Achieve Podiatry Mid North Coast

18/09/2025

👣 Not sure when you should see a podiatrist?

You're not alone—many people aren't entirely sure what a podiatrist does! In this article, we'll cover five common reasons to book an appointment. By the end, you'll have a clearer idea of how your local Port Macquarie Podiatrist Cameron Liles can help keep your feet—and you—moving comfortably.

🦶 Ingrown Toenails You Can't Manage

An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of the nail pierces the surrounding skin. Because toes are often warm and moist, they're the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. If left untreated, an ingrown toenail can easily become infected, leading to swelling, pus, and overgrowth of tissue around the nail (hypergranulation). This makes it even harder to fix and far more painful.

Early treatment is key. While antibiotics can help control infection, they won't solve the problem if the nail continues to grow into the skin. Podiatrists can usually treat ingrown toenails quickly and with minimal discomfort. If the toe is too painful to touch, a small local anaesthetic can be used to numb the area before treatment.

👣 Persistent Heel Pain

Heel pain that lasts more than a few weeks is a common reason people see a podiatrist. There are many potential causes, and treatment will vary depending on the underlying issue.

At Achieve Podiatry, we can assess your foot mechanics, footwear, and activity levels to create a tailored plan that might include exercises, shoe modifications, or custom orthotics. Even small changes can make a big difference. Two people with similar pain may respond very differently to the same insole because every foot functions differently.

Left untreated, heel pain can become debilitating, so it's best to get it checked early.

🏃 Starting a Running or Training Program

Planning to train for a marathon or ramp up your exercise routine? A podiatrist can help you avoid injury before it happens. Our podiatrist Cameron Liles specialises in musculoskeletal assessment—not just toenails.

A thorough check might include your injury history, current training plan, strength, joint mobility, and even a running gait assessment. He can advise on safe training principles, strengthening key muscles, and choosing the right footwear for different types of runs.

For example, long slow runs and fast interval sessions place different demands on the feet and may benefit from different shoe designs.

🩺 Considering Orthotics

Orthotics are one of a podiatrist's key areas of expertise. They can be incredibly effective, but not everyone needs them—and not every shoe works with every orthotic.

A podiatrist will assess your feet and gait to determine whether orthotics are appropriate and, if so, prescribe or modify them to suit your specific needs. Orthotics may also need small adjustments over time, especially if your injury changes.

At Achieve Podiatry, we have the equipment in-clinic to make these modifications quickly and accurately.

🦵 Big Toe Arthritis

Arthritis is common and often age-related, but when it affects the big toe it can be particularly troublesome. Because the big toe bears so much weight, even simple activities can become painful.

Movement and exercise remain important, but it can be hard to offload the joint without the right advice. Podiatrists can recommend specific footwear features and custom orthotic modifications designed to stiffen the forefoot and limit motion at the big toe joint. This helps reduce pain while keeping you active. Off-the-shelf orthotics generally don't provide the level of support needed for this type of modification, but a custom solution can make a significant difference.

💡 The Bottom Line

These are just a few of the many reasons to see a podiatrist. Whether it's a painful toenail, stubborn heel pain, or advice on running, footwear, or orthotics, Cameron Liles and the team at Achieve Podiatry can help you stay on your feet and moving well.

If you're unsure, why not book an appointment today? You might be surprised at just how much we can do to keep you comfortable and active.

26/08/2025

Strapping for Heel Pain 🦶

Low-Dye taping is a core strategy in managing plantar heel pain and has been shown to effectively reduce symptoms.

This video demonstrates one commonly used method. There are different variations, and sometimes a little trial and error is needed to see what works best for you.

✅ 38 mm rigid strapping tape is usually all you need.
💡 A hypoallergenic base layer or adhesive spray can help it stick longer.
⚠️ 50 mm tape can also be used, but is trickier to work around the heel.

In our experience, this approach works well for most people with heel pain.

Reference: Morrissey, D., Cotchett, M., Said J’Bari, A., Prior, T., Griffiths, I. B., Rathleff, M. S., Gulle, H., Vicenzino, B., & Barton, C. J. (2021). Management of plantar heel pain: A best practice guide informed by a systematic review, expert clinical reasoning and patient values. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 55(19), 1106–1118.

07/08/2025

🦶 Do Orthotics Need to Be Comfortable?

Not always — and that’s perfectly okay.

Orthotics are designed to offload pressure from injured or overloaded areas of your foot. But that pressure doesn’t just disappear — it gets redistributed to another area, often using carefully placed pads or cut-outs.

✅ This redistribution helps your injury heal.
⚠️ But it can sometimes feel a little strange or even mildly uncomfortable — and that’s often a sign it’s working.

The key is that the discomfort from the orthotic should be less than the discomfort of the injury itself. And usually, this short-term adjustment leads to long-term relief.

Once the injury settles, many people can return to their regular footwear or insoles.

💡 It’s worth noting: in many cases, we can achieve both comfort and therapeutic effect. But if there’s ever any concern, we can always adjust your orthotics to better balance comfort and function.

🙋‍♀️ If you’re unsure or feeling discomfort, reach out to your podiatrist — open communication is key. Orthotics are highly customisable, and we’re here to help you find the best fit for your goals.

📞 Got questions? Contact us to chat about your orthotics, or book a review appointment.

18/07/2025

Why Podiatry Can Be a Game-Changer in Your Rehab

When you’re recovering from a lower limb injury, working with a team of health professionals — including a podiatrist — can make all the difference.

Podiatrists help manage load on injured tissues by modifying footwear or prescribing orthotics. This can reduce pain, speed up healing, and allow you to progress through rehab more confidently.

Just like an ankle brace is used after a sprain, orthotics are often a temporary support — most helpful early in rehab, and continued just a little longer after you're pain-free to reduce the risk of reinjury. They don’t weaken your feet or cause harm, and we’ll guide you in phasing them out when the time is right.

Whether you're aiming for elite sport or just want to enjoy pain-free walks or runs, podiatry can be the missing piece in your recovery plan.

👉 Read the full article on our website.

When it comes to recovering from a lower limb injury, a team-based approach is often the most effective way forward. Whether you’re an elite athlete or someone who simply wants to return to pain-free walking or jogging, having the right professionals around you can make a big difference. That’s ...

24/06/2025

"I thought I could rehab my Achilles tendinopathy in a few weeks… I was wrong. 5 months later, here’s what actually helped—and what didn’t.

👉 Read the full story via the link in bio.

"

18/06/2025

Dealing with a ni**le in your heel?
You might not need to see a podiatrist—yet.

If you're in the early stages of heel pain or think it could be mild plantar fasciitis, this quick guide could help you get on top of it before it gets worse.

👣 Read the article now and take the first steps toward pain-free feet.

In this article, we’ll walk you through what you can do at home to help manage stubborn heel pain – specifically plantar fasciitis – without needing to see a podiatrist straight away. A Quick Note Before We Start This guide isn’t designed to replace professional care. But we know many people...

12/06/2025

🦶 Heel Spurs – Are They Really to Blame?

Heel pain slowing you down? You’re not alone—it’s one of the most common issues we treat. And while heel spurs often get the blame, the truth might surprise you…

📸 Studies show that up to 1 in 4 people have heel spurs on X-ray—without any pain at all.
💡 New research suggests they’re often not in the plantar fascia like we once thought, but instead linked to nearby muscles like the flexor digitorum brevis.
⚠️ And most importantly: just because you have a spur on your scan doesn’t mean it’s the source of your pain!

At Achieve Podiatry, we dig deeper than just your X-ray. We look at how your body moves, your footwear, and your activity levels to treat the real cause of your pain.

📍Located in Port Macquarie | 👣 Book an appointment today

02/06/2025

A sore foot… but no injury? 🤔
This gentleman came in yesterday with pain near his 5th toe but couldn’t recall any trauma.

Swipe to see what we found! ➡️🔍

After a careful inspection using sterile instruments, we removed FOUR individual hairs lodged under the skin. The unexpected culprit? His short-haired Border Collie cross 🐕‍🦺

Stray hairs—whether from pets or people—can embed themselves into the skin, especially in areas like the feet. Hairdressers, dog groomers, and barefoot households are especially at risk, but this can happen to anyone.

These “hair splinters” are usually more annoying than dangerous, but they can lead to infection if left untreated.

If you're dealing with a mystery foot pain or something just doesn’t feel right—don’t ignore it. Your local podiatrist can help safely remove any foreign bodies and ensure the area is cleaned and protected properly.

👣 Foot pain? Book in. Let’s get to the root of it.

27/05/2025

🦶 Podiatrist Superpower: Otoform! 💥

Did you know we can custom-make silicone wedges to relieve painful corns, calluses, and pressure between your toes?

👇 In this video, Cameron shows how we use a special material called Otoform to reduce pressure on a corn (yes, those are fingers in the demo – but you get the idea! 😉).

💡 How it works:
1️⃣ We mix the Otoform with a catalyst — it turns pink when it’s ready to be shaped.
2️⃣ The wedge is quickly moulded between the toes.
3️⃣ Once it sets, we cut a small aperture where the corn is – completely offloading pressure.

✨ The result? Pressure is spread evenly, the corn gets relief, and the thick skin can start to shrink over time.

✅ Low cost (under $20)
✅ Quick to make
✅ Comfortable + long-lasting
✅ Often resolves chronic corns completely!

Not bad for something so simple, right? 👣

📍Book in with Achieve Podiatry to find out if an Otoform wedge could help you!

13/05/2025

👣 Want Stronger Feet Without Doing Foot Exercises?

What if your shoes could do some of the work for you?

A study by Ridge et al. (2019) found that people who simply wore barefoot shoes throughout their day got similar gains in foot strength as those doing dedicated foot strengthening exercises. 💪

That means:
✅ Less time spent doing foot workouts
✅ More natural strengthening, just by walking

🧠 So, what are barefoot shoes?
They’re minimalist footwear designed to mimic walking barefoot — thin soles, zero drop (no heel), wide toe boxes, and flexible construction. These features help your foot move and work more naturally.

⚠️ Not for everyone…
If you’ve got current foot pain, be cautious. Transitioning too quickly can cause overload. But if you’re healthy, pain-free, and curious about improving foot strength — this could be a game-changer.

👉 Start slowly
👉 Wear them for short periods
👉 Build up over time

If you’re unsure where to start or want to check if barefoot shoes are right for you, come in and have a chat with our podiatrist 👟

📚 Reference:
Ridge, S. T. et al. (2019). Walking in minimalist shoes is effective for strengthening foot muscles. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 51(1), 104–113. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000001769

07/05/2025

Thongs often get a bad rap—but are they always the villain? In the right context, thongs can actually support foot health and comfort. Discover when and where they might be the right choice, especially for certain foot conditions.

There’s a common belief that thongs are terrible for your feet. But I’m going against the crowd today to say that, in general, thongs are not bad for your feet. In fact, for some people, they can be a fantastic option-sometimes even better than enclosed lace-up shoes. What Makes Thongs a Good Ch...

30/04/2025

🦶 Ever wondered how we approach orthotics at Achieve Podiatry?

We’ve been out chatting with local health professionals, sharing how we treat and manage foot and leg conditions — and yes, orthotics are always a hot topic! 🔥

Here’s what we’ve been telling them (and now you 👇):

✅ We don’t believe in pushing expensive, hard custom orthotics unless they’re truly needed.
✅ We often use soft, cost-effective options that work just as well in many cases.
✅ And if we do recommend a custom device, it’s because we genuinely think it’s the best way to help you — not because it’s the most profitable.

Orthotics are just one part of a bigger picture. We’re here to build a plan that suits you.