Foot Care Industry

People That Care For Feet And Their Various Roles

Our feet can have a big effect on our overall well-being. We know that having pain in your feet is very debilitating and sometimes it might be necessary for us to consult someone to help us alleviate pain and make walking easier or more enjoyable, or even for preventative care to ensure that we don’t run into problems later down the line.

There are different professions who can help with our foot health in different ways.

Always check that whoever you visit has the appropriate qualifications and is registered with the appropriate body for that particular profession.

1. Professional shoe fitters

Professional shoe fitters are experts who will help you to find the correct fitting shoes for your feet.

They will measure your foot length and width. They will be experts in knowing different brands of shoes and helping you to find the best style for any foot issues that you may have.

They can help advise whether a shoe fits correctly or will give advice to correct issues like heels slipping, adjustment for half sizes, or suggesting alternative styles to ensure that the shoes you are wearing are comfortable. If you have orthotics, they can suggest which shoes will be suitable for the orthotics that you are wearing.

2. Podiatrists

Podiatrists study through an approved degree course or a Masters degree in podiatry (usually a 3-4 year study course) and specialise in diagnosis and treatment of lower limbs but predominantly issues with the foot, ankle and lower leg. A podiatrist will need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). They can diagnose and treat conditions such as bunions, ingrown toenails, hammer toes, verrucas, arthritis, heel pain and more.

You may also know the term Chiropodist. Podiatrist is the more modern name and different names are used in different geographical locations.

3. Foot Health Practitioners

A Registered Foot Health Practitioner is trained to carry out routine foot care treatments. They cut and file toenails and fingernails, treat corns, and calluses, prevent and treat fungal nail infections and carry out general check-ups on feet.

4. Physiotherapists

Physiotherapists can help with people who suffer from foot pain. The treatment will depend on your symptoms and the cause of the pain. Treatment may be a combination of massage, ice and heat treatment, exercises or any other relevant methods depending on the issue.

Why not locate your nearest and most suitable foot care provider by checking out our Find A Foot Care Provider or Find a Retailer pages.