Martial Arts
All different styles of martial arts require barefoot movement to be precise and powerful. Because we are all born with different foot types, some people in martial arts will be more predisposed to injuries than others.
All martial arts; especially karate, kung fu, kick boxing and taekwondo require girls and boys at an early age to develop strong intrinsic foot strength along with a strong core and mobile hips to help progress from junior ranks to senior ranks or belts. Furthermore having strong feet in all different styles of martial arts is vital to hold shape and maintain the aesthetics of the movement especially when doing kata or gradings to advance belts.
We understand with our fighters that are performing regularly and professionally that there is constant need for foot and ankle care to help ensure they can continue holding form throughout their training and sparring.
On top of this for our junior fighters who are growing fast and endeavouring to impress, the alignment of the foot and ankle is vital to help sustain training efficiencies as they begin to do more representative level training alongside their school commitments and sometimes additional sporting commitments.
Common injuries seen in our junior martial artists
- Osgoods Schlatters - Growing pain in the knee
- Severs Disease - Growing pain in the heel
- Shin Splints - Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome
- Ankle Sprain and Fractures
- Jumpers Knee - Patella Tendonopathy
- Extensor and Flexor tendon pain in the foot
- Stress fractures and hot spots within the foot
Common injuries seen in our senior fighters
- Calf and Achilles Pain
- Plantar Fascitiis and Heel Spurs
- Patella Tendon Pain
- Shin Splints - MTSS
- Ankle Sprains and Acute Fractures
- Stress Fractures and hot spots
- Forefoot and Arch Pain
- Ankle impingement Anterior and Posterior
- Mortons neuroma
Prevention and Treatment
If you are in pain now or simply want to look at ways to prevent injury there is never a better time than now to have your body, training loads and feet looked at.
All assessments are 30 minutes and 45 minutes for those patients who require screening or have had a chronic or resilient problem which has been untreatable so to speak over a long period of time.
Common Methodology behind Treatments
Our methodology at Melbourne Sports Podiatry is simple but deliberate. Although all treatments are tailored based on the individual the way we find out how to best work you and our other patients come from the following process:
- Assess specific movement patterns based on the sport
- Assess structures between the lower back and feet
- Identify where the problem is stemming from
- Identify limitations or energy leaks
- Treat on the day and plan ahead.
Common Treatments we use on the first appointment include
- Sports specific strapping and padding
- Footwear assessment
- Soft or Deep Tissue release
- Lower limb Dry Needling
- Balance and Strength Programming
- Running Analysis and Re-training
- PNF stretching and Joint Mobilisation
- In shoe wedging for boxers
Other Treatments we use include
- Joint adjustments
- Advanced Foot and Ankle rehabilitation
