The foot is viewed as the most complex part of our body dealing with load. It therefore can provide an endless list of disorders and problems as well as compensating and contributing to others.

Here is a basic list of common foot and lower limb complaints and disorders:

• Sprains, strains, and fractures
• Poor Foot Biomechanics – where the structure of the foot can lead to pain to the foot, leg or body
• Arthritis – degenerative and/or inflammatory changes to joints
• Tendonitis – inflammation of the tendons
• Shin Splints – pain felt along the shin bone or lower leg below the knee
• Peripheral Vascular Disease – where blood flow is restricted to the lower limb
• Peripheral Neuropathy – nerve change or damage of the foot and lower limbs
• Severs Disease – common heel pain in young and physically active people
• Deep Vein Thrombosis – a blood clot that forms in the veins of the leg

No single treatment works for everyone. This makes it important to see an experienced Podiatrist for diagnosis and management of your foot pain

Heel pain in the morning? It could be Plantar Fasciitis. This is an inflammation and change of the thick fibrous band of tissue which runs from the heel to the base of the toes. When placed under too much stress, the plantar fascia stretches too far and tears. It is an overuse injury commonly caused by excessive pronation (flat feet), rigid feet (high arched feet), poor foot biomechanics, poor footwear, muscle tightness, muscle weakness and degenerative changes from years of use and other changes to our body with age.

Taping with the low dye method helps support the fascia allowing sufferers to walk without pain. This is an effective short term solution to the problem. We will typically combine the use of several rapid short strategies in early care of heel pain. Shockwave treatment can be considered within these treatments, along with medication to manage symptoms.

For a long-term solution, orthotics are often prescribed along with stretching and strengthening.

Running on its own or as part of sport can result in a range of conditions. These include calf injuries, achilles tendonitis, shin splints, knee and ITB pain and general heel, foot and ankle pain. The lower limb shape and complex function will frequently lead to higher area problems such as knee, hip and lower back. We are uniquely qualified, experienced and equipped to assess features and variations and their implications on your running gait. We take a biomechanical approach to the problem and the solution.

Our 3D Run Lab assessment is thorough and includes a detailed gait analysis particularly relevant for athletes involved in running type sport. The system caters for both elite and everyday runners. Using this assessment, we can develop a strategy with you to manage your injuries and to improve your performance. Management can include technique, posture, footwear advice, orthotics, taping, bracing, padding. Training advice is critical to recovery.

We also conduct assessments of pain-free but unusual walking and running styles, providing ethical and evidenced based assessment, advice, and reassurance.

Healthy, happy feet allow a child to engage in a fun and active life. The early years of development set the foundation for adult feet, so it is smart to start foot care early. Our experience with children’s foot problems includes foot and leg aches, pain following sport, walking development, warts, and toenail problems.

Severs Disease is a very common cause of heel pain in young and physically active people. Similar conditions to this can affect many other areas of the foot as well as the knee (Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease) in otherwise fit and healthy growing children and youths. Kids with heel and knee pain are often referred by other treating practitioners and word of mouth. The Podiatrist might include taping, exercises, activity advice and management shoe advice and, in older children, orthotic therapy. Load management is key in the high activity child athlete and establishing the best load management pathway is done with full consultation and understanding.

Management of children’s foot pain includes assessment, practical advice and reassurance.

We love seeing parents, who visited the clinic as children themselves, returning with their own children for expert care.

While a bunion deformity can simply be an unsightly change in shape to the main joint of the big toe, it is really an entire forefoot, progressive, shape change. Today’s understanding of the mechanisms behind their development, what makes them painful and how they can affect the rest of the foot and lower limb means anyone with a family history or sign of this condition should be assessed and seen.

We are uniquely placed to advice on this condition and strategies that can minimise progression, manage pain and function. The earlier we can help assist in load management strategies that combat the progression of this disorder the better. At the ball of the foot, there is a complex unit and hinge function, and with a high load of steps it is affected by our own individual build, along with activity, shoe type, and occupation. As such, no two people are ever quite the same, but the principles of management do remain similar. We will thoroughly assess and advise in each case.

Bunion surgery is complex and will nearly always require post-operative management of some form. Hence limiting the chance of surgery is always preferable, and should surgery be required we can manage the prehab and rehab appropriately. We are the only profession recognised with this skill and training.