East Staffordshire Podiatry Team

Patients often present with hard skin, thickened nails, corns, chilblains, pain in the feet ...

Most foot issues can be resolved or at least avoided or ameliorated by doing  few simples things:

1. Wear correctly fitting footwear. Soft cloth footwear such as modern trainers impart less pressure on your toes and often have a padded sole that cushions the bottom of the foot.
2. Use a good quality emollient daily on the top and bottom, avoiding in between the toes
3. Cut nails correctly or file them short, avoiding cutting down the sides
4. If you're older and have swelling in your legs and feet, try to elevate more often using s recliner chair or foot stall but avoiding leaning on the heels 
5. Control your diabetes as this can cause you more problems in the long term 
6. Quit smoking as this causes your arteries to clog up more 
7. Wash your feet regularly 
8. Keep active: you can walk, do chair exercises or swim

Here are various information links to websites that will benefit your health:

• Royal College of Podiatry
• Diabetes UK website 
• Rheumatology UK 
• NHS podiatry careers 

List of various leaflets to download or print

• Your guide to general footcare leaflet
• Choosing the right shoes for you
• Low risk diabetes leaflet 
• Moderate risk diabetes leaflet
• High risk diabetes leaflet
• Charcot foot diabetes leaflet
• Looking after your diabetic foot ulcer
• Looking after your feet when in remission
• Footwear advice to reduce the risk of amputation 
• Rheumatoid Arthritis leaflet 
• Rheumatoid arthritis and insoles 
• Leg cramps and pain
• Foot survey 
• Rheumatoid arthritis and plantar heel pain
• Rheumatoid arthritis and nail surgery
• Rheumatoid arthritis and wound care
• Do your shoes fit?
• Stop smoking leaflet