Barefoot Podiatry

YOUR BEST BARE FEET

Renowned for our thorough, caring, patient-centred approach to treating foot, ankle and lower limb conditions, Barefoot Podiatry is passionate about putting people of all ages back on their feet.

OUR PODIATRISTS

KIM THOMPSON
Senior Podiatrist BHSc Pod NZ MAPodA AAPSM

A graduate of the Auckland University of Technology, Kim is passionate about the benefits of podiatric care for feet of all ages. A middle and long distance runner, Kim has competed at a regional level in track and cross-country running, basketball and Touch Rugby. With a firm belief that optimal foot function is integral to performance and injury prevention, Kim brings her specialist podiatric knowledge to active feet. With a special interest in children’s feet and footwear, Kim is improving the performance outcomes of some of the State’s best young athletes. Kim specializes in Dry Needling Therapy and Prolotherapy and is a Consultant Podiatrist for Athletes Foot.

REBECCA FOLLACCHIO
Podiatrist B. HSc M. Pod Prac

Rebecca is a graduate of La Trobe University qualifying with a Bachelor of Health Science and Masters in Podiatric Practise. Rebecca has a fond interest in diabetes management in relation to the foot and general podiatry. She also enjoys participating in regular group sporting activities as she believes it is important to be able to advocate a healthy life style to her patients in order to see greater outcomes.

ALICIA HART
Podiatrist BHSc Pod M. Pod Prac

Alicia is a graduate of La Trobe University qualifying with a Bachelor of Health Science and Masters in Podiatric Practise. Alicia is interested in all aspects of Podiatry, in particular paediatrics and diabetic foot management. Alicia takes an overall holistic approach to Podiatry where an understanding of the many factors that contribute toward her patients concerns are addressed and taken into consideration when implementing a personalised treatment plan. Alicia specialises in dry needling, foot mobilisation and tool assisted massage.

OUR SERVICES

Providing a complete range of specialised and general foot care diagnosis, treatment, education and advice, Barefoot Podiatry can get you back on your feet with:

Children’s Feet

Alongside regular foot care, children have some very unique podiatric needs. With soft, flexible, growing feet, children can experience a range of foot, ankle and leg conditions that can cause pain, alter their gait and limit their performance in sporting endeavours.

Dry Needling & Trigger Point Therapy

Dry Needling is an effective treatment for acute foot injuries, muscle spasms and tightness. It involves the use of fine acupuncture needles to deactivate trigger points in the muscle and release contraction.

Prolotherapy

A safe and effective way to treat chronic soft tissue injuries and ligamentous strain, Prolotherapy involves injecting 5-25% glucose (sugar water), saline (salt water) and lignocaine (anaesthetic) around joints to promote wound healing.

Orthotics & Arch Support

Custom designed innersoles, known as orthotics or arch supports, help improve foot and leg function by correcting poor posture and alignment of the bones and muscles. Inserted in your shoes, orthotics can help with foot, leg and even back pain. Orthotic arch supports can be designed to fit in work shoes, boots, running shoes and casual shoes.

Biomechanical Assessment

Thorough testing and evaluation of the muscles and joints from the lower back to the feet is known as a Biomechanical Assessment. Biomechanical Assessments assist Podiatrists to diagnose your problem and look at factors that may be causing your pain. The assessment is non-invasive and does not cause any pain.

Video Treadmill Gait Analysis

A Video Treadmill Gait Analysis involves taking a very detailed look at the way you walk or run. By capturing the motion of muscles in the feet, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles from various angles on video, podiatrists can see complex motion related pathology of the foot, ankle, knee, hip and lower back. The assessment can be done on our treadmill, both barefoot and in shoes.

Individual Stretching and Strengthening Programs

Using the latest evidence-based research, Podiatrists can design a stretching and strengthening program aimed at rehabilitating the lower limb and reducing the risk of re-injury. Tight or ineffective muscles can result in musculoskeletal imbalances, injury, joint dysfunction and pain.

Strapping Techniques

Strapping Techniques are an important part of the rehabilitation of active feet and lower limb injuries. Our specialist Podiatrists are highly trained in foot strapping techniques, with different types of tape available to manage pain, injury and activity.

Footwear Advice

Pain in the feet, back, hips, knees and ankles may be the result of poor footwear, or footwear not designed for your foot type. Our podiatrists have extensive knowledge in work boots, work shoes, dress shoes, dress boots, running shoes, football boots and children’s school and sporting shoes.

Corns & Callus

The foot’s response to excessive pressure, calluses are an area of hard, thickened skin. Often the result of a biomechanical abnormality, tight fitting footwear, or a predisposition, calluses can be very painful.

Wart Treatment

Plantar Warts, also called Verrucae’s, generally appear on the soles of the feet. The result of a viral infection within the skin, they appear as a thickened area of skin, often with tiny black dots. Plantar warts can be very painful depending on their size and position on the foot.

Ingrown Toenails

A very common and painful condition, ingrown toenails occur when the skin on one or both sides of the nail, grows over the edge of the nail. The result of direct trauma, repetitive trauma (i.e. soccer/running), incorrect cutting of the toenail and congenital issues with the size and or shape of the nail, ingrown toenails are unlikely to resolve without professional podiatric treatment if inflammation, swelling and pain are present.

Diabetes

Diabetes affects the feet in many ways. Compromising blood flow to the feet, diabetes can affect circulation, healing time and increase the risk of infections to the skin and nails of the feet. Diabetes can also affect the nerves of the feet, causing problems with feeling in the feet and proprioception (the stability of the feet).

General Foot Care

General foot care is important for many reasons. Alongside keeping you pain free and on your feet, professional podiatric foot care keeps your feet feeling and looking great. A general foot care treatment may include treating thickened or hard toenails, removal of corns and callus and the removal of hard or rough skin.