Matildas star Michelle Heyman, pictured with Walking Clinic owner Ricky Lee, says she couldn’t achieve her sporting goals without a good podiatrist. Photos: Thomas Lucraft.
The Olympics occur every four years, so who are the medical professionals who ensure our athletes are in top condition to go for gold? The answer might be closer to home than you think.
For elite athletes, taking care of their body is vital to maintaining a career. And when it comes to a sport such as soccer, being fast and accurate with your feet is the only way to make it onto the field and stay there at the top.
The Walking Clinic recognises the importance of foot health in athletes’ performance and offers a comprehensive range of services dedicated to maintaining strong and healthy feet.
Canberra United striker Michelle Heyman credits the work of The Walking Clinic owner Ricky Lee with keeping her going throughout her training.
As she prepares to head to Paris to represent Australia with the Matildas at the Olympic Games, she says she was initially attracted to the clinic after noticing signs around town.
“I’ve been driving by The Walking Clinic for years in Lyneham, and I thought `Michelle, it’s time to do some stalking on Instagram’ and try and fix the problems I was having in my lower leg. I reached out to Ricky in a classy direct message to get some help,” Michelle says.
“Ricky has helped me understand my feet and why I was in so much pain. Ricky did a few tests with me and took some scans of my feet to create some orthotics that I’ve never had in my life.
“Being a professional footballer, my feet are my tools, so I need them to be in the best possible shape and that’s what Ricky has done.”
When it comes to her second Olympic Games with the Matildas, Michelle says she can’t be more thrilled to be taking part.
“I’m feeling really excited about the Olympics. Not many people get to experience a second Olympics, so I’m taking it all in and being as present as possible.”
The Walking Clinic has also been helping Canberra United’s Nicki Flannery reach the top of her game since she started getting regular check-ups 12 months ago.
“I have been playing in the league for nearly 10 years, and maintaining healthy and strong feet is crucial to keeping up stamina for months on end,” Nicki says.
“I got a stress fracture a few years back and wanted to keep an eye on it to make sure I made a full recovery and it wouldn’t impact my game in the long run.”
Ricky says he uses the best possible technology to treat his patients.
“Both Michelle and Nicki have sustained foot injuries due to the high impact and intensity of soccer, particularly from the use of soccer boots. I conducted comprehensive biomechanical, structural, and strength assessments to formulate personalised treatment plans for them.
“Based on these assessments, I determined they both required custom prescription orthotics. Using the detailed information from their evaluations, I performed a three-dimensional scan of their feet to create custom 3D-printed orthotics.
“These orthotics are designed to stabilise their feet, redistribute pressure, treat their injuries, reduce the risk of further injuries, and ultimately improve their performance.”
The Walking Clinic has been keeping Canberrans on their feet since 1978, with locations open in Woden, Kippax, Garran, Lyneham, Manuka and Belconnen. For more information and to book your next appointment, visit The Walking Clinic.
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