Our Services

 

Is there a difference between Chiropody and Podiatry?

There is no difference between a Chiropodist and a Podiatrist. The term Chiropodist was changed to Podiatrist in 1993 as it is the internationally recognised name for a foot a specialist. Podiatrist is more commonly used all over the world. It's not just the name that has changed though. Podiatry is a constantly evolving profession, the extensive training given to students over the 3 or 4 years of their full time course and the continuing education after graduation enable Podiatrists to treat a vast array of foot and lower limb problems. Along with the most obvious treatments for corns and hard skin, specialities exist within the profession for almost any lower limb problem.

 

Common Foot Treatments

Corns, callouses and rough skin

Callous is unsightly and often uncomfortable. If left untreated it can become painful, crack or even develop into a corn. This condition is dealt with painlessly by gently removing the dead skin leaving the feet looking and feeling like new. Cracked heels are a particular problem for patients who like to wear backless shoes. Prompt treatment and advice will ensure an end to this problem.

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General foot care

You don’t need to have a particular problem to benefit from treatment. A popular treatment is to tidy the feet up leaving you walking on air. Nails are trimmed, any thickened nails can be painlessly thinned down and hard skin is removed along with any corns. The feet are then smoothed and moisturised. Regular visits can prevent problems from occurring.

 

Fungal infection of the skin and nails

Fungal nails become thickened and discoloured and eventually painful and unsightly. The podiatrist can greatly reduce the thickening making them look and feel better. Athlete’s foot can cause itchiness and irritation as well as dry scaly skin. It’s often seen in people other than athletes. Treatment and advice will be given during your consultation to help give relief.

 

Chilblains

These can be swollen, itchy and very painful reddened areas on the feet. Usually seen more in the winter although people with poor circulation can be affected by similar lesions at any time of year. We can provide good treatment to make them more comfortable and advice on how to avoid them.

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Advice

Many problems can be helped with advice and we provide a range of leaflets at The Centre to help you deal with your problem in conjunction with treatment.

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Budget nail cutting

We are able to offer a low cost, no frills nail cutting service. This may be with our supervised foot care assistant but is not suitable for those with diabetes, circulatory disorders or those on certain medications. You will be assessed prior to treatment for suitability.

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Specialist Services

Biomechanical assessments and orthotic devices

Some of our clients may benefit greatly from orthotics which are a type of insole that fits neatly into the shoe and corrects mechanical faults that may cause pain in remote sites. The devices can be prepared specially for every individual. Sports people or those that suffer from severe pain can find them particularly helpful. They are particularly helpful for problems such as flat feet, heel pain, plantar fasciitis or persistent difficult corns. We have experienced practitioners who are able to carry out a full biomechanical assessment. The cost of these devices can vary greatly depending on the level of precision required to meet your needs. We can also prepare a low cost basic device if that is all that’s required to bring your feet back to a comfortable position. Your podiatrist will be pleased to discuss the options with you.

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Verrucae treatment

Verrucae are a type of wart commonly found on the foot. They are caused by the human papilloma virus and can spread if left untreated or wrongly treated. We strongly advise against self-treatment. We have successfully treated thousands of verrucae with a range of various techniques. Every verruca is different and only by seeing the lesion would we be able to recommend the best course of action. At The Centre we endeavour to provide the speediest and most cost effective treatment to suit your needs.

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Diabetic footcare

Diabetes can reduce the circulation and sensation to the feet and if left unchecked this could cause problems very quickly. Infections and tissue breakdown can be a nasty side effect of diabetes which is why regular check-ups are so important to those at risk. By detecting the early signs and changes in the circulation we can help you to avoid the harmful aspects of diabetes.

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Heel pain

Heel pain can be extremely disabling. It is commonly worse as you get out of bed in the morning and it sometimes eases up as the day progresses. Here at The Centre we successfully treat all types of heel pain (commonly known as plantar fasciitis). Treatment ranges from just good advice to the provision of orthotic devices to fit in your shoe. Don’t suffer as the longer you leave it the longer it may take to resolve the problem. Early treatment is always recommended.

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Ingrown nails

The edge of the nail can sometimes grow into the skin at the side of the nail causing pain and infection. This can usually be dealt with during a routine visit but if the condition has become more advanced a small operation may be advised. The podiatrist can remove the side of the nail permanently whilst using a local anaesthetic to remove all sensation in the affected toe. A chemical is then applied to prevent the offending part of the nail from regrowing. Most people are able to go back to work the following day with a dressing on the toe.

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