Treatment Information How can we help? There are many podiatry clinics where you can have general podiatry treatment - footcare such as nail cutting and callus trimming. However, our special interest is in the more complex podiatry problems - involving specialist advice and treatment for foot, leg & shoe problems. We routinely treat foot and leg pain associated with everyday activities as well as sports injuries or accidents. Expert treatment can be provided for biomechanical faults, which are abnormalities in the way we walk. We treat many patients who are referred by G.P.'s, physiotherapists and chiropractors with foot, knee, hip or back pain, who require treatment for problems originating at foot level. Sometimes these require treatment with individually prescribed supports (orthotics) to wear in your shoes. Sometimes footwear advice is more important, and shoe advice prescriptions can be written for you. We also perform keyhole nail surgery for patients who have chronic ingrown nail problems. This up-to-date surgery involves very little pain, yet permanently fixes ingrown nails, leaving a nice-looking nail. We tend to find these areas of podiatry very interesting to treat. It makes us very happy to help a patient walk without pain or problems, to let you continue on your feet. For sporting patients this means you can continue playing your sport comfortably, and reduce future injuries. Being able to walk is such a basic thing - but if walking or running is painful or difficult, life can be very miserable. It can stop you working on your feet, playing sport, and getting around to do everyday things. We have huge pleasure in seeing you return to these activities and continue them following our help - without having to give a thought to foot pain. We like staying up to date with the very latest treatment options. We will go out of our way to be able to provide you with the most modern and convenient way to treat your problems. Only for more complex podiatry.. We are happy to provide general podiatry (such as callus treatment) for patients who primarily require treatment for areas within our special interest fields. However, if you are only requiring general podiatry treatment, we will refer you to a Podiatrist nearby to you - most Podiatrists provide general treatment. If you are unsure whether your problem is one that we treat, please call us - and are happy to advise you. We find that if we are mainly treating the kind of problems that we find very interesting, we enjoy our work immensely, and provide you with a very good standard of care. We also find it easier to stay up to date with the latest technology and research within this limited area. Therefore you will receive the most modern and convenient treatment options for your problems. Keeping you on your feet - Sports patients We find that sporty patients in particular are concerned that we might tell you to stop playing sport, or advise you to restrict your activity level. However, we would like to see you keeping on playing your sport. we will do everything we possibly can to speed your recovery and prevent future problems. Sometimes this can include treatment & advice on short term options to get you back on your feet fast, as well as long-term options to avoid future problems. Our aim is to give the greatest help for any problem within our specialised area of work. For any problem that is outside our scope of expertise, we feel that you should get the best treatment for other problems by the relevant specialists in that area. We can refer you to the best practitioners available. Up-to-date options.. Treatments vary enormously, and depend on your problem. They may include: Hands-on treatment - such as ultrasound, or applying casts or strapping tape or padding to your foot injury. Diagnostic testing - we can perform biomechanical (orthopedic) assessments, and video gait analysis, and when necessary arrange for other tests such as X-rays. Advice on self-treatment - this may include applying medication, heat or cold to your injury, or stretching / exercising. Advice regarding shoes - on both sporting footwear or dress shoes to suit your individual requirements. If you ask, we can give you a prescription which lists shoe features to suit your feet. This will be specific to the sports or activities you do. You can use the prescription when you buy shoes in future. Advice regarding foot products - we can tell you about the latest products available to help your problem - such as for skin care (creams, lotions), sore spots on feet (silicone padding), ankle braces, and even about special socks and support stockings. We can supply some of these items, or order them on request, or let you know where they can be bought. Casting treatment - heavy plaster casts are a thing of the past. We use lightweight, thin casts for foot or ankle fractures or sprains. You can often keep playing sport with these casts, or get around more easily for work & play. Usually they fit into a sneaker or larger shoe. Surgical treatment - performed under local anaesthetic. We do keyhole surgery for ingrown nail problems and can treat minor skin lesions. Orthotic treatment - If you are seeing us in regard to orthotic treatment, the orthotics page will be of interest to you. Specialised treaments While the principles of treatment are the same, some specific groups require additional considerations... Children and teenagers Athletes Bush walkers & hikers Top