Podiatry & Foot Health
“The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.” – Leonardo da Vinci
It’s important to look after our feet, anyone with foot pain quickly realises the importance of good foot health care, and at Summertown Clinic we have a podiatrist (Louisa Mays) and a foot health professional (Nicola Ruddick).
Whether you need help with cutting your toe nails, or more advanced care for diabetic foot health complications, we can help.
Podiatry and Foot Health Care for you…
Podiatry and Foot Health Care are essential therapies for keeping you going…
Podiatrists are degree-level trained and regulated by the Health Professions Council and treat most foot complaints, both preventatively and when in disease.
Foot Health Practitioners generalise in carrying out essential foot maintainence referring any complex patients to a podiatrist.
What is Podiatry?
Podiatry involves the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the foot, ankle and lower limb.
A podiatrist uses a variety of sterile instruments to work on patients feet.
Who can benefit from it?
We commonly see patients who have painful feet, thickened or discoloured toenails, cracks or cuts in your skin, growths such as warts or verrucas, scaling or peeling on the soles of your feet, or any other foot-related problem.
What research is there?
There is good evidence to support the use of Podiatry for a range of conditions, and this is supported by NICE guidelines that recommend podiatry.
Why us?
We have a specific podiatry room at Summertown Clinic with the latest equipment and resources to help you remain comfortable as we work on your feet.
Our podiatrist combines her experience in the NHS with the time in private practice to give your feet all the attention they need!
Podiatry and Foot Health Care at Summertown Clinic
We offer both Podiatry (Louisa Mays) and Foot Health Care (Nicola Ruddick) at Summertown Clinic. The 2 therapists run their clinics seperately on different days, podiatry on a Tuesday, and Foot Health Clinic on a Friday.
What happens during a treatment?
A first appointment lasts 45 minutes and will include taking a full medical history and carrying out an assessment of the circulation and sensation in your feet. The particular foot problem for which you are attending will then be addressed. If the results of the foot assessment indicate that you may be eligible for NHS podiatry care (for example, if you have diabetes), a request may be made to your GP to refer you on to the NHS podiatry department. Your footwear may also be assessed.
If further treatments are required, subsequent appointments last 30 minutes and will be scheduled for whatever review period is appropriate (this may be a few weeks to a few months, or just as and when required).
What can a Podiatrist help with?
It is estimated that the average person walks around two and a half times the circumference of the earth in a lifetime. Three out of four people at the age of 70 have to see a podiatrist in order to remain comfortable, and around 90% of people will have seen a podiatrist at least once by the time they reach 60 years of age.
Medical conditions which can affect the feet include;
- Diabetes
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Circulatory disorders
- Neuropathy
- Strokes
- Heart conditions
- & skin complaints such as eczema and psoriasis
A healthy foot can still present with problems – callus (hard skin), corns, thickened or ingrown nails, Athlete’s foot, dry or cracked skin, heel pain, etc. All can be relieved by treatment, although reoccurence can only be prevented if the cause is dealt with. It may be necessary to review footwear styles, wear some sort of protection or padding over problem areas or to wear orthoses (insoles).
Regular treatment for a recurring problem is recommended to prevent possible further complications.
Our Podiatrist and Foot Health Practitioner:
All our osteopaths are very experienced and have specialist areas of expertise they have been developing over years. We have a lovely team who complement each other well and offer a broad variety of osteopathic approach to a wide range of patients from new borns to the most senior amongst us!
Louisa completed her training at Northampton University and qualified as a podiatrist in 2004. She enjoys reducing or alleviating people’s foot pain and discomfort, enabling them to keep active on their feet and thus improving their quality of life.
Nicola qualified as a Foot Health Practitioner in 2014 from the SMAE Institute in Maidenhead. She worked in a very busy Age UK clinic specialising in routine footcare for 2 years before focussing on a wider range of foot related issues with a mobile clinic, treating patients in their own homes.
Treatment Pricing
Treatment is on a per appointment basis as below.
These prices are correct up at time of publication – for any information about concessions, please contact us.
Initial Foot Health Appointment
Your first treatment is 45 minutes long.
£45
Follow Up Foot Health Appointment
Follow up appointments take 30 minutes.
