Podiatry and foot health

Feet get ignored until they stop you doing something. We look after both halves of foot health at Healthflex. There is the routine care, which is nails, hard skin, corns, callus, fungal problems and the diabetic foot check that matters more than most people realise. And there is the mechanical side, which is why the heel hurts every morning, why one knee aches after a long walk, and why a shoe wears down unevenly.

A podiatry assessment is £90, and the custom orthotics package is £480.

More information

Chiropody and podiatry are two different disciplines, but they are very closely connected. Chiropody looks after the foot itself, the skin and nails. Podiatry deals with the mechanics, how the foot moves and how that affects the joints above it. The training is the same, so our clinicians can practise both, and reception will help you book the right appointment for what you need.

What does it cost

An initial podiatry consultation, a biomechanical assessment including foot and gait analysis, is £90. The custom orthotics package is £480, and covers the consultation with foot and gait analysis, the impression, the orthotics themselves, the fitting and twelve months of follow up checks.

Why does my heel hurt most first thing in the morning

That pattern, worst on the first few steps out of bed and easing as you move, is the classic description of plantar fasciitis. It is one of the most common problems we see, it responds well to the right loading programme, and it responds badly to being walked off for six months. Footwear, calf strength and how your foot behaves under load all play a part, which is why the assessment looks above the foot as well as at it.

Do I really need custom orthotics

Not always, and we will tell you when you do not. Plenty of foot pain settles with a change of footwear, a specific strength programme, or an off the shelf insole. Custom orthotics earn their cost when the mechanical problem is genuinely yours and unusual, or when a simpler measure has already been tried and has not held. When they are the answer, we take the measurements ourselves and review the fit afterwards rather than handing them over and hoping.

Can you check my feet if I am diabetic

Yes. Regular foot checks are an important part of managing diabetes, because reduced sensation means a small problem can progress a long way before it is noticed. NHS guidance recommends an annual foot check as a minimum, and more often if you have already been told your risk is raised.

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Blue-gloved hands examining a bare foot while patient reclines in jeans on a white clinic chair
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a podiatrist and a chiropodist?
They are two different disciplines, although closely linked. Chiropody is the care of the foot itself, meaning nails, hard skin, corns, callus and verrucae. Podiatry looks at the mechanics, meaning how the foot moves and meets the ground, and how that affects the knee, hip and spine above it. The training is the same, so our clinicians can do both, and reception will help you book the right appointment for what you need.
Do I need custom orthotics for heel pain?
Often not. A good deal of heel pain settles with the right loading and strength programme, better footwear, or an off the shelf insole. Custom orthotics are worth the cost when your mechanics genuinely need them or when simpler measures have already been tried without success, and we will tell you which situation you are in.
How often should I have a diabetic foot check?
NHS guidance recommends at least an annual foot check for everyone with diabetes, and more frequent checks if you have already been assessed as being at moderate or high risk. Reduced sensation is what makes this important, because a problem can develop without hurting.