Are your children wearing the right size, type & style of shoe?

For babies & children, it is important to take extra care with foot health to avoid problems and deformities in later life. In the UK it is estimated that around 4 million children wear ill-fitting footwear.

Babies and Toddlers

Once a child can take unaided strides, then they are ready for their first pair of real shoes. Ensure children wear well-fitting, appropriate footwear fitted by a trained shoe fitter. If you are concerned about your child’s walking, see a podiatrist, GP or health visitor for advice. Things to look out for include if your child hasn’t started walking at 18 months, and if their feet are turned out during walking, making them unsteady.

School Children

When children begin school, inspect their shoes for any unusual wear. See a podiatrist if there is concern, as there may be a problem with your child’s feet or their posture in general. Have your child’s feet measured for length and width when buying footwear, and check socks regularly to make sure they are not too tight. For PE & sports, avoid plimsolls and opt for fitted trainers with laces or Velcro fastening to avoid blisters. Check your child’s feet regularly for any symptoms such as inflamed tissue around the nails, or red pressure marks on the foot, as these could be due to ill-fitting shoes.

Teenagers

Teenagers have naturally sweaty feet, but smelly feet may be an indication of poor hygiene. It is essential to wash and dry feet regularly. Toenails should be trimmed regularly, as trivial issues can become serious if neglected, e.g. ingrown toenails can become infected if not treated properly. It is easy to think about fashion over functionality when an impressionable teenager, but many retailers now produce shoes that look good and care for your feet. If you have any concerns regarding your children’s feet, their shoes or you require a foot health or footwear assessment call the Basildon chiropody, Podiatry and foot wear Centre Where you can book for a free foot health check during the month of June 2017.

The theme for Feet for Life month 2017 is:
'Feet for Life - from birth to beyond'

Foot care is important through all stages of life. For children, it is necessary to take extra care with foot health to avoid problems and deformities in later life, and as we get older, everyday wear and tear can take its strain. Podiatrists are experts in all aspects of the foot and lower limb, who undergo years of specialist training to enable them to diagnose, treat and help people to look after their feet and lower limbs.

Feet are one of the hardest working parts of our body, but they are also one of the most neglected. During Feet for Life Month we want to remind people not to ignore their feet or any foot pain they might experience. Walking through pain or ignoring problems can over time cause damage to the feet and lower limbs. So if your feet hurt, or you notice anything unusual about them, visit a registered podiatrist, who can diagnose causes of pain and provide appropriate treatment.

Common foot complaints a podiatrist can help with include: Bunions, Ingrowing toe nails, muscle and joint pain in the feet, corns and calluses to name but a few.

Foot pain is not normal. If you or a family member experience pain then you need to visit your podiatrist.

To mark feet for life month Basildon Chiropody Podiatry and Footwear Centre are carrying out free foot health checks for the Month of June(2017) only

Call 01268 553653 to book your free 10 minute health check.

Footwear treat for you

• Professionally fitted for you slippers of your choice.

Podiatry treatment

• Foot scan, toe nails cut and filed, removal of hard skin, application of foot cream & foot cream gift

Please enquire as the gift vouchers can be
designed to suit your needs.

If you wish to purchase a voucher 
Please call 01268 553653 or 01708 728498

Too many adults are wearing the wrong size shoes

According to a study, conducted by the College of Podiatry of 2,000 adults surveyed, one-third of men and nearly half of women admitted to purchasing shoes that didn't exactly fit. While it might not seem a huge deal at the time if a pair of heels feels a smidge too tight, improperly fitting shoes can actually have a number of negative health effects such as hammertoe deformities, bunion growth, and consistent foot pain are a given, but poorly-fitting shoes can also contribute to things like headaches knee, hip and back pain.

It does not seem normal for adults to walk into a shoe shop and ask for their feet to be measured however you would not dream of buying a pair of shoes for your child without having had their feet measured.

Read more: Do you have difficulty shopping for shoes?

Are you being treated well?

Clean instruments, reduced chance of cross infection.

Whether you are coming to have a foot treatment with the Podiatrist at the surgery or coming for a special pampering treatment with the Beauty therapists we will ensure that unless we are using disposable products then all instruments are sterilised according to HCPC clinical guide lines which recommends the use of an autoclave.

An autoclave is a pressure chamber that is used to sterilize equipment and supplies. When these items are placed inside the autoclave they are exposed to high temperature steam (usually around 132 degrees Celsius or 270 degrees Fahrenheit) for about twenty minutes.

We have a clinical environment where walls doors and floors are disinfected once a week or if required sooner.

We are fully aware of contagious infections and how easily they can be transmitted.

Cross contamination and cross infection is an issue that needs to be addressed and therefore we review our policies on a regular basis and remain committed to the cause.

So Relax in the knowledge that all is Clean and Safe

Every once in a while a patient walks through the door and you know that they were meant to have come to you.

That person has been in pain for a long time.

That person has tried all kinds of different interventions to help themselves.

That person is sad because the pain is now affecting their quality of life.

That person has pondered for a long time as to whether they should seek help or not.

That person only goes out if they have to.

Somehow anyhow they have come to me with foot pain that has had far reaching consequences on their life.

As a Podiatrist of 29 years I should be able to just work on the foot problem as that is my job but there are some people in life that get into your heart and you just have a burning urge to make it right for them .

My job is not just clinical but to provide a caring  confidential service where patients feel at ease with me and confident that they can speak to me but that I will be doing my utmost to help them feel like they can be pain free again .

Sometimes the results are immediate and sometimes the problems have to be tackled over a period of time.

For these patients you can slowly see their outlook changing for the better and it is these cases that are the most rewarding.

My job is rewarding for me every single day but every once in a while I feel that I have been an important part in someone’s life and made a difference to them.

Something special has happened

Sushila

Feet are for life,not just for spring or summer.

As soon as the spring arrives we start to see patients who come to our practices wanting to make their feet presentable for sandals, holidays and parties after a long winter of neglect and being stuffed into shoes and boots.

Being medical health professionals, we naturally see conditions which cause pain and discomfort and can be debilitating due to an unavoidable combination of factors but we do also see many problems which are due to poor foot care and neglect! 

Since good foot care habits can in some cases prevent problems all together, we are always keen to advise on self-help.

As it is coming to that warmer (hopefully!) time of year, this is a great time to give you some top tips on foot care.

Feet are for life….not just for the spring and summer….so look after them throughout the year, and if you have any concerns please do not hesitate to call us for help.

Here are some tips to get you started on the road to happier and healthier feet.

Cut toe nails before a bath or shower using nail nippers, we tend to discourage the use of clippers and nail  scissors as they are not always easy to control and are ineffective if   you have very thick and hard nails. 

 Follow the shape of the nail but do not cut down the sides. 

 Use a nail file to remove sharp corners.  

 Do not cut nails too short, the free end of the nail should be level with the tip of your toe. 

 Do not leave nail varnish on for weeks or even months as the water-proof layer of varnish can cause the nail   underneath to become damaged, discoloured and in poor  condition. 

 If the nails are brittle, discoloured and in poor condition, apply a nail conditioner after washing.

 We have a special service where we can show you how to do this, using the instruments and nail care products that  we recommend.  

Skin care is vital to maintaining comfortable feet and preventing dry skin, painful heel cracks / fissures which can become infected. Lightly file dry and cracked skin especially around the heels before washing, do not use harsh ‘cheese grater type files as they can tear and damage the skin.

 Dry feet thoroughly.

Apply a moisturising heel balm daily. If you have corns, callosities, athlete’s foot, verrucae or cracked heels you would benefit from a visit to the  podiatrist as they can help with these conditions as well as assess for any underlying causes and then provide advice of self-help and long term management.

Feet for Life month. 

This year the theme is fit feet

Getting into sport – Start off on the right foot!

The Olympics will inspire many people to get their trainers on and get active. Without doubt exercise offers many benefits but it’s crucial to make sure you are looking after your feet. Olympians require ‘Fit Feet’, so as part of its annual Feet for Life Month in June, The College of Podiatry is raising awareness of the importance of good foot care when taking part in sports. 

Feet for Life month is the perfect opportunity to ensure you have ‘Fit Feet’.

During June, podiatrists are offering free foot health checks around the UK.

If you would like a free foot heath check during the month of June please call 

Call Basildon Chiropody, Podiatry & Footwear centre:   01268 553653 

Please note that the checks are 10 minute appointments followed by a free foot scan and are subject to availability.