeled motor sports found that foot and ankle injuries represented 5% of all reported injuries. Motor racing is an evolving sport but a large gap remains in research and treatment.

Yellow Flag: Common foot/ankle injuries

Like any sport, motor racing can put participants at risk of a variety of foot and ankle injuries, both acute and chronic. Acute injuries can include fractures, burns, cuts and grazes and are often a result of crashes and sudden impact. Conversely, chronic foot and ankle injuries in motor sports are generally a result of the repetitive operation of the vehicle’s foot pedals. The amount of strain this places on muscles, tendons, joints and bones in the feet and ankles can lead to long term issues.

Chronic injuries to muscles and tendons are common and may include:

  • Achilles tendinopathy: pain at the back of the ankle
  • Tibialis posterior tendinopathy: pain inside of the ankle
  • Tibialis anterior tendinopathy: pain at the front of the ankle
  • Plantar fasciitis: heel pain
  • Dorsal compression syndrome: pain at themid-foot/top of the foot
  • Intermetatarsal neuroma bursa complex: pain in the forefoot/ball of foot
  • Stress fractures: usually seen in more severe cases

How to get back to the Green Flag: treatment options

For acute traumatic injuries to the foot and ankle, it is important to follow the direction of paramedics and medical professionals on site at thetime.

In certain chronic injury cases, minimal treatment may be required. It may be as simple as buying a new pair of racing boots or altering the driver’s seating position to reduce stress on painful areas of the foot and ankle.

Treating tendon injuries can involve a thorough strengthening program to reduce pain during and after races.

For more severe cases to the heel, forefoot or midfoot, extra padding or orthotics may be required. While traditional foot orthotics or silicone/foam pads can provide comfort, they may melt with extreme heat in racing boots.

In cases where there is a risk of extreme heat, specialised carbon fibre racing orthotics can help to take pressure off painful areas.

Black Flag: Impact of racing regulations

Most motor sports have their own rules to maintain safety within their sport. The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is a governing body responsible for assessing the protective clothing and footwear for Formula 1 and V8 Supercar drivers to ensure safety. Footwear and all related gear must be fireproof and lightweight for drivers. Foam, silicone padding, and standard foot orthotics can be flammable and do not comply with the regulations for motor sport racing.

If your foot pain is getting in the way of your drive performance, book an appointment with one of our podiatrists. Within our company of experienced professionals, our podiatrist with a special interest in this area is Alexander Awwad. For any specialised motor sport related foot and ankle queries, please contact Alexander at alexander.awwad@myfootdr.com.au. See his full profile here. If Alexander is not available at your local clinic, feel free to reach out to our friendly team and we can help guide you to some of our other experts.

Key Points

  • It is important to identify the type of injury

  • Trial new racing footwear or driving seating positions

  • Be mindful of sporting regulations when following a treatment plan  


References:

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2024, Injury hospitalisations from wheeled motor sports, by body part injured, as a proportion, 2021–22, viewed 5 March 2025, https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/sports-injury/sports-injury-in-australia/data. Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) 2022, FIA Standards 8856-2018 – Underwear, socks, balaclava and shoes QC requirements and documentation v0.1, viewed 5 March 2025, https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/8856-2018-undewear_socks_balaclava_and_shoes_qc_requirements_and_documentation_v0.2.pdf.

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This should be a simple question to answer – Can orthotics help my balance? As with most things in life, it’s not always black and white. What academics all agree on is that as we age, focusing on improving your balance is important to longevity and quality of life.

What is balance?

Perhaps surprisingly, those who deal with it have struggled to settle on a single definition. At it’s most simple, it can be defined as the ability to distribute your bodyweight over your base of support. However, balance is much more complex than this. It involves the interplay of several different body parts of the body including the nerves in our muscles, joints, eyes and ears. Read more

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By Madison Knight

Shoes – such an integral part of our daily lives. But how often do we really think about what our footwear can do for us? Or more importantly, how our footwear can be hurting us. When we’re young, often we get our feet sized and shoes fitted appropriately. But how many of us can say that we’ve checked our fit once we’re adults? 

We carry our shoe size in our mind’s compendium of life’s important numbers. But unlike other numbers, like our date of birth, our shoe size is not as fixed as we may believe it to be. A shoe size is as variable as the sizing of a pair of pants. Each brand can have a different interpretation of sizing to another. Then let’s factor in the conversions between European, US and UK sizing – yikes!

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By Rebecca Gilroy

Diabetes-related foot disease is a widely feared complication among people with diabetes. Once diagnosed with diabetes, people often quickly become aware and concerned about the risk of amputation, without fully understanding how to reduce their risk. 4400 Australians have an amputation associated with their diabetes every year, and 85% of these amputations would have been preventable with early intervention and appropriate care (diabetesaustralia.com.au). Whilst across Australia, and indeed the world, the rate of diabetes-related foot disease is increasing, so too is the research and understanding of podiatrists and other health professionals in how to avoid complications. As a seasoned podiatrist, I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating impact that poorly controlled diabetes can have on foot health. However, I also know that foot complications, such as ulceration and amputation, are avoidable. In this blog, we’ll explore how diabetes can affect foot health, delve into preventative measures, and, of course, sprinkle in a few puns to lighten the mood. Read more

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By Oli Byrne

Plantar warts, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), can be a painful and persistent problem for many individuals. It is estimated that plantar warts have a 12% annual incidence within the general population and that up to 40% of the population is infected with HPV. Plantar warts are especially common in children and adolescents [1].

As podiatrists, we see firsthand the discomfort and frustration these warts can cause. Fortunately, advancements in treatment options have made managing and eliminating plantar warts more effective than ever before. In this blog, we’ll explore the latest treatments available, including common topical treatments, the innovative SWIFT therapy, and surgical options. Read more

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By Jordan Duffy

A common question, oft heard around podiatry clinics, is “what can I do about my sore toenails?” Whether it is piercing the skin and infected, constantly breaking, or just curvy and unsightly, twisted toenails are pesky and persistent. While seemingly small, ingrown toenails can cause significant discomfort, inconvenience and can hinder day-to-day living. In this blog, we’ll unravel the mysteries of ingrown toenails, exploring causes, symptoms, and most importantly, effective and exciting new interventions when treating ingrown toenails to keep your feet happy and pain-free.

The Culprit: Ingrown Toenails

Causes:

Ingrown toenails are a common, and often painful condition. Ingrown toenails occur when the edge of a toenail grows into the surrounding skin, leading to pain, redness, swelling and potential infections (Park & Singh, 2012). Common culprits include improper nail trimming, excessive pressure to the nail plate such as tight footwear, skeletal abnormalities, obesity, diabetes and arthritis (Guler et al., 2015).

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By Hillary Child

Diabetes Australia warns that for people with diabetes, small wounds can lead to infections, ulceration and amputation, and this can be a sobering thought. However, podiatry researchers have found that most diabetes-related foot complications are avoidable with a few simple steps. In this blog, we are going to look into how diabetes can lead to foot complications and then discuss some simple preventative measures you can take to minimise your risk.  

The International Working Group of the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) (some would argue, the world’s experts in this area) refers to four main factors affecting foot complications in diabetes – blood glucose levels (BGLs), nerve health (having good sensation), blood supply, and the shape of your foot.  Read more

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At My FootDr Charlestown, we treat a range of foot and ankle conditions including Plantar Fasciitis, we are conveniently located across the road from Charlestown Square.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Take your finger and trace from the bottom of your heel, out to all five toes like a fan. This is your plantar fascia, a connective tissue that fans out across your arch and helps stabilise and support your foot while you walk, run and move. When the plantar fascia is overloaded and strained, it can become injured, and inflamed and cause heel pain. This is known as plantar fasciitis. Read more

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Take your finger and trace from the bottom of your heel, out to all five toes like a fan. This is your plantar fascia, a connective tissue that fans out across your arch and helps stabilise and support your foot while you walk, run and move. When the plantar fascia is overloaded and strained, it can become injured, and inflamed and cause heel pain. This is known as plantar fasciitis. Read more

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Take your finger and trace from the bottom of your heel, out to all five toes like a fan. This is your plantar fascia, a connective tissue that fans out across your arch and helps stabilise and support your foot while you walk, run and move. When the plantar fascia is overloaded and strained, it can become injured, and inflamed and cause heel pain. This is known as plantar fasciitis. Read more