podiatry

Dealing with Ingrown Toenails via Partial nail avulsion with phenol

Dealing with Ingrown Toenails : Partial Nail Avulsion with Phenol
Dealing with Ingrown Toenails : Partial Nail Avulsion with Phenol 1030 646 Ace Health Centre

Dealing with Ingrown Toenails : Partial Nail Avulsion with Phenol

Introduction

Ingrown toenails can be an uncomfortable and painful condition that affects many individuals. When a toenail starts growing into the surrounding skin, it can lead to pain, redness, swelling, and even infection. Fortunately, medical advancements offer effective solutions, and one such method is partial nail avulsion with phenol. In this blog, we’ll explore what ingrown toenails are, how partial nail avulsion with phenol works, and the benefits it offers.

Understanding Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails, medically known as onychocryptosis, occur when the edge of a toenail, most commonly the big toe, begins to grow into the skin, causing discomfort and irritation. This can happen due to factors such as improper nail trimming, wearing tight shoes, hereditary predisposition, or foot injuries. Left untreated, ingrown toenails can escalate into infections, leading to further complications.

Partial Nail Avulsion with Phenol: A Solution

Dealing with Ingrown Toenails via Partial nail avulsion with phenol is a standard and effective procedure used to treat recurring or severe ingrown toenails. It involves the removal of a portion of the ingrown nail along with the nail matrix, which is responsible for nail growth. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia to ensure minimal discomfort.

Here’s how the procedure generally works:

  1. Anesthesia: The affected toe is numbed using a local anesthetic to ensure the patient doesn’t feel any pain during the procedure.
  2. Nail Removal: The doctor carefully removes the ingrown portion of the nail, ensuring that the nail matrix responsible for nail growth is also removed.
  3. Phenol Application: After removing the ingrown nail, a chemical compound called phenol is applied to the nail matrix. Phenol helps prevent the regrowth of the ingrown nail by destroying the nail matrix cells.
  4. Wound Care: The treated area is thoroughly cleaned, and an antibiotic ointment and sterile dressing are applied to prevent infection.

Benefits of Partial Nail Avulsion with Phenol

  1. Effective Treatment: Partial nail avulsion with phenol has a high success rate in preventing the recurrence of ingrown toenails.
  2. Minimized Discomfort: The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, ensuring minimal pain during the treatment.
  3. Quick Recovery: Patients can usually resume regular activities within a few days after the procedure.
  4. Low Recurrence: By targeting the nail matrix, the chances of the ingrown nail returning are significantly reduced.
  5. Prevention of Infections: Removing the ingrown nail and applying phenol helps prevent infection, which is a common complication of untreated ingrown toenails.

Conclusion

Ingrown toenails can be a source of persistent pain and discomfort, but solutions like partial nail avulsion with phenol offer effective relief. If you’re experiencing recurring or severe ingrown toenails, consulting a podiatrist is crucial. They can evaluate your condition and recommend the most suitable treatment, ensuring you can step forward pain-free and back to your regular activities in no time. Remember, seeking professional medical advice is always the best approach to dealing with any foot-related concerns.

Custom orthotics for hypermobility

Custom orthotics for hypermobility
Custom orthotics for hypermobility 804 750 Ace Health Centre

Custom orthotics for hypermobility

Custom orthotics are widely used for symptomatic hypermobility. This occurs in adults and children. Hypermobility is widely genetic. Passed down from parents to children. There are also other types of hypermobilty which are genetic abnormalities such as marfams, or Ehlers danlos syndrome.

Joint range of motion

Joint have a range of motion that is whithin normal limits. Hypermobilty is when these joints move much further than they should do. For example. The big toe joint is meant to have aprox 45 degess for walking and up to around 60 degress. More than 90 degress is considered abnormal and hypermobile. The are a few different tests that you can do in order to see how flexable you really are. The main tests are done under the beightons scale for hypermobility.

Here are examples of a few test that are used in order to diagnose your level of hypermobiltiy.

  • Bend forward and place your hands flat on the floor without bending your knees.
  • Straighten your elbows past a neutral position (hyperextend) (one point for each elbow).
  • Straighten your knees past a neutral position (hyperextend) (one point for each knee).
  • Bend your pinky (little) fingers back beyond 90 degrees (one point for each finger).
  • Bend your thumbs back to touch your forearms (one point for each thumb).

The Orthotics

The orthotics that this client has been made for has been suffering from aching legs, feet, knees and loweer back. When a joint it hypermobile it becomes very unstable. This instubility requires your muscles to work overtime in order stablise the joint. This results in fatique and aching.

Custom orthotics are commonly used for hypermobilty to help stabalise the feet which can help in reduceing overuse. This in turns helps reduce the aching and fatique.The orthotics are only as good as the shoes that they are put into. This is why it is important for the podiatrist to give footwear recomendations that are suitable to put the orthotics into.

If you think that you are hypermobile and experience aching feet or legs then book in with our podiatrist today.

 

Blog written by Mike, Podiatrist

ACE Custom made Insoles. 3d orthotics

Welcome to your new custom orthotics
Welcome to your new custom orthotics 1000 667 Ace Health Centre

Welcome to your new custom orthotics

Thank you for purchasing your new custom orthotics from Ace Health Centre. Here’s all of the information you will need about them. It details how your custom orthotics are prescribed, designed, manufactured, and what to expect.

Did you know it takes your podiatrist over an hour of extra work after your consult to finish your orthotics?

How your orthotics are prescribed

 

Your orthotics are prescribed from a mix of –

  • your injury
  • your flexibility
  • your posture
  • your alignment in your feet, knees hips and back
  • your weight
  • your shoes
  • your sport or activity
  • your medical history such as being diabetic
  • your blood flow to your feet
  • your nerves and feeling in your feet
  • your balance
  • history of other injuries
  • muscle strength
  • corns or callous
  • and more…

Orthotics prescription and design

When prescribing orthotics there are many different things that a podiatrist can do design-wise. The prescription itself will be determined from the assessment.

Your podiatrist will then have done a 3D scan of your feet. The 3D scan provides a base model of your feet giving them your base arch heights, foot length and widths.

The custom orthotics are then designed via computer software by your podiatrist after the consult. It takes a lot of time and practice to be able to use compete software to design up an orthotic to know how it will end up after being 3D printed. The software helps aid with consistency of the product being produced and is far more accurate than other methods of orthotic manufacture.

Every podiatrist will prescribe slightly different meaning you could go to 10 different podiatrists and get 10 different orthotics designs and prescriptions. The goal though will always be the same. The main difference is that many podiatrists get other companies to do computer design for them. At Ace, we do all of the computer design ourselves. Did you know Mike, our podiatrist does design work for other podiatry clinics around Australia as well in his spare time?

3D printing

Once your orthotics have been designed by computer the file is then sent to a 3D printer. The 3D printer is an industrial-size printer that prints around 30-50 sets of orthotics in one go. It cannot just print singles. It prints by laying down layers of very fine powder in microns and then heats the powder to fuse it in specific places. The printing process takes around 24-36 hours in total. The orthotics are then removed from the printer, sandblasted to remove any excess powder, and then washed. The orthotics are printed using an HP MJF 4200 using PA11 nylon material. This material is also eco-friendly and 3D printing minimises waste material.

Covering

Once the 3D-printed shell has arrived back at the clinic it’s time to cover the orthotics. This is all done via your podiatrist by hand. The covers that your orthotics will is decided by your podiatrist from your consultation. This is determined by factors such as – your activity, the shoes you will wear them in, your weight, your medical history, your injury and more. There are many different materials available. Covers on orthotics can be replaced if you ever want to give your orthotics a little TLC.

Fitting

Once the orthotics have been completed, our reception team will give you a call to arrange a fitting appointment. Your orthotics are always made slightly big for your shoes and require trimming up to ensure a good fit.

It’s important to remember that your orthotics are only as good as the shoes they are being put into. This means that although putting them into flat soft or flexible shoes will be much better than nothing at all, fitting them into a good supportive stable shoe will give much better results. Your podiatrist should have discussed footwear with you in the consult and possibly given you recommendations for shoes that your custom orthotics will work best in.

If you do require new shoes we recommended purchasing them before your fitting appointment. This way your podiatrist can check the fitting of the shoes, make sure the shoe is correct, and fit the orthotics into the shoes.

When fitting an enclosed lace-up shoe we usually recommended fitting them by – putting both shoes on, lacing the shoes up properly, standing up, and having a fingers width between the end of your longest toe and the end of the shoe. We also suggest being able to pick a small amount of fabric across the widest part of your forefoot. This ensures that the orthotics will fit the shoes, and will provide a more comfortable experience. It is always best to go shoe shopping at the end of the day when your feet are maximally swollen and expanded. This will give you a much better idea of fit and comfort.

For people that do spend a lot of time on their feet, it is sometimes beneficial to purchase 2 pairs of shoes and alternate them daily. The foam in the soles of shoes can take 24 – 48 hours to fully recover and expand back out. This means that having that rest day helps them last longer, maintaining more support and cushioning.

Shoes do have a lifespan. If you are in your shoes for 8 hours per day we recommended getting new shoes every 6-8 months. Just because the top looks ok doesn’t mean the foam is. We also recommended replacing shoes after having them for 1.5 years as the foam and glues in the shoes start to degrade. This means the shoes will not provide the same support and cushion as they once did when new.

Your orthotics may not fit every shoe but may be able to fit between shoes that are the same size. Just take out the original insole that is in your shoe and replace it with your custom orthotics

What to expect

Everybody is very different in the way their body reacts to orthotics. The orthotics as often designed to hold/guide your feet in a certain position. This means that different muscles will be used while wearing them. These muscles can take time to adjust. For that reason, we ask you to pay attention to your body. Aches or pains for up to the first 4 weeks are normal. If you experience this we suggest taking the orthotics out, putting the original insoles from the shoes back in, and then starting to use the orthotics again the next day.

Reviews

After the fitting appointment, we book you for a 3-4 week orthotics review. This review session is to see how you are getting on with them. Making sure you are happy, they are comfortable, and they are doing their job. If there are any issues at this stage the orthotics can be modified when needed. Things such as arch heights, cushioning, support, flexibility and more can be changed. Just like anything custom it can be changed and modified as needed. For the first 3 months reviews are done without any out-of-pocket cost.

If you are experiencing issues where you are not able to wear your custom orthotics due to pain we recommended calling up for a review appointment and coming in sooner.

We recommended having your orthotics reviewed every 12 months. This is due to changes within your body that may affect your orthotics prescription. This can be anything from strength, flexibility sensation, blood flow and more. You may also have a new injury or issues that the orthotic needs to be aimed at that may require a change in prescription again. Your orthotic shell may also become more flexible over time meaning it will provide less support. These changes may mean an update in your orthotics prescription.

If you need anything or have any questions please contact us here, or book here. 

 

online exercise prescription

Online exercise prescription
Online exercise prescription 1920 1009 Ace Health Centre

Online exercise prescription

One of the biggest factors to consider regarding patient rehabilitation and positive outcomes is exercise adherence. Patients no matter the condition are likely to get some form of home exercise program to continue progressing at home. It is reported as high as 50% of patients do not complete their exercise prescribed by the therapist thus limiting their rehabilitation. Often barriers to exercise adherence include lack to time, lack of understanding of exercises, forgetting how to complete the exercise or the prescription regarding sets and repetitions.

So what do we do to combat this?

We use an application called Physitrack for our online exercise prescription. Physitrack allows clinicians to prescribe individualised home exercise programs. Physitrack has multiple user-friendly features including demonstration videos with audible cues for the exercise, allowing the therapist to easily alter the repetitions, sets and resistance for each activity as well as a section for the clinician to add any specific notes for cues they want their patient to remember.

During the consult, we sit down with our clients and educate them on how to download pysitrack and view their program. We also print out the program for our patients which documents, the exercises, exercise explanations, the repetitions and more. We can also put individual notes from the physio to make sure you have everything written down and easy to understand. All these features make exercise adherence easier for the patient thus helping the patient stay on track for a speedy recovery.

Our podiatrist also uses this programme in order to give his exercise programmes. Each clinician can log in and view each person’s programme making it easier to work between practitioners and modalities. This communication between practitioners leads to much better client care.

Online consults

The use of this application also means that we can do online telehealth consultations. Over the phone, we can simply email your exercise programme to you, and know that you will have all the details you need to perform it correctly.

Book now to see our physio

Shock Wave therapy

Shock Wave therapy
Shock Wave therapy 750 502 Ace Health Centre

Shock Wave therapy

Shock wave therapy (otherwise known as Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy – ESWT) is a modality of treatment whereas a machine passes sound waves through the tissues in the body to promote healing. Similar to ultrasound but at a lower frequency which causes the “shocks to be felt”. This process is a non-invasive technique that is suggested to promote the formation of new blood vessels at the tendon-bone junction, stimulate tendon cells (tenocytes), increase white blood cell count and amplify growth factor and protein synthesis to promote collagen synthesis and tissue remodelling. 

How does Shock Wave feel?

This can be a tender process due to targeting sore areas of the body but the intensity of shock waves can be adjusted by the operator, to the tolerance of the individual. This allows the process to be more enjoyable without much effect to the treatment. 

What is it used for?

Shock wave therapy is primarily used in the treatment of common orthopaedic musculoskeletal conditions. These include;

  • Muscle tendinopathies of the upper or lower limb
  • Plantar fasciitis 
  • Adhesive capsulitis 
  • Non-union of long bone fractures
  • Avascular necrosis of femoral head
  • Shin splints (Medial tibial stress syndrome)
  • Osteoarthritis of the knee 

Most of the time Shock wave is best used in combination with other treatment modalities such as exercise to promote the strengthening of the tissues during the remodelling phase after new blood vessel growth and collagen synthesis. Hands-on physio massage can also help release the tight aggravated muscles to help relieve even more pain. 

So if you have had that niggly or ongoing injury that just won’t go away, then Shock wave might be the treatment for you! Best to book in with our physio or podiatrist today and start the assessment process to determine the best fit for your condition. 

What's custom about your custom orthotics?

What’s custom about your custom orthotics?
What’s custom about your custom orthotics? 1920 1001 Ace Health Centre

What’s custom about your custom orthotics?

Many people receive their custom orthotics thinking that they looks like something they could have just purchased for a lot less from the chemist. This is defiantly not the case. The same as glasses from the chest look the same as glasses from the options but both are very different. Each sense is made to each eye, just like orthotics are designed for each foot. Each glass frame is tailored to each persons use for example reading glasses will be different to sports glasses. Orthotics are the same, each is tailored to the activity you want to use them for and the shoes they are going into. If they were that simple podiatrists wouldn’t spend 4 years learning how to to prescribe them.

We thought we would just name a few things that we can tailor but remember that this is only a shorted list of everything that can be done.

The arch height

This is an obvious one. The arch height is tailored to your feet. Depending how much the podiatrists wants your foot to move and how much pressure they want to redistribute to other parts of your foot. This can be based on your injury, your foot flexibility, the shoes that you wear and more.

Custom widths

The widths of the orthotics heel and forefoot will help control your foot. Your foot needs to sit in the heel of your orthotics to  help guide it. If it is too small it will dig into your foot. if its too large you’re foot will roll around on it. We also need to keep in mid of fitting it into the shoe. Too wide and it won’t fit. Your foots width change from non weight bearing to weight bearing. The podiatrist needs to work out how much and what shoe it will go into to decide the widths.

Custom angles

Podiatrists can chose what angles we put your foot at. This means the heel or foot forefoot angle can be tailored. So if your foot collapses inwards an angle is put on to roll it outwards, and if your foot rolls outward an angle may be put on to make it roll inwards. These angle are dependant on your injury, flexibility, structure of your lower limb and more.

Extra padding

If you need extra padding in places the podiatrist can decide where it needs it and what material to use. Usually if something is so you will need padding around the area and not under the area. This is to take pressure away from the sore area. There are lots of different ways todo this and lots of different materials that have different properties to decide from

The material

Orthotics can be made from many different materials. EVA in many different densities, carbon fibre, pa12 nylon, pa11 nylon, poly propylene to name just a few. Each material has different properties and can be altered in many different ways. Podiatrists need to know what to use and when.

The thickness / flexibility

This is one of the most important factors when prescribing orthotics. The thickness of the orthotic will be one of the main properties to determine how flexible the orthotic is. Thing that will factor into this is the persons weight, flexibility, foot arch height, extra additions on the orthotics that affect the flex, the injury, the severity of the injury, the activity its being used for and more. This is usually changed in increments of 0.1mm

These are just the basic points of what can be done to customise your orthotics. The is a lot more you can do to change the design. Most designing is not done via 3d cad cam engineering software. Orthotics are then 3D printed using machines that cost upwards of $700k. These machines have a high accuracy and product a stable, durable product. Cheaper 3D printers do not yet have a material that can produce a product with the same strength and flex charactoristics.

 

If you want to get some new orthotics or have any other questions please contact us today on 0755726222 or book online.

shock wave therapy gold coast

Shock wave therapy now avalible
Shock wave therapy now avalible 1000 667 Ace Health Centre

At Ace Health center, on the Gold Coast now has Shockwave therapy available.

What is Shockwave?

Shockwave therapy is a great noninvasive rehabilitation method that is getting more and more popular over the Gold Coast and the rest of the world.

Shockwave is a handheld device that emits low-frequency acoustic shockwaves that aim to kickstart the body’s natural healing.

The body responds differently to shockwave then it doesn’t to medication or other forms of rehab. This means shockwave is great to uses and multi-treatment therapy, but also if other conservative methods of treatment have failed.

What happens during treatment?

A gel is put onto the area of injury. The handpiece is then put on the gel and the machine is turned on. the gel helps the shockwaves transmit through the skin as they do not transfer well via air. Pulses of low-frequency sound are then emitted.

The area can be a little sore during the treatment feeling like little electric shocks. They can also be a little sore and bruised after. That said some people get pain relief right away, whereas some others may take a couple of days.

Success rate

Clinical trials on some injuries have come back with a 90% success rate. This shows that no matter what your injury, having it combined with shockwave can give it the boost it needs. Things like exercise therapy, custom orthotics, cortisone injections, and dry needling can also be used alongside shockwave therapy.

Who cant have shockwave?

Shockwave therapy on the gold coast doesn’t have many contraindications. A few though consist of

  • pregnancy
  • blood clotting disorders
  • pacemakers
  • taking oral blood thinners
  • cholesterol medication
  • open wound
  • had cortisone in the last 6 weeks

Shockwave treatment works especially well for injuries such as

  • heel pain
  • plantar fasciitis
  • shin splints
  • tendinopathy
  • tennis elbow
  • Achilles injuries
  • frozen shoulder
  • spurs
  • patella tendinopathy
  • and more……

Book today with our physio or podiatrist at Ace Health Centre on the Gold Coast to experience this miracle breakthrough in medicine and rehab.

Top 5 things to consider BEFORE you start running

Top 5 things to consider BEFORE you start running
Top 5 things to consider BEFORE you start running 1000 667 Ace Health Centre

This year, Ace Health Centre has entered a team for the Gold Coast Marathon. The Gold Coast Marathon weekend is July 6-7 and includes a range of distances for all ages and abilities!

For the kids, there are two races- a 2km and a 4km dash. For the big kids, there are the Gold Coast Airport fun run (5.7km), Southern Cross University Run (10km), Asics Half Marathon (21.1km) and the Gold Coast Marathon (42.2km). Ace Health Centre has a number of entrants in the Asics Half Marathon as well as two runners who are attempting their first ever Marathon,

There are lots of things to consider when you are planning your next (or your first) running event of any length! It is all well and good to have a goal in mind, but you need time to physically prepare your body and your mind for what you will endure on race day.

With the Gold Coast Marathon fast approaching maybe some of you are slowly but surely starting to panic because of the lack of training or because they haven’t trained at all. Something our head physio knows a thing or two about as well!

Scrambling to maximize her preparation time, Amelia compiled a list of things she really needs to get in check BEFORE starting her GC Marathon training program to maximize her chances to cross that finish line on July 7.

Small but crucial little details such as the right footwear, weather or mood, made it into her list. Despite her knowledge as a physiotherapist, Amelia found out the hard way and made mistakes you can avoid!

Here are Amelia’s top 5 things to consider before running. Read them, learn them and never forget them

 

1. ARE YOUR SHOES THE RIGHT SHOES FOR YOU?

Podiatrist are experts in all things feet! Before you start any kind of new exercise, be sure to make an appointment with a podiatrist.

They will:

– assess your gait

– evaluate your current footwear

– recommend the perfect shoes for you

– suggest where to buy the right shoes (we can’t rate anyone higher than Athlete’s Foot Pacific Fair)

– discuss the need for orthotics if required

– flag any biomechanical issues that may require further intervention from a physiotherapist, exercise physiologist, remedial massage therapist or strength and conditioning coach.

 

2. ARE YOU STRONG AND FIT ENOUGH TO START RUNNING?

Over the years, running has developed a bit of a reputation for injuries. However, most running injuries occur due to overuse. If you continue to run on structures that are not strong enough to take the excessive force that running can cause, you are an injury waiting to happen! Get into the gym and build up some baseline strength and fitness before you attempt to tackle running. If you are clueless on where to start, see a physiotherapist for an assessment and to run a specific strength program.

 

3. HAVE YOU CHECKED THE WEATHER?

If you want to reduce your risk of injury when running, be sure to not only listen to what the weatherman has to say but also take a look outside on the day. Too hot? Wait till the afternoon to cool down a little. Too rainy? We live in Queensland- it won’t last long. Running in excessive heat is not recommended, especially for novice runners. Save yourself the pain and the risk of heat stroke, and wait for more suitable weather before you take on a run. Running in the rain can create slippery surfaces and puddles- both of which can lead to a fall or trip.

 

4. ARE YOU FUELING YOUR BODY FOR RUNNING?

We recommend that EVERYONE spends some time with a dietician to create an ideal eating plan for you. Consuming the right food can provide you with the fuel required for all activities, running included. As you then increase your running distances, a sports dietician can teach you more about substrate usage and when gels and fluids may improve your performance.

 

5. HAVE YOU GOT A PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMME IN PLACE?

Sure you could just run 10km every day from now until the day of the race, but there are far more superior training programs out there. Your training program should allow for enough time for the goal event (hurry up;) ), and should gradually increase work volume. There will be periods of scheduled rest and cross training to reduce the chance of overuse injuries, and it should be malleable, should injuries arise. A physiotherapist, running coach or decent podiatrist should be able to help you out with a comprehensive training program.

If you haven’t started your marathon training, then you have to start now! Amelia’s tips will help you to get the most out of a very short timeline. Who says there are no shortcuts to success?

Podiatry Bulk billing explained - ACE Health Centre

Podiatry Bulk Billing explained
Podiatry Bulk Billing explained 1000 667 Ace Health Centre

First of all, we believe that great treatment shouldn’t matter on the type of insurance cover you have or the amount of money that’s sitting in your account. At ACE Health Centre, we provide excellent podiatry services for everyone – bulk billed or not.

 

What is Bulk Billing?

To be able to Bulk Bill you must have an EPC or TCA care plan from your doctor. There is a range of assessments your doctor will need to perform to see if you qualify for bulk-billed podiatry. But if you do, your GP can provide you with up to 5 visits per year for podiatry needs.

 

What do I get out of Bulk billed podiatry visits at ACE?

Think of it as a free trial at the gym. Our sessions work pretty similarly. You’ll get a chance to see our Podiatrists, either at Clear Island Waters or Nerang for a 30-minute visit under the Medicare, Bulk Billed Podiatry care plan.

Yes, you read right! Only at ACE will you get 30min instead of 20min consults to ensure you’ll be well taken care of. Even though Medicare only pays for 20-minute podiatry sessions, we believe that the 10 minutes on top of that will make all the difference to make sure we have enough time with each patient and assess and diagnose without having to rush through things.

 

Where can I get Bulk Billed Podiatry treatments?

Our podiatrists work at our main clinic in Clear Island Waters (close to Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach, and Carrara). Alternatively, you can see Mike Luker, our head podiatrist, at Nerang (close to Gold Coast hinterland and Mudgeeraba), so regardless where you live on the Gold Coast, there’s always an ACE clinic nearby.

 

What Podiatry treatments and services can be bulk-billed?

 

Our Podiatrists at Clear Island Waters specialize in

  • Gym for strength and rehab
  • Gait analysis
  • Diabetic assessment
  • Custom orthotics
  • Verruca and wart treatment
  • Corns and callous treatment
  • Ingrown toenail surgery and more

Although a little smaller in size, our Podiatry clinic in Nerang can assist with

  • Custom orthotics
  • Verruca and wart treatment
  • Corns and callous treatment
  • Diabetic assessment
  • Ingrown toenail surgery and more

 

Get in touch with us to find out if you qualify for Bulk Billing and / or to book an appointment with one of our podiatrists at ACE Health Centre, Clear Island Waters or Nerang.

ACE dry needling treatment

Dry needling?! Don’t be scared.
Dry needling?! Don’t be scared. 1000 667 Ace Health Centre

Most people would run for the hills when they hear the word needle and even more so when those needles are about to enter their skin. Most experiences that require the use of tiny, sharp metal sticks are usually not pleasant ones. Unless we’re talking about dry needling at ACE Health Centre!

Dry needling, also known as myofascial trigger point treatment, is the next big thing, used around the world when it comes to pain management and pain reduction. If that sounds all a little too scientific for you then read on! Our head podiatrist, Mike Luker took the time to write down a few notes for our patients to explain what dry needling is and what it does for those who experience some form or arches and pains in their body.

What is it Dry needling?

Dry needling is the process of inserting a thin filament needle into the muscle trigger points, tendons, fascia, ligaments, etc. This helps in stimulating the healing process of the soft tissue. It, therefore, results in pain relief and a reduction in muscle tension.

Is it painful?

No, it isn’t painful. Yes, the needles are inserted in the skin, but the needles are so thin that it’s usually a pretty gentle and pleasant kind of treatment. Some people might feel a brief local twitch response or mild pain sensation such as tingling, cramping or cramping sensation but compare to those needles at the dentist or doctor, it’s a walk in the park.

Dry needling VS Acupuncture

Dry needling is often associated with acupuncture as both use the needles to speed up the healing process. However, it can be well differentiated from acupuncture based on objectives and the philosophy behind both. Unlike acupuncture, which uses the Chinese points of insertion, dry needling uses trigger points to decide points of insertion.

What are the benefits?

Dry needling is beneficial for relieving a variety of musculoskeletal problems including:

  • Acute injuries
  • Chronic injuries
  • Muscle spasms
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Shin splints
  • Ball of foot pain
  • Calf pain
  • Tendinitis
  • Hip pain
  • Knee pain
  • Sciatica

Research has therefore shown that the use of needles can improve pain control, electrical and biochemical dysfunction of motor endplates and reducing muscle tension.

Consult a podiatrist at ACE Health Centre to discuss your condition and see if the treatment is for you.

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