Your feet may be the furthest things from your head, but their health shouldn’t be the furthest thing from your mind. Did you know, our feet house a quarter of the bones in our bodies – as well as various muscles, ligaments and joints. This unsurprisingly makes them extremely vulnerable to injury and diseases that can affect the entire body.

When choosing a podiatrist, be sure to make sure they are fully qualified and registered. A qualified podiatrist understands completely the structure and movement of the foot and lower limbs. Because of this, they are able to easily diagnose foot conditions and identify general health issues that present with foot or lower limb symptoms, such as heart problems and diabetes which both affect the circulation and skin quality of the feet. This then allows them to recommend appropriate treatment plans.

Podiatrist is a protected title, which means it is illegal to call yourself a Podiatrist if you are not qualified and registered. In order to become a Podiatrist one must complete a Batchelor of Science degree at an approved school of podiatry. Once qualified the Podiatrist must become registered with the HCPC – Health and Care Professions Council, a subsidiary of the BMA – British Medical Association. In order to practice in the UK a Podiatrist must obtain professional insurance and prove that they update key skills regularly, gaining continuing professional development points (CPD).

It is a common misconception that sore feet are just a normal side effect from everyday activities, such as walking. However, just as you would visit your dentist for a toothache, you should visit a podiatrist if you suffer from sore or tired feet and/or lower limbs because it could be a sign of something more serious.
When you go to see a podiatrist, they won’t just look at your foot, but will carry out a biomechanical assessment to check if your gait (the way you walk and stand) is impacting other parts of your body, such as your hips, knees, back or neck – remember the body is connected from head to toe.

There are many reasons that your feet could be hurting. For instance, you may want to see a podiatrist for advice and treatment if you have painful feet, thickened or discoloured toenails, cracks or cuts in the skin, growths such as warts and verrucae, scaling or peeling on the soles, or any other foot-related problem.

Research shows that only a fraction of individuals suffering from sore feet seek out professional advice. But even if your feet are generally in good condition, you should consider having a single session of podiatry.

At The London Nail Laser Clinic, we are committed to providing you with the best care we can. That’s why we ensure our own education and continuing professional development is up to date.