Closer to home, our shoes and socks are busy making their way across Australia, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see our products being trusted and enjoyed both locally and internationally.

Thank you for being part of our journey, we can’t wait to see where we ship to next!

Visit our online shoe store or view our podiatrist-recommended shoe list.

What are orthotics?

Orthotics are an externally applied device that are inserted into shoes to correct faulty foot mechanics. At Entire Podiatry we offer different types of orthoses to suit different circumstances.

Why do children need orthotics?

Foot health in children is often ignored and can lead to serious problems – not only in the feet but also in the legs and back. It’s imperative to take note of how your child’s foot is forming and developing as they age. Foot orthotics can help correct any emerging issues that your child might be suffering from.

What are the early signs that your child might need orthotics?

If you’ve noticed any of the following, your child should be assessed by a podiatrist in case they need orthotics:

• They have a hard time keeping up with their classmates
• Their feet turn inwards
• Their feet turn outwards
• Their feet are flat (low or no arches)
• They have high arches

What are the specific symptoms of foot problems that would require the use of orthotics?

Listen out if your child complains about the following, as this means it’s time to get them assessed by a podiatrist:

• Pain in the feet, ankles, knees, legs or back
• Pain while walking or running
• If your child constantly wants to be carried more than other children in the same age group
• If your child tells you that they do not wish to participate in sports

What kind of non-verbal cues should you look for?

Sometimes your kids are tough and won’t be so verbal about their niggling issues. In this instance, keep a look out for:

• If they favour one leg over another while walking
• If they limp or drag their feet while walking
• If they keep tripping over, are slightly clumsy or have a lack of coordination
• If they have any stiffness in the foot and ankle
• If they have a sudden change in the way that they walk

Also, when helping them to change their shoes, look out for:

• Abnormally shaped toes
• Ingrown toenails
• Bunions (a bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe) or other foot deformities such as bone spurs (a bony lump that develops along bone edges)

If you have a family history of foot problems, is your child at risk?

Your child will be more likely to suffer from the same problems if there is a family history. Unfortunately, foot problems such as flat feet can be hereditary and are likely to be passed down. In this instance, if you do know of these problems in your family, it’s best to have your child assessed for the same issues.

How old does a child have to be to wear orthotics?

At 12 months, a child may be eligible to wear orthotics. However, this is a rare occurrence. The biggest milestone to really keep an eye on is once they turn two-years-old. If your child isn’t walking by then, then a podiatrist should assess them.

Are there any other specific age milestones that you should look out for?

As a minimum, it’s always good to do a check in on your child’s foot health at these age milestones:

• Age three (this is when children develop a more adult “heel-to-toe” gait)
• Age five (when starting school)
• Before beginning organised sports

How long does it take to get orthotics fitted?

As mentioned earlier, there are many different types of orthotics available including off-the-shelf, mid-range and custom made. Once the podiatrist has performed an assessment and discussed the most suitable option then the orthotics can be fitted in 1 to 2 weeks. It is recommended that your child returns one month after wearing them for a follow-up assessment.

At Entire Podiatry, we like to provide parents with the comfort of choice. That being said, custom foot orthotics (also known as total contact orthotics) are the most effective at hugging the arches of your child’s feet. Custom foot orthotics are custom made to suit their individual foot, evenly distributing weight-bearing forces across the whole foot.

Can you feel it in the air? The manic energy of the holidays is starting to wind down and a new school year is just around the corner! Whether you’re getting ready for your child’s very first day or preparing them for another year, there’s a lot of preparation leading up to that first day at school. As a parent, the most important thing you can do for your child during this period is to be organised. To help you prepare, we’ve put together a handy guide on what to do and look out for.

1. Keep a Calendar

Before you begin shopping or running around, list down all the important events that may occur during your child’s first term. If it has been released, try to get a copy of the school’s term calendar so that you have some key dates in concrete. Buy yourself an organiser or a calendar for the kitchen to map out all of these important dates.

These key dates might include:

• The first and last day of school
• Parent-teacher interviews
• Holidays
• Special events, fetes, excursions or assemblies
• School sporting events
• After-school activities
• Check with the school on after-school care availability

2. School Supplies

Make sure you give yourself enough time to get your child’s books and school supplies ready. Your school will share a list of the required books and other needs for the classroom (textbooks, tablet, calculator, USB stick, etc.), but make a master list for yourself that you can physically tick off before you start buying!

As well as the items recommended by the school, plan for other items to add to your list, such as:

• Backpack
• Lunch box
• Spare clothes
• Name tags for their bag and other personal items
• Umbrellas or lightweight wet-weather gear
• Extra notebooks, pens and folders
• Lanyard to keep keys, USB or school ID in one easy-to-find place
• Tablets, e-readers, laptops or computers

Extra tip: Make sure you allow room in your budget for all of the back-to-school costs. With the long list of items that you need to buy, it can get pricey. Always take note of what unused school supplies you have left from last year, and remove those items from the list to reduce your overall cost.

3. Uniforms

Children grow fast and their clothing size is always changing. Try to take your child to the school uniform store as close to the start date as possible. If you have some sewing skills, you may even be able to buy clothing in a size larger and take it in yourself. If not, give yourself plenty of time to get them professionally tailored. Some school uniform shops also offer good quality second hand items which could save you some money.

Extra tip: Make sure you read up on any special school dress codes and/or restrictions that the school might enforce. That new hat that your child got for Christmas might be sent home with a note if it doesn’t fit with the code.

4. School Shoes

School shoes are the most important part of your child’s wardrobe. Their constant growth spurts (expect shoe-size changes every six to 12 months) means that your child’s feet are constantly developing and forming, which will affect the way they walk, run and play sports. Because of this, it should be a top priority to find shoes that are comfortable, supportive and – above all – fit well. An ill-fitting shoe can lead to long-term problems with their foot, leg and spine health, so it’s best to get it right from the start.

Things to look for in a good school shoe:

• A firm heel
• Insoles ideally should be removable, particularly if the child has been prescribed an orthotic
• Durable and breathable materials
• Roomy toe box
• Rubber soles with a deep tread to prevent slipping
• Support for the ankle

Read our full guide to buying kids school shoes for more information.

Most retail shops will have suitable school shoes, but if you are looking for particular requirements it’s always best to get proper advice about what kind of shoe your child needs. Does your child have a flat foot or do they have higher arches? How wide are your child’s feet? Do they turn inwards or outwards? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, it’s best to get a podiatry check-up (see more below).

5. Health and Podiatry Checks

Before the chaos of school begins, plan for a health check with your child’s GP. As well as a general health and vision check – make sure that they are on track for any required vaccinations and/or flu shots before the semester begins.

As well as the GP, it’s also important to book your children in for a podiatry check-up. Children’s foot health is often overlooked and their growing feet will require regular check-ups to make sure that they are developing and forming well.

Not sure when to take them in? If your child ever experiences pain in the feet or legs this would indicate that a podiatry check-up is required. Otherwise, these are the minimum milestones to look out for:

• Age three (this is when children develop a more adult “heel-to-toe” gait)
• Age five (when starting school)
• Before beginning organized sports

Read our full guide on How to Know if Your Child Needs Orthotics for more information.

6. Haircut

Book a hair appointment for your child so that their locks are fresh and tidy for the first day.

The last thing you’ll want to do is take them in the middle of the semester when your weekends will be jam-packed with school events and play dates.

7. Create Their Own Workspace

Kids need a quiet and distraction-free area to study. Before the semester starts, make sure that you’ve set up a designated space just for them. A few weeks before school starts, you should arrange fun and stimulating activities that they can complete in the workspace. This will help get them in the zone once it actually comes time for them to complete homework there!

What should this space look like? Try to:

• Keep it away from the television or main thoroughfare of the house
• Don’t go overboard on decoration, keep the space simple
• Make sure they have a comfortable chair that they can sit in for several hours
• Have storage solutions for their books, pens and other school supplies

8. Get Back on Schedule

During the holidays, your kids may fall off their usual school schedule. They might be sleeping in and going to bed later at night. Two weeks before school starts, get them back on track. The easiest way to do this is to make sure their meal times reflect the upcoming school schedule.

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t be. The time will fly by and before you know it you’ll be saying goodbye to them at the school gate.

Need more help preparing for their return to school? Download our free, printable Back-to-School checklist so that you don’t miss a thing!

Download Checklist

After a long week of being on your feet a lot you might decide to treat yourself to a pedicure at your local nail salon. The last thing you would expect is for your newly pampered toes to pick up a fungal infection.

Unfortunately, when the right precautions aren’t taken, nail salons are a haven for the types of fungi that wreak havoc on healthy nails.

Fungal nail is a common infection of the toenails or fingernails that can cause discoloration, thickening or weakening of the nails, and even pain.

Nail infections can be tough to treat. As a Podiatrist, I see people every day who come to my clinics desperate to rid themselves of fungal nail. Many people don’t know where they picked up the infection, but a lot of them have one thing in common – frequent trips to the nail salon.

The correlation makes perfect sense. Nail salons are a veritable paradise for the types of fungi that cause fungal nail. A pedicure presents the potential for minor trauma to your skin and nails, which in combination with poor sanitisation measures, makes infection a very real risk.

While it is possible to get rid of fungal nail, the infection can be very stubborn, and the best precaution is always prevention. Learn how to discern whether your favorite nail salon is safe and make sure you stay fungal nail free.

What Causes Fungal Nail and Why Might Nail Salons Increase Your Risk?

Fungal nail is most commonly caused by dermatophyte, yeast, or non-dermatophyte mould infections. These fungi thrive in moist environments and are easily transmitted, making nail salons the perfect environment for fungal nail to run rampant if the right precautions aren’t taken.

Nails become especially susceptible to infection with the trauma inducing practices nail technicians commonly use. Once your feet have had a nice relaxing soak, your pedicurist typically starts pushing your cuticles back, trimming any dry skin, and using sharp instruments to clean around the edge of your nails. If the nail salon and pedicurist don’t follow best practice techniques and protocol, then this kind of treatment has the potential to create portals of entry for infective organisms.

In addition to minimising trauma to the skin that may create a point of entry for infection, tools need to be properly sterilised.

But surely all nail salons follow proper precautions to ensure fungal organisms simply can’t be spread, don’t they? The answer is one you might not want to hear…

While many nail salons may follow best practice techniques when it comes to hygiene and sterilisation of equipment, the reality is that nail salons in Australia aren’t heavily regulated in this regard. For this reason, as a consumer it pays to be well-informed about the risks and to know what to look for from your nail salon provider.

Are There Other Ways to Contract Fungal Nail?

There are many ways to contract fungal nail and there are a few things that make you more susceptible to it.

Walking barefoot in wet and moist environments like pools or saunas, sharing personal items like nail clippers, not changing your shoes often or wearing constrictive footwear all impact your susceptibility to fungal nail.

Certain health conditions can also influence the likelihood of contracting fungal nail including pre-existing nail injury or trauma to the nails, having a weakened immune system, diabetes, smoking, and ageing.

Nail salons are a common environment where it is possible to both be exposed to the fungus and sustain trauma to the nail or cuticle that creates a potential entry point for infection.

Knowing How to Protect Yourself

Fungal nail is hard to deal with and it can cause discomfort. Take the following precautions to make sure your next pedicure doesn’t lead to a long term fungal infection:

• Don’t let the pedicurist use sharp instruments such as scalpel blades or skin shaving devices (for example, to cut cuticles, trim dead skin or clean under your nails). Tools such as these can increase the chances of your skin being cut, creating a portal of entry for micro-organisms.
• If the pedicure spa tub doesn’t look clean, forego the pedicure and go somewhere else.
• Avoid shaving your legs for at least 24 hours prior to your pedicure (small nicks from shaving can act as potential entry points for micro-organisms).

Keep an open line of communication with your pedicurist. Don’t be afraid to ask questions like these:

• How are the footbaths are cleaned? (The filtration system should be cleaned regularly using an appropriate chemical cleaner).
• Does the salon use an autoclave to sterilise clippers and other metal instruments between clients?
• Does the salon properly dispose of items that can’t be sterilised after using them once on a client? For example, nail files, cotton balls, wooden tools.
• Do they wash/replace the towels used to dry a client’s feet each time?
• Do they mind if you bring your own equipment?
• Does the pedicurist wash their hands thoroughly between clients and/or wear disposable gloves between clients?

Try arriving early for your appointment and spend some time observing hygiene practices at the salon.

How often do you see the pedicurists washing their hands, disposing of used equipment, and taking reusable equipment out of packets and to sterilisation machines?

If what you see doesn’t reflect the best practices that ensure your safety, it’s time to find a new salon.

What About Manicures?

The next time you go for a manicure, keep in mind that you can get fungal nail on your fingernails as well. While it’s more common in toenails, the same precautions and sterilisation procedures still need to be followed with manicures.

How Will I Know If I Have Fungal Nail?

There are some common signs to watch out for if you think you might have fungal nail.

Early signs of fungal nail include:

• White, yellow or brown streaks on the nail
• Crumbling of the nail
• Thickening of the nail
• Scaling under the nail

What Should I Do If I Think I Have Fungal Nail?

First off, don’t worry. New technology makes dealing with fungal nail much simpler than it has been in the past.

If you think you might have fungal nail, the best course of action is to contact a qualified Podiatrist like Entire Podiatry.

Entire Podiatry provides podiatry services from 9 clinics across Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Logan and on the Gold Coast. We’re committed to providing long-term solutions to our clients while empowering them to make informed choices when it comes to their foot health.

We’re proud to offer the latest research based treatments for fungal nail. The leading edge of non-invasive fungal nail treatment uses Cutera GenesisPlus laser technology to get to the root of the issue. Our Laser Podiatry services are available at our Brisbane CBD and Robina Easy T clinics, however an initial assessment of fungal nail can be conducted at any of our 9 clinics across Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.

Book an appointment online now or call us on 1800 4 ENTIRE to find out how we can help you get your nails healthy again.

• Inspect your feet every day. On a daily basis, look and feel each foot for signs of injury, hot or cold areas, corns, calluses, and discolouration. If you notice any of these signs, act on them early to prevent complications. If your eyesight is poor, ask someone else to check your feet for you or use a mirror to inspect the soles of your feet.
• Cut your toenails straight across. Reduce the risk of ingrown toenails by trimming your toenails straight across rather than rounding off the edges. See a Podiatrist if you need help to trim your toenails.
• Exercise your feet. In addition to general activity, your Podiatrist can give you specific exercises to help strengthen your feet and ankles. Specific exercises can also help to improve balance and proprioception (your sense of body and joint position in space), which can help to reduce your risk of a fall.
• Seek professional advice. If you notice problems such as corns or calluses on your feet, don’t try to scrape or cut these yourself. It’s best to see a Podiatrist, who has the right tools and knowledge, to reduce the risk of damaging your skin and developing problematic infections.
• Choose your footwear wisely. Some types of footwear can increase your risk of falls by making you slip or stumble. Look for firm, flat shoes with the right amount of grip and ankle support. Ask your Podiatrist for specific advice about the best shoes to suit you.

Features

Some of the features of the Dr Comfort range of socks include:

• Made using Nano Bamboo Charcoal Fibres which are a natural deodoriser and release Far Infrared Rays that may promote blood circulation and anion production
• Made with synthetic fibres which draw moisture away from your skin, preventing blisters and infections
• Strategically positioned thickened padding for comfort and blister prevention
• Flat, soft toe seam to minimise areas of friction and rubbing on the skin
• Coloured using a dye which does not bleed out of the fabric, reducing infection risks
• Particularly ideal for anyone who has diabetes, arthritis, oedema, neuropathy or problems with circulation
• A partial foot sock is also available for people with a partial foot amputation

We offer a 30-day money back guarantee on Dr Comfort socks. If you’re not completely satisfied with your purchase, simply bring in the socks back into our clinic within 30 days of purchase and we will organise a full refund.

Care Instructions

In order to maximise the lifespan of Dr Comfort socks, we recommend the following care instructions:

• Turn the socks inside out before washing
• Use a small amount of fabric softener in the washing load
• Avoid using a clothes dryer to dry the socks (line-drying will increase the lifespan of any socks)

You may not think it, but blisters are a very common reason for participants having to pull out of the Kokoda Challenge, and taping is one strategy that people find helpful to prevent blisters.

The following series of 3 videos will run through taping techniques for the 3 main areas of the foot that tend to develop blisters: the heel, the big toe joint, and the toes. We hope you find these videos useful. See you out on the trail!