Chiropody / Podiatry
What is Chiropody or Podiatry?
Chiropodists or as they are now called Podiatrists diagnose and treat a range of common and complex problems with the foot, ankle and lower leg. Caring for your feet is important to your body’s general health as the foot supports how you walk, run and physically perform.
The Waldegrave Clinic podiatrists help to treat and solve your pain problem in 4 main areas:
- Routine foot care including in-growing nails.
- Prevention, detection and screening for diabetes, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Biomechanical assessment to detect where muscles groups are stronger and weaker in the lower limbs, to help relieve pain caused by dysfunction of the foot.
- Diabetic Care including diabetic screening and foot management as foot problems are a big risk in diabetes we provide foot screening examination on every newly diagnosed patient which includes foot examination, evaluation of the skin and blood supply including Doppler or ABI studies to evaluate blood flow. Management options include routine foot care, footwear recommendations, pressure relief, foot ulcer debridement and referral for specialist care if needed. We also educate individuals so they can manage their own foot health. We provide appropriate orthoses or insoles for those patients who are at risk of increased foot plantar pressure problems to increase stability and to improve foot function.
What conditions will a podiatrist treat?
- Common foot problems such as corns, calluses, in-growing nails, verrucae, bunions, digital deformities, metatarsalgia, heel pain, osteoarthritic joints and flat feet.
- Sports injuries: ankle instability, tendon/ligament injury, shin splints and prefoot/heel pain.
- Relief of pain caused by deformity and dysfunction.
- Preventative services such as inspection of children's feet and detection of foot conditions.
- Care of the elderly foot so that pain and discomfort can be minimized and regular routine care can be provided.
- Footwear advice.
Biomechanical assessment
Biomechanical assessment is a detailed examination of the lower limbs to prevent long term complications developing in areas like your knees and lower back due to the mechanics of the lower leg, ankle and foot. By assessing the way you walk and evaluating your structure and alignment we will get a comprehensive understanding of any underlying problems in the lower limbs and how these can be corrected.
Additional benefits of Biomechanical Assessment
Biomechanical assessment is of particular benefit when you are experiencing unexplained pain in the lower limbs or back. It is of enormous benefit to sports people looking to improve physical performance and forms an integral part of sport therapy and treatment.
To book an appointment please telephone 020 8943 2424