Orthotics - Foot Structures

Orthotics Help De-load Foot Structures

There are 26 bones and 33 joints in each foot. ¼ of the bones in the body are below the ankles. The reason there is a high number of compact bones in the feet is to allow us to land on surfaces we have evolved to move on – grass, dirt, sand etc. The foot as a whole bends and loosens to be able to adapt to these surfaces.

What helps facilitate coordinated movement of the bones within the foot are joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons. Joints and their associated structures hold two or more bones together and allow smooth bending. Ligaments under the foot give structure to the shape of the foot while other ligaments give further stability to joints while still allowing flexible movement. Tendons are the extension of muscles that primarily act to move the bones and therefore the body.

Click the drop down menus below to read about common symptoms and treatment.

What determines a flat foot type typically is a natural alignment of the bones, joints and flexibility in the soft tissue. There are varying degrees of flat feet, and it is typically the more moderate to severe flat feet that can contribute to injuries of the soft tissue.

The easiest way to think about this is the flatter the foot the more movement. The more movement on each stride the greater load placed on all of the aforementioned structures to move the body.

To help put this into perspective here are a couple of usual scenarios:

  • For those who are on their feet walking all day at work it is not uncommon to do 15,000 walking steps per day. This is 7500 walking steps per foot per day. The accumulation of a lot of movement of a foot due to their flat feet over the course of their day can contribute to the risk of a soft tissue injury.

 

  • For those participating in land-based activities this typically involves a large number of repetitive steps. For example, if you run for an hour you are taking approximately 10,000 and 11,000 steps total. If you walk for an hour you take between 5000 and 6000 steps total. If there is a lot of movement created by a flat foot you can see how this could be a potential risk factor leading to an overuse injury. Especially in the case of running as there is also 2.5 to 3.0 x worth of body weight forces on each stride for the soft tissue to deal with.

The aim of using Custom Orthotics in a non-painful or asymptomatic flat foot type is to improve the function of the foot to decrease the workload on the soft tissue. This combined with the correct footwear habits, appropriate strength and conditioning exercises and smart physical activity planning will help further mitigate the risk of injuries now but also into the future. Especially as the effects of aging (stiffening, slower repairing soft tissue) can further increase risk of injury.

To aid healing injured foot structures we need to be able to take enough force or stress away from it to allow the body’s self-healing abilities to work as un-hindered as possible.

The aim of Custom Orthotics is to provide a reduction of force on affected foot structures to assist in an overall rehabilitation plan.

If there is not enough stress taken away it can delay/slow the healing and in some pathologies prevent full recovery.

Ideally a reduction in force is done while maintaining as normal gait as possible as opposed to wearing a moonboot that restricts movement and alters normal gait. The later which can potentially cause atrophy of surrounding soft tissue leading to other conditions and/or longer return to chosen activity if not managed properly.

Below are foot structures that can be susceptible to injury as well as common conditions we see as Podiatrists. It also explains how Custom Orthotics can help as part of an overall treatment plan.

Common conditions:

  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Plantar heel pain
  • Arch pain

The plantar fascia is a ligament of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot that plays an important functional role of stabilising the bones during the stance phase of walking or running gait. You can think of this structure as a “cable” that is placed under stretch forces when we weight-bear.

If there is in-efficiency of foot function (e.g. excessive flattening of the foot) this can place un-due, repetitive stretch forces upon it during walking or running leading to the very common condition called plantar fasciitis.

The role of Custom Orthotics is to improve foot function and to safely manipulate the bones of the feet to achieve shortening of the arch. By doing this the “cable” does not stretch as much allowing less irritation and discomfort on each step. The added pressure offloading effect of the orthotics, the correct footwear and other modalities this will allow you to manage the discomfort of this stubborn condition while it heals over time.

Common conditions:

  • Posterior tibial tendinopathy
  • Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction
  • Adult acquired flat foot deformity
  • Peroneal tendinopathy
  • Flexor hallucis longus tendinopathy
  • Achilles tendinopathy
  • Shin splints or Medial tibial stress syndrome
  • Sever’s disease

When trying to understand the muscles and tendon’s role in movement you can also think of them as cables that in this case elongate and shorten to help the body move. Tendons are the extension of muscles that insert into bones to create movement once muscles contract.

To aid in de-loading affected muscles and tendons we use Custom Orthotics to positively influence the efficiency of how these “cables” elongate and shorten. If they are more efficient then they do not need to work as hard. This leads to a reduction in soft tissue stress and less hindrance on the body’s healing processes.

OUR TEAM

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Luke Rogers

Podiatrist - General Care, Sports & Exercise

Luke is an experienced podiatrist who has been operating in private practice for over 14 years, with 2 years of rural experience with Queensland Health.

Luke volunteered for several years with the Queensland Podiatry Board and was appointed president in 2017, providing insight and experience at an industry body level. This combination of experience and study has led him to gain a strong reputation as a caring and trustworthy practitioner.

Luke has comprehensive experience in podiatry and enjoys all aspects, from mechanical assessment and sports injuries to ingrown nails and plantar warts. Luke likes fixing feet problems. In addition to his Bachelor of Science (Podiatry) at QUT, Luke also has a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, which talks to his interest in sport-related injury management and prevention.

Born and raised on the Sunshine Coast, Luke has an inherent love for sports, camping and the outdoors. He is a keen golfer and enjoys helping to coach his children’s soccer teams.

Luke is available for Podiatry appointments at our Kawana, Caloundra, and Baringa clinics.

Nicholas Roth

Podiatrist - General Care, Sports & Exercise

Nicholas graduated from QUT in 2015. Nicholas has a particular interest in Sports Biomechanics, Paediatric Podiatry and complex caseloads. He is kind and passionate about helping his patients achieve their goals and using the motto “prevention is better than cure” to get there.

Nicholas previously worked in Far North Queensland and on the Sunshine Coast; he relocated to the Gold Coast in 2021 with his wonderful wife and daughter. Nicholas enjoys all things outdoors, and his favourite sport is soccer, where he has played interstate and overseas. On the weekends, he loves fishing, camping and visiting the beautiful beaches all along the Coast.

Nicholas is available for Podiatry appointments at our Broadbeach clinic.

Aleks Baruksopulo

Podiatry Managing Partner

Aleks exclusively sees Musculoskeletal, Sports, Running & Exercise cases and has 16+ years of experience in this area with over 38,000 patient consultations performed over this time.

His main professional passion is helping patients of all ages recover from injury and get back to the regular physical activity they love doing.

He has a particular interest and niche in running injuries, including recently authoring a book (available on Amazon & in-clinic) called: The Runner’s Foot Guide – Feet, Shoes, Myths & Tips.

Other experience includes previously owning a running shoe store called ‘The Podiatry Shoe Lab’, completing the ‘Lv2 Athletics Australia Recreational Running Coach’ accreditation, being a previous Podiatry clinical supervisor at Southern Cross University (Gold Coast campus), previous Podiatrist to GPS (“jeeps”) Rugby Union club, North Devils Rugby League club, and the Brisbane Roar Soccer club.

He is a managing partner at ‘Podiatry at Sports & Spinal’ whose main aim is to help our Podiatrists excel in providing outstanding Sports, Exercise, Running, and Musculoskeletal Podiatry care.

Aleks is skilled in Sports, Exercise & Running Podiatry care, gait analysis, biomechanics, running shoe education, strength & conditioning, return to running planning, collaboration with medical professionals (GPs, Sports Physicians & Orthopaedic surgeons), EMS Shockwave Therapy and Class 4 Laser musculoskeletal treatments.

He has a Podiatry degree from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and a Biomedical Science degree from the University of Queensland (UQ).

Aleks is available exclusively for Musculoskeletal, Sports, Running & Exercise Podiatry appointments at our Broadbeach, Robina and Springfield clinics.

Aleks Baruksopulo

Podiatry Managing Partner

Aleks exclusively sees Musculoskeletal, Sports, Running & Exercise cases and has 16+ years of experience in this area with over 38,000 patient consultations performed over this time.

His main professional passion is helping patients of all ages recover from injury and get back to the regular physical activity they love doing.

He has a particular interest and niche in running injuries, including recently authoring a book (available on Amazon & in-clinic) called: The Runner’s Foot Guide – Feet, Shoes, Myths & Tips.

Other experience includes previously owning a running shoe store called ‘The Podiatry Shoe Lab’, completing the ‘Lv2 Athletics Australia Recreational Running Coach’ accreditation, being a previous Podiatry clinical supervisor at Southern Cross University (Gold Coast campus), previous Podiatrist to GPS (“jeeps”) Rugby Union club, North Devils Rugby League club, and the Brisbane Roar Soccer club.

He is a managing partner at ‘Podiatry at Sports & Spinal’ whose main aim is to help our Podiatrists excel in providing outstanding Sports, Exercise, Running, and Musculoskeletal Podiatry care.

Aleks is skilled in Sports, Exercise & Running Podiatry care, gait analysis, biomechanics, running shoe education, strength & conditioning, return to running planning, collaboration with medical professionals (GPs, Sports Physicians & Orthopaedic surgeons), EMS Shockwave Therapy and Class 4 Laser musculoskeletal treatments.

He has a Podiatry degree from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and a Biomedical Science degree from the University of Queensland (UQ).

Aleks is available exclusively for Musculoskeletal, Sports, Running & Exercise Podiatry appointments at our Broadbeach, Robina and Springfield clinics.

Aleks Baruksopulo

Podiatry Managing Partner

Aleks exclusively sees Musculoskeletal, Sports, Running & Exercise cases and has 16+ years of experience in this area with over 38,000 patient consultations performed over this time.

His main professional passion is helping patients of all ages recover from injury and get back to the regular physical activity they love doing.

He has a particular interest and niche in running injuries, including recently authoring a book (available on Amazon & in-clinic) called: The Runner’s Foot Guide – Feet, Shoes, Myths & Tips.

Other experience includes previously owning a running shoe store called ‘The Podiatry Shoe Lab’, completing the ‘Lv2 Athletics Australia Recreational Running Coach’ accreditation, being a previous Podiatry clinical supervisor at Southern Cross University (Gold Coast campus), previous Podiatrist to GPS (“jeeps”) Rugby Union club, North Devils Rugby League club, and the Brisbane Roar Soccer club.

He is a managing partner at ‘Podiatry at Sports & Spinal’ whose main aim is to help our Podiatrists excel in providing outstanding Sports, Exercise, Running, and Musculoskeletal Podiatry care.

Aleks is skilled in Sports, Exercise & Running Podiatry care, gait analysis, biomechanics, running shoe education, strength & conditioning, return to running planning, collaboration with medical professionals (GPs, Sports Physicians & Orthopaedic surgeons), EMS Shockwave Therapy and Class 4 Laser musculoskeletal treatments.

He has a Podiatry degree from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and a Biomedical Science degree from the University of Queensland (UQ).

Aleks is available exclusively for Musculoskeletal, Sports, Running & Exercise Podiatry appointments at our Broadbeach, Robina and Springfield clinics.

Jayden Erskine

Podiatrist - General Care, Sports & Exercise

Jayden graduated from Southern Cross University on the Gold Coast, where he worked in private practice. Jayden is Gold Coast born and bred and has worked for Sports & Spinal on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

Jayden is passionate about treating patients for all types of foot, ankle, calf, and shin pain, particularly bone and joint, soft tissue, and muscular pathologies. He has a strong interest in sports and musculoskeletal injury management and has been fortunate to work with the Gold Coast Suns AFL and ALFW teams.

Jayden has experience with diabetic assessment, orthotic prescription, footwear assessment and advice, paediatric management, general care, and nail surgeries.

Jayden’s priority is to enable people of all ages to maintain an active lifestyle and deliver tailored treatment solutions based on individual goals.

Jayden is available for Podiatry appointments at our Broadbeach and Robina clinics.

Ainslee O’Connell

Podiatry Partner - Sunshine Coast

Ainslee graduated from Charles Sturt University with a Bachelor of Podiatric Medicine (Honours) and has been working in private practice since.

Ainslee completed her honours research in the biomechanical field with her paper ‘The effect of dynamic movement tasks on the restrictive properties of rigid strapping tape’, being presented at the 2019 Australian Podiatry Conference. With a passion for all things lower limb, Ainslee has a special interest in musculoskeletal conditions, biomechanics, injury prevention, and footwear prescription/advice. Outside of Podiatry, Ainslee is a keen netballer and enjoys all things sport-related.

Ainslee is available for Podiatry appointments at our Buderim and Sippy Downs, clinics.

Luke Rogers

Podiatrist - General Care, Sports & Exercise

Luke is an experienced podiatrist who has been operating in private practice for over 14 years, with 2 years of rural experience with Queensland Health.

Luke volunteered for several years with the Queensland Podiatry Board and was appointed president in 2017, providing insight and experience at an industry body level. This combination of experience and study has led him to gain a strong reputation as a caring and trustworthy practitioner.

Luke has comprehensive experience in podiatry and enjoys all aspects, from mechanical assessment and sports injuries to ingrown nails and plantar warts. Luke likes fixing feet problems. In addition to his Bachelor of Science (Podiatry) at QUT, Luke also has a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, which talks to his interest in sport-related injury management and prevention.

Born and raised on the Sunshine Coast, Luke has an inherent love for sports, camping and the outdoors. He is a keen golfer and enjoys helping to coach his children’s soccer teams.

Luke is available for Podiatry appointments at our Kawana, Caloundra, and Baringa clinics.

 

 

 

 

Maddie Paton

Podiatrist - General Care, Sports & Exercise

Maddie is an experienced podiatrist who, since graduating in 2015, has worked in private podiatry practices in both Australia and the United Kingdom. She has recently relocated to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane to be closer to family.

Maddie enjoys performing all aspects of podiatric care and treating patients of all ages and abilities. This includes treating general skin and nail conditions, ingrown toenails, plantar warts, and musculoskeletal injuries. She has a solid understanding of the treatment and rehabilitation of athletes at all levels have played netball at both a representative and social level.

Maddie also has over 10 years of experience working in both the casual and exercise footwear spheres providing her with a wealth of knowledge surrounding footwear prescription. In addition to this, she has worked alongside some of the states leading sporting teams and their rehabilitation teams.

Maddie is available for Podiatry appointments at our Caloundra clinic.

Raj Kumar

Podiatrist

Raj has been a sports fan all his life. He grew up playing soccer, but his main passion is rugby league. He proudly supports the Brisbane Broncos (they are his life!). He loves to solve problems and has a passion for treating patients of all ages and abilities. He graduated from Southern Cross University with a Bachelor of Podiatry. Prior to podiatry, he graduated with a Bachelor of Biological Science from Queensland University of Technology. He gathered extensive knowledge and experience with footwear while working at The Athlete’s Foot for nine years, working closely with world renowned brands.

The reason Raj became a Podiatrist was to help people achieve their goals and to treat lower limb injuries. His special interest is biomechanics and solving lower limb foot pathologies such as bone stress and tendon or ligament injuries. He also has a soft spot for community outreach and helping people with their foot care needs in the comfort of their own home.

Raj’s interest in foot health extends to nail surgeries, biomechanical assessments, general foot care and community allied health services.

Outside of work, he enjoys going to the beach and physical activity such as the gym or playing social sports such as touch footy, indoor soccer and basketball. He also enjoys road trips, adventure, trying out new things and exploring what Queensland or Australia has to offer. Raj emphatically states: “There is nothing more invigorating than having you closest friends and family with you while exploring the World’s natural wonders.”

Raj is Brisbane-born and bred and currently lives on the North side of Brisbane. He can drink coffee all day whilst eating Japanese food. You may catch him at your local café or Japanese restaurant.

Raj is available for Podiatry appointments at our Chermside and Redcliffe Sports & Spinal clinics and in home care throughout Brisbane.

Raj Kumar

Podiatrist

Raj has been a sports fan all his life. He grew up playing soccer, but his main passion is rugby league. He proudly supports the Brisbane Broncos (they are his life!). He loves to solve problems and has a passion for treating patients of all ages and abilities. He graduated from Southern Cross University with a Bachelor of Podiatry. Prior to podiatry, he graduated with a Bachelor of Biological Science from Queensland University of Technology. He gathered extensive knowledge and experience with footwear while working at The Athlete’s Foot for nine years, working closely with world renowned brands.

The reason Raj became a Podiatrist was to help people achieve their goals and to treat lower limb injuries. His special interest is biomechanics and solving lower limb foot pathologies such as bone stress and tendon or ligament injuries. He also has a soft spot for community outreach and helping people with their foot care needs in the comfort of their own home.

Raj’s interest in foot health extends to nail surgeries, biomechanical assessments, general foot care and community allied health services.

Outside of work, he enjoys going to the beach and physical activity such as the gym or playing social sports such as touch footy, indoor soccer and basketball. He also enjoys road trips, adventure, trying out new things and exploring what Queensland or Australia has to offer. Raj emphatically states: “There is nothing more invigorating than having you closest friends and family with you while exploring the World’s natural wonders.”

Raj is Brisbane-born and bred and currently lives on the North side of Brisbane. He can drink coffee all day whilst eating Japanese food. You may catch him at your local café or Japanese restaurant.

Raj is available for Podiatry appointments at our Chermside and Redcliffe Sports & Spinal clinics and in home care throughout Brisbane.

Daniel Holmes

Senior Podiatrist

An avid endurance sports fan, Dan has been passionately treating patients of all ages and abilities in the Brisbane region for the past 15 years. Dan Holmes graduated with a Bachelor of Podiatry from Queensland University of Technology in 2007. Prior to Podiatry, he completed a Bachelor of Human Movement Studies majoring in Exercise Science at the University of Queensland.

He is very passionate about helping people to live their most active lives. Treating lower limb injuries is key to this. Dan has a special interest in bone stress and tendon injuries. He also has extensive experience prescribing custom orthotics recommending footwear and prescribing rehabilitative exercise plans to allow patients to return to sports and exercise.

Dan’s interest in foot health extends to general foot care, nail surgery and assessment of paediatric concerns.

Outside of work, Dan enjoys challenging himself mentally and physically by training and participating in Triathlons, Ultra distance trail running and adventure racing. Time in nature is important to Dan as he is passionate about the conservation of our natural world. He enjoys bushwalking and hopes to spend more time with his wife and two young girls exploring The World’s natural wonders.

Dan is Brisbane-born and bred and currently lives on the North side with his wife and two daughters. He has a mild coffee addiction, so you may catch him getting his caffeine fix around the many local cafes.

Daniel is available for Podiatry appointments at our Chermside, North Lakes and Springfield clinics.

Katherine Harris

Podiatrist - General Care, Sports & Exercise

Katherine completed her Bachelor of Podiatry at the University of South Australia.  After graduating she worked in private practice in Adelaide prior to moving to the beautiful Sunshine Coast.  Katherine is passionate about lower limb health and enjoys helping people of all ages and abilities achieve their goals and maintain an active lifestyle.

Katherine is experienced in all areas of podiatry with a particular interest in musculoskeletal conditions, sports injuries and rehabilitation, and ingrown toenail surgery.

Outside of work Katherine loves traveling and spending time in the great outdoors. She is also a keen netballer having played for over 20 years and more recently coaching at a junior level.

Katherine is available for Podiatry appointments at our Coolum and Nambour clinics.

Sarah Mewburn

Podiatrist

Sarah completed her Bachelor of Health Science (Podiatry) at Charles Sturt University Albury. In her career, she has worked in all podiatry settings from Private practice in Canberra, Aged care, and the high-risk foot. She prides herself on treating every patient with respect and empathy.

Growing up in a landlocked country Victoria never kept Sarah out of the water; participating in the swim squad, water polo, and an early career as a swimming teacher. Now in Noosa, Sarah is pursuing surfing with the intent of going from beginner to not falling off as much.

Keeping active has sparked Sarah’s interest in musculoskeletal knowledge and injury prevention. During her career, Sarah has gained valuable experience in biomechanical assessment including; Foot Mobilisation, Dry needing, tissue stress theory, and best practice podiatry injury management. She also enjoys treating all aspects of podiatry including; Dermatological skin and nail care, Nail Surgery, and Diabetic foot care.

Sarah is available for Podiatry appointments at our Kawana and Gympie clinics.

Sophie Nall

Podiatrist

Sophie has completed her Bachelor in Podiatry degree at The Queensland University of Technology and recently relocated to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane. Through university she worked at The Athlete’s Foot and has extensive knowledge in footwear technologies and prescription for all sorts of activities including running, netball, football and gym specific footwear.

Sophie is passionate about multiple aspects of podiatry including sports injuries, dermatological care and paediatrics. She has a special interest in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions and curating individualised treatment plans to get patients back to what they love doing.

Outside of work she likes matcha, a good music playlist and keeps active by running, strength training and reformer classes.

Sophie is available for Podiatry consults at our Sippy Downs and Kawana clinics.

Luke Rogers

Podiatrist - General Care, Sports & Exercise

Luke is an experienced podiatrist who has been operating in private practice for over 14 years, with 2 years of rural experience with Queensland Health.

Luke volunteered for several years with the Queensland Podiatry Board and was appointed president in 2017, providing insight and experience at an industry body level. This combination of experience and study has led him to gain a strong reputation as a caring and trustworthy practitioner.

Luke has comprehensive experience in podiatry and enjoys all aspects, from mechanical assessment and sports injuries to ingrown nails and plantar warts. Luke likes fixing feet problems. In addition to his Bachelor of Science (Podiatry) at QUT, Luke also has a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, which talks to his interest in sport-related injury management and prevention.

Born and raised on the Sunshine Coast, Luke has an inherent love for sports, camping and the outdoors. He is a keen golfer and enjoys helping to coach his children’s soccer teams.

Luke is available for Podiatry appointments at our Kawana, Caloundra, and Baringa clinics.

 

 

 

 

Jayden Erskine

Podiatrist - General Care, Sports & Exercise

Jayden graduated from Southern Cross University on the Gold Coast, where he worked in private practice. Jayden is Gold Coast born and bred and has worked for Sports & Spinal on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

Jayden is passionate about treating patients for all types of foot, ankle, calf, and shin pain, particularly bone and joint, soft tissue, and muscular pathologies. He has a strong interest in sports and musculoskeletal injury management and has been fortunate to work with the Gold Coast Suns AFL and ALFW teams.

Jayden has experience with diabetic assessment, orthotic prescription, footwear assessment and advice, paediatric management, general care, and nail surgeries. Jayden’s priority is to enable people of all ages to maintain an active lifestyle and deliver tailored treatment solutions based on individual goals.

Jayden is available for Podiatry appointments at our Broadbeach and Robina clinics.

Tim Boyle

Podiatry Managing Partner

Tim graduated from the Queensland University of Technology as a Podiatrist in 2006. He has gained valuable experience over the last eight years working in a multidisciplinary sports medicine clinic. Within this setting, Tim had the pleasure of working alongside medical & allied health professionals, including Sports Doctors, Physiotherapists, and Massage Therapists.

Tim enjoys a broad scope of podiatry, including sports injuries of the lower limb, biomechanical assessments, gait analysis, orthotic therapy, footwear assessments and recommendations, diabetic foot assessments, and treatment of toenails and skin conditions. Tim is particularly passionate about running biomechanics and footwear advice/prescription, a special interest that commenced through his strong interest in athletics and involvement in the footwear industry.

Over the years, Tim has treated several senior and junior athletes from various sports, including 2 years treating both the Brisbane Roar and Brisbane Roar youth teams.

Tim is a sports enthusiast himself, having been involved in several sports from a young age competing at a state level in Athletics and Basketball.

“I see that working in a strong multi-disciplinary team ensures the best treatment and outcome for my patients.”

Tim is available for Podiatry appointments at our Maroochydore clinic.

Katherine Harris

Podiatrist - General Care, Sports & Exercise

Katherine completed her Bachelor of Podiatry at the University of South Australia. After graduating she worked in private practice in Adelaide prior to moving to the beautiful Sunshine Coast. Katherine is passionate about lower limb health and enjoys helping people of all ages and abilities achieve their goals and maintain an active lifestyle.

Katherine is experienced in all areas of podiatry with a particular interest in musculoskeletal conditions, sports injuries and rehabilitation, and ingrown toenail surgery.

Outside of work Katherine loves traveling and spending time in the great outdoors. She is also a keen netballer having played for over 20 years and more recently coaching at a junior level.

Katherine is available for Podiatry appointments at our Coolum and Nambour clinics.

Kim Goei

Podiatrist - General Care, Sports & Exercise

Kim was born and raised on the West coast, completing her Bachelor of Podiatric Medicine at the University of Western Australia. She has a kind, gentle manner with patients, with a strong focus on delivering high-quality care.

During her training, Kim gained valuable experience in Singapore working alongside podiatrists from other countries including the UK, South Africa and New Zealand. After completing her degree, Kim worked in private practice in WA and Victoria before being drawn to the beautiful coastline and hinterland of the Sunshine Coast.

Kim has completed advanced musculoskeletal training with Dr Paul Conneely in the areas of Dry Needling & Foot Mobilisations to aid in the management of lower limb dysfunction. Kim is proficient in delivering all aspects of podiatry care including General Care, Nail Surgery, Sports Injuries and Diabetic Management.

Outside the clinic, Kim enjoys hiking, mountain biking, running & yoga.

Please contact Nambour Sports & Spinal on (07) 5441 2744 to make an appointment with Kim

Thomas Abraham

Podiatrist - General Care, Sports & Exercise

Podiatrist – Areas Treated: Foot, Ankle, Knee, Toenail Care

Tom completed a Bachelor of Podiatry with the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. Since leaving university, he has gained extensive experience in podiatric sporting injuries, biomechanics, chronic lower limb pain, paediatrics, and neurological conditions.

Tom has a special interest in diabetic care and education, which he is currently undertaking further study in. His treatment is always provided according to the most recent research and aims to treat each patient with the best possible care that he can. Tom employs several treatment modalities according to each individual patient and their goals including hands-on soft tissue work, dry needling, taping/strapping, exercise prescription, and education to name a few.

During school and university, Tom spent some time working with ASICS and has been actively involved in playing soccer, tennis and completed athletics up to a state level on multiple occasions. Tom is a keen traveller spending a year in Europe and some time in Nepal volunteering and completing the Everest base camp trek. Tom also enjoys snowboarding when he can.

Tom is available for Podiatry appointments at our North Lakes and Morayfield clinics.

Thomas Abraham

Podiatrist - General Care, Sports & Exercise

Podiatrist – Areas Treated: Foot, Ankle, Knee, Toenail Care

Tom completed a Bachelor of Podiatry with the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. Since leaving university, he has gained extensive experience in podiatric sporting injuries, biomechanics, chronic lower limb pain, paediatrics, and neurological conditions.
Tom has a special interest in diabetic care and education, which he is currently undertaking further study in.
His treatment is always provided according to the most recent research and aims to treat each patient with the best possible care that he can. Tom employs several treatment modalities according to each individual patient and their goals including hands-on soft tissue work, dry needling, taping/strapping, exercise prescription, and education to name a few.
During school and university, Tom spent some time working with ASICS and has been actively involved in playing soccer, tennis and completed athletics up to a state level on multiple occasions. Tom is a keen traveller spending a year in Europe and some time in Nepal volunteering and completing the Everest base camp trek. Tom also enjoys snowboarding when he can.

Tom is available for Podiatry appointments at our North Lakes and Morayfield clinics.

Sophie Nall

Podiatrist

Sophie has completed her Bachelor in Podiatry degree at The Queensland University of Technology and recently relocated to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane. Through university she worked at The Athlete’s Foot and has extensive knowledge in footwear technologies and prescription for all sorts of activities including running, netball, football and gym specific footwear.

Sophie is passionate about multiple aspects of podiatry including sports injuries, dermatological care and paediatrics. She has a special interest in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions and curating individualised treatment plans to get patients back to what they love doing.

Outside of work she likes matcha, a good music playlist and keeps active by running, strength training and reformer classes.

Sophie is available for Podiatry consults at our Sippy Downs and Kawana clinics.

Ainslee O’Connell

Podiatry Partner - Sunshine Coast

Ainslee graduated from Charles Sturt University with a Bachelor of Podiatric Medicine (Honours) and has been working in private practice since.

Ainslee completed her honours research in the biomechanical field with her paper ‘The effect of dynamic movement tasks on the restrictive properties of rigid strapping tape’, being presented at the 2019 Australian Podiatry Conference. With a passion for all things lower limb, Ainslee has a special interest in musculoskeletal conditions, biomechanics, injury prevention, and footwear prescription/advice. Outside of Podiatry, Ainslee is a keen netballer and enjoys all things sport-related.

Ainslee is available for Podiatry appointments at our Buderim and Sippy Downs clinics.

Daniel Holmes

Senior Podiatrist

An avid endurance sports fan, Dan has been passionately treating patients of all ages and abilities in the Brisbane region for the past 15 years. Dan Holmes graduated with a Bachelor of Podiatry from Queensland University of Technology in 2007. Prior to Podiatry, he completed a Bachelor of Human Movement Studies majoring in Exercise Science at the University of Queensland.

He is passionate about helping people to live their most active lives. Treating lower limb injuries is key to this. Dan has a special interest in bone stress and tendon injuries. He also has extensive experience prescribing custom orthotics recommending footwear and prescribing rehabilitative exercise plans to allow patients to return to sports and exercise.

Dan’s interest in foot health extends to general foot care, nail surgery and assessment of paediatric concerns.

Outside of work, Dan enjoys challenging himself mentally and physically by training and participating in Triathlons, Ultra distance trail running and adventure racing. Time in nature is important to Dan as he is passionate about the conservation of our natural world. He enjoys bushwalking and hopes to spend more time with his wife and two young girls exploring The World’s natural wonders.

Dan is Brisbane-born and bred and currently lives on the North side with his wife and two daughters. He has a mild coffee addiction, so you may catch him getting his caffeine fix around the many local cafes.

Daniel is available for Podiatry appointments at our Indooroopilly, Chermside, North Lakes and Springfield clinics.

Daniel Holmes

Senior Podiatrist

An avid endurance sports fan, Dan has been passionately treating patients of all ages and abilities in the Brisbane region for the past 15 years. Dan Holmes graduated with a Bachelor of Podiatry from Queensland University of Technology in 2007. Prior to Podiatry, he completed a Bachelor of Human Movement Studies majoring in Exercise Science at the University of Queensland.

He is passionate about helping people to live their most active lives. Treating lower limb injuries is key to this. Dan has a special interest in bone stress and tendon injuries. He also has extensive experience prescribing custom orthotics recommending footwear and prescribing rehabilitative exercise plans to allow patients to return to sports and exercise.

Dan’s interest in foot health extends to general foot care, nail surgery and assessment of paediatric concerns.

Outside of work, Dan enjoys challenging himself mentally and physically by training and participating in Triathlons, Ultra distance trail running and adventure racing. Time in nature is important to Dan as he is passionate about the conservation of our natural world. He enjoys bushwalking and hopes to spend more time with his wife and two young girls exploring The World’s natural wonders.

Dan is Brisbane-born and bred and currently lives on the North side with his wife and two daughters. He has a mild coffee addiction, so you may catch him getting his caffeine fix around the many local cafes.

Daniel is available for Podiatry appointments at our Chermside, North Lakes and Springfield clinics.

Just got into or back into running recently? 🏃‍♀️

Experiencing patella-femoral knee pain that is impacting you ability to perform daily tasks? Try this self-taping method as shown in do by our physiotherapist Tom to reduce your symptoms!

Please keep in mind that taping is often just a temporary relief option and will differ in effectiveness person to person as well as pathology. For long term pain reduction and recovery it is highly recommended you seek treatment from one of our physiotherapists or exercise physiologists. They will be able to help put a personally tailored recovery and management plan in place for you so you can continue and get back to running without pain getting in the way!

Just got into or back into running recently? 🏃‍♀️

Experiencing patella-femoral knee pain that is impacting you ability to perform daily tasks? Try this self-taping method as shown in do by our physiotherapist Tom to reduce your symptoms!

Please keep in mind that taping is often just a temporary relief option and will differ in effectiveness person to person as well as pathology. For long term pain reduction and recovery it is highly recommended you seek treatment from one of our physiotherapists or exercise physiologists. They will be able to help put a personally tailored recovery and management plan in place for you so you can continue and get back to running without pain getting in the way!
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Step by Step Stability: Ankle Taping Tutorial for Optimal Support and Strength 🙌🏼👏🏻

Taping the ankle can provide various benefits, such as:

1. **Support and Stability**: Ankle taping can help support the ankle joint, providing stability during physical activities or sports that involve quick movements or changes in direction. This support can reduce the risk of sprains or injuries.

2. **Injury Prevention**: By limiting excessive movement of the ankle joint, taping can help prevent certain injuries, especially in individuals with a history of ankle issues or those participating in high-impact sports.

3. **Enhanced Proprioception**: Taping can improve proprioception, which is the body’s awareness of where it is in space. This heightened awareness can help athletes maintain better balance and coordination.

4. **Compression and Swelling Reduction**: Taping can apply gentle compression to the ankle, which may help reduce swelling and provide a therapeutic effect for certain conditions like minor sprains.

5. **Psychological Confidence**: Some athletes feel more psychologically confident and secure with their ankle taped, which can positively impact their performance.

It’s essential to note that while ankle taping can offer these benefits, it’s crucial to learn the proper taping techniques to ensure effectiveness and avoid potential skin irritation or circulation issues!

Step by Step Stability: Ankle Taping Tutorial for Optimal Support and Strength 🙌🏼👏🏻

Taping the ankle can provide various benefits, such as:

1. **Support and Stability**: Ankle taping can help support the ankle joint, providing stability during physical activities or sports that involve quick movements or changes in direction. This support can reduce the risk of sprains or injuries.

2. **Injury Prevention**: By limiting excessive movement of the ankle joint, taping can help prevent certain injuries, especially in individuals with a history of ankle issues or those participating in high-impact sports.

3. **Enhanced Proprioception**: Taping can improve proprioception, which is the body’s awareness of where it is in space. This heightened awareness can help athletes maintain better balance and coordination.

4. **Compression and Swelling Reduction**: Taping can apply gentle compression to the ankle, which may help reduce swelling and provide a therapeutic effect for certain conditions like minor sprains.

5. **Psychological Confidence**: Some athletes feel more psychologically confident and secure with their ankle taped, which can positively impact their performance.

It’s essential to note that while ankle taping can offer these benefits, it’s crucial to learn the proper taping techniques to ensure effectiveness and avoid potential skin irritation or circulation issues!
...

World Heart Day 💙

Today is the best time for you to reflect on how your heart health is going. So, how’s it been? 

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most prominent diseases worldwide and this number is only increasing. Did you know that 80% of premature deaths from CVD are preventable? 

By making small changes to our lifestyle like what we eat and drink, how much we exercise, and how we manage stress, we can better manage our heart health and beat CVD. 

The Sports & Spinal Team can assist you with small or big lifestyle adjustments and get you on the right track towards a healthier life. 

Get in touch with our team today to find out more 👈

World Heart Day 💙

Today is the best time for you to reflect on how your heart health is going. So, how’s it been?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most prominent diseases worldwide and this number is only increasing. Did you know that 80% of premature deaths from CVD are preventable?

By making small changes to our lifestyle like what we eat and drink, how much we exercise, and how we manage stress, we can better manage our heart health and beat CVD.

The Sports & Spinal Team can assist you with small or big lifestyle adjustments and get you on the right track towards a healthier life.

Get in touch with our team today to find out more 👈
...

🧹KAWANA TEAM BRING BACK THE BROOMSTICK CHALLENGE 🧹

Can you get down and back up from the floor with no hands? Who do you think made it look the easiest? 💪🏽🤸🏽‍♀️

@sportsandspinalkawana 

#sportsandspinal #broomstickchallenge #stickgetupchallenge #exercisephysiology #physiotherapy #alliedhealth #alliedhealthprofessionals #movementchallenge #challenge

🧹KAWANA TEAM BRING BACK THE BROOMSTICK CHALLENGE 🧹

Can you get down and back up from the floor with no hands? Who do you think made it look the easiest? 💪🏽🤸🏽‍♀️

@sportsandspinalkawana

#sportsandspinal #broomstickchallenge #stickgetupchallenge #exercisephysiology #physiotherapy #alliedhealth #alliedhealthprofessionals #movementchallenge #challenge
...

World Physio Day! 💙 

Today we celebrate and acknowledge the work that our amazing physiotherapists do across Southeast QLD. Our passionate teams are dedicated to providing each and every Sports & Spinal client with quality and tailored care. 

Our team can assist with shoulder, neck and back pain, sporting injuries, lower limb conditions, women’s health, headaches, work cover incidents, pre and post-surgical, motor vehicle accidents and more! 

Contact your local Sports & Spinal clinic today to find out how we can help you! 

👉Head to our bio!

World Physio Day! 💙

Today we celebrate and acknowledge the work that our amazing physiotherapists do across Southeast QLD. Our passionate teams are dedicated to providing each and every Sports & Spinal client with quality and tailored care.

Our team can assist with shoulder, neck and back pain, sporting injuries, lower limb conditions, women’s health, headaches, work cover incidents, pre and post-surgical, motor vehicle accidents and more!

Contact your local Sports & Spinal clinic today to find out how we can help you!

👉Head to our bio!
...

There is nothing worse than a pounding headache or a nasty migraine 🌩️

But what about when they seem to never leave you alone? At any given moment, BAM! You are smacked with a harsh pain that could take as long as days to leave you. 

Sports & Spinal can help. We have trained physiotherapists who can assist with the management of common headache and migraine symptoms. To learn more on how our team can help you, get in touch with us today!

👉 Head to our bio

There is nothing worse than a pounding headache or a nasty migraine 🌩️

But what about when they seem to never leave you alone? At any given moment, BAM! You are smacked with a harsh pain that could take as long as days to leave you.

Sports & Spinal can help. We have trained physiotherapists who can assist with the management of common headache and migraine symptoms. To learn more on how our team can help you, get in touch with us today!

👉 Head to our bio
...

Do you suffer from any of these things when you exercise? 🌸

Many women experience symptoms of:
Urgency —> sudden compelling urge to run to the loo

Pelvic heaviness —> a dragging, heavy pelvic sensation that can be associated with pelvic organ prolapse

Stress urinary incontinence —> loss of urine during stress such as exercise, coughing or sneezing

Although common, these symptoms are not normal and an indication of possible pelvic dysfunction that your local pelvic physiotherapist can take care of!

Get in touch with your local Sports & Spinal Women’s Health team to see how they can help you!! 

Love your work @sportsandspinalcaloundra 🫶

#womenshealth #incontience #bladderleakage #pelvicfloor #pelvicphysio

Do you suffer from any of these things when you exercise? 🌸

Many women experience symptoms of:
Urgency —> sudden compelling urge to run to the loo

Pelvic heaviness —> a dragging, heavy pelvic sensation that can be associated with pelvic organ prolapse

Stress urinary incontinence —> loss of urine during stress such as exercise, coughing or sneezing

Although common, these symptoms are not normal and an indication of possible pelvic dysfunction that your local pelvic physiotherapist can take care of!

Get in touch with your local Sports & Spinal Women’s Health team to see how they can help you!!

Love your work @sportsandspinalcaloundra 🫶

#womenshealth #incontience #bladderleakage #pelvicfloor #pelvicphysio
...

Migraines affect 1 in 7 people🌩️

They are usually dismissed as ‘just a bad headache’ but they’re in fact a complex neurological disorder that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. 

Sports & Spinal have trained physiotherapists who can assist with the management of common headache and migraine symptoms. To learn more on how our team can help you, get in touch with our team today 

👉 Head to our bio

Migraines affect 1 in 7 people🌩️

They are usually dismissed as ‘just a bad headache’ but they’re in fact a complex neurological disorder that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life.

Sports & Spinal have trained physiotherapists who can assist with the management of common headache and migraine symptoms. To learn more on how our team can help you, get in touch with our team today

👉 Head to our bio
...