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 Podiatry is not just about addressing problems of the feet, it’s about considering the whole body. Your Podiatrist can successfully treat problems of the feet, knees, hips and spine, effectively reducing pain and increasing your overall well-being.
You can expect that your Soma podiatrist will take into consider the whole person, take a thorough and accurate history, professionally review gait, determine the cause of your pain and successfully work with you towards achieving excellent results.
What conditions do Podiatrists treat?
- Plantar fasciitis
- Shin pain / shin splints
- Sporting and overuse injuries
- Ankle pain
- Knee pain
- Hip pain
- Lower back pain e.g. Sciatica
- Ingrown toe nails
- Bunions
- Corns
- Calluses
- Foot odor and tinea pedis
- Warts
- Hammer toes
- Heel pain/ Heel spurs
- Achilles tendonitis
- Flat feet
- Arch pain
- Children’s foot problems
Our podiatrists will offer you advice and educate you on appropriate foot wear for all occasions, including sporting shoes, work and everyday shoes to best support your feet and overall bodies biomechanics. Your foot wear is important to your foot health and as we are all individuals, not all shoes on the market are best suited to everybody.
What is an orthotic and why might I need one? Orthoses, otherwise referred to as orthotics, are devices designed to fit inside your footwear in order to encourage the correct way for your foot to function. Your podiatrist may recommend orthotics in order to alter or modify foot function, as they are designed to treat, adjust, and support various biomechanical foot disorders.
What is the difference between custom made orthotics and those I can purchase over the counter?
Custom made orthotics are considered the gold standard of treatment when controlling the foot and lower limb. After a thorough biomechanical assessment, a cast of the feet is required for the orthotics to be made within a lab. The main benefits of this method are the correction can be tailored to the individual feet, and the materials generally have excellent longevity. Orthotics purchased over the counter (commercially-made devices) are often made of cheaper material, hence a short life span. These devices are found only in 3 -4 varying sizes from small to extra large. They are often used clinically as an economical option to introduce support to the foot, but the generic control they provide is unlikely to fully correct your biomechanical misalignments long term.
Does my Private Health cover Podiatry? Our podiatrists are registered with all major health funds; however it is best that you contact your insurer to determine if you are covered. It’s easy to claim for your podiatry care with our on the spot HiCaps rebate service.
Does Medicare Cover Podiatry? Yes, however not for all patients. It is best you contact our office for more information. This cover is for those patients certified by their doctor as having long term chronic conditions, such as diabetes, long term arthritis, or vascular disease etc, making these patients eligible for the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) program.
Therapist Luke Gartner Podiatrist - Bach. Podiatry , M.A.Pod.A
 Luke has successfully worked in private clinics for the past 3 years, having gained experience in the technical function and fitting of footwear. He enjoys all facets of podiatry including pediatrics’, diabetes assessments and general skin and nail care. Luke’s passion lies in sports podiatry and lower limb biomechanics, assisting in injuries such as knee, shin, ankle, heel and arch pain.
Outside of podiatry, Luke enjoys playing and watching an array of sports. He is a keen cricketer, being vice-captain in his team. He also likes playing AFL and following Hawthorn. Read More
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