Emma Poynton

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree in Podiatry
Masters of Health Specialisation in Podiatry

Associations

Member of the Australian Podiatry Association
Member of the Australasian Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine and Sports Medicine Australia.

Bio

Emma is an experienced podiatrist and has been a member of the Lifecare Podiatry team since 2006. Emma has a Master of Health Specialisation (Podiatric Medicine) from University of South Australia and a Bachelor of Podiatry from Latrobe University.

Emma’s clinical practice specialises in biomechanics, sports medicine and injury management with a strong interest in winter sports (skiing, ice hockey and ice skating), football and running. Junior athletes, paediatric athletes, are also a clinical interest after Emma completed her Masters in 2011 with specific paediatric sport and biomechanical components.

Emma’s strong interest in clinical sports podiatry came though her own involvement as a competing athlete, originally in track and field sprinting and now in ice hockey. Through being an athlete and working with elite athletes in professional sporting environments, she has developed a clinical and practical understanding of what injured athletes need as part of their treatment and management plans.

As the current Western Bulldogs AFL, AFLW and VFL/VFLW podiatrist, and AFL Women’s National Academy podiatrist, Emma can offer consults on all lower limb football related injuries as well as football boot prescriptions.

Emma is a qualified Master Boot Fitter of ski and snowboard boots which includes fitting and modifying boots, customising footbeds and problem solving boot fit concerns. Emma has also previously worked in Melbourne’s leading technical athletic footwear stores and is therefore also competent in providing advice on footwear selection for her patients.

Extending beyond sports medicine – Emma is happy to consult on all common foot and lower limb complaints such as heel and arch pain, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), nail conditions and surgeries, diabetic assessments, foot and leg pain, orthotic therapy, and paediatrics.

Educating her patients to understand their ailment, and management of it, is vital in Emma’s practice. She also strives to continually update her own education and completed her Masters in 2011.  She regularly provides return education sessions for colleagues and athletes through channels such as previously chairing the Australian Podiatry Association’s Sports Podiatry Special Interest Group, presenting on numerous sports medicine topics to podiatry colleagues within Victoria, and presenting similar topics to physiotherapists at the Australian Physiotherapy Association.

Sporting teams:

• Podiatrist for the Australian Open (Grand Slam Tennis – ATP and WTA)
• Podiatrist for Western Bulldogs Football Club (AFL, AFLW and VFL)
• Podiatrist for the AFLW National NAB Academy
• Podiatry advisor for the Little Athletics Victoria
• International Paralympic Committee, World Para Ice Hockey, Technical Advisor and technical Delegate
• Past General Manager of the Australian Para Ice Hockey Team
• Past General Manager of the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey Team
• Past President of Melbourne Ice (Australian Ice Hockey League)