Podiatry is an independent medical discipline that concerns the treatment and management of foot and ankle problems and is regulated by the Health Professions Council (HPC). Having obtained their initial qualification, practitioners can undertake further specialist training for particular areas of practice. This includes surgical training over several years or further study of foot disorders caused by underlying medical conditions such as diabetes.

Assessment and treatment of foot pain requires a detailed understanding of how the lower limb is working as a whole. During walking, running or recreational sports activities, the foot has to cope with forces that can produce changes in supporting structures including the bones, joints and soft tissues of the limb.

Over time these changes can prove to be damaging and ultimately cause pain and deformity. At the same time conditions such as arthritis can prevent normal function and reduce mobility. The effects of these changes can be reversed with treatment that is personalised to each individual.

Treatment is directed at accurately diagnosing the problem and agreeing a plan that reduces pain quickly and restores function. This may involve the use of radiological tests such as X-Rays, a biomechanical assessment of function, anti-inflammatory injections or foot orthoses.

Greg Quinn is a HPC Registered Fellow of the Surgical Faculty of the Society of Chiropodists & Podiatrists (HPC Reg No CH08884)