The Footcare Centre team are committed to developing a treatment plan suited to you utilising the latest techniques, technologies, and research. Our team includes Members of the Faculty of Podiatry of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow who are pleased to be part of this worldwide community of inspiring health professionals working together to advance their profession and improve patient care and Chartered Scientists who practise at the full professional level within their field, understanding the need not just for excellence in their chosen science of podiatric medicine but also in the other skills that make an effective clinician-scientist.

Injection techniques

Our podiatrists offer latest injection techniques to manage, resolve or provide pain relief to your condition including prolotherapy, cortisone injections or Sodium Hyaluronate injections.
Prolotherapy involves injecting a substance to an area of injury such as tendon or ligament in order to promote a reaction from the body in the area to promote repair and healing. Different substances can be utilised for prolotherapy, with podiatrists often utilising local anaesthetic injections.

Steroids are hormones located within the body and are responsible for the regulation of inflammation, metabolism, immune function, as well as salt and water balance. When a joint/soft tissue becomes inflamed and the body cannot respond to reduce the inflammation, steroid injections can be used to assist in reducing inflammation and swelling at the structure. Steroid injection consists of corticosteroid that has an anti-inflammatory action mixed with local anaesthetic which numbs the area temporarily. Injections into soft tissues and joints can be very effective in giving pain relief, promoting activity and restoring normal function. Cortisone injections can be used on the following conditions.

· Neuromas
· Joint pains
· Arthritis
· Plantar Fasciitis and other heel pains
· Sinus Tarsi Syndrome
· Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
 
Sodium Hyaluronate is an alternative to steroid injection used to treat an arthritic joint, also known as Ostenil. It is an injectable substance used to reduce the symptoms of a painful joint. The injected treatment helps to restore the lubricating and shock-absorbing properties within the joint. This can reduce the pain, swelling and stiffness, and improve the other symptoms of osteoarthritis. The benefits of Ostenil injections can last up to six-to-nine months, when it is then often possible to offer supplemental injections.

Joint Mobilisation Technique

The foot comprises of 33 joints in total, all of which contribute to healthy foot function through their ability to glide between one another. Any limitation of glide in any joint may cause a change in the workings of the foot which could lead to tissue stress, injury and possible alteration in the way we walk.

Joint mobilisation is a manual therapy technique that can be a useful and effective adjunct to other foot treatment modalities including orthotic therapy (casted foot orthoses), low level laser therapy and low dye strapping.  This treatment approach can improve neuromuscular function within the foot improving foot function overall - it involves gentle, pain-free movements of the foot, ankle and lower leg that can increase joint flexibility and muscle strength.
Joint mobilisation techniques can be used to treat a variety of common foot conditions Here are some examples of conditions that could be treated:

· Neuromas
· Joint pain and Hallux Limitis/Rigidus
· Arthritis
· Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendinopathy
· Cuboid Syndrome
 
Ankle-Foot Orthoses / Custom Casted Braces

The Richie Brace is a custom ankle brace (ankle foot orthosis) designed to treat chronic conditions of the foot and ankle. Our podiatry team are well equipped to treat your most challenging biomechanical problems. Following a detailed biomechanical assessment with video gait analysis we will be able to determine the best treatment options for you.

Advanced foot posture or gait problems associated with conditions such as adult acquired flat foot, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, ‘drop foot’ and other problems associated with nerve or muscle damage can often be treated successfully by our podiatry team using a Richie Brace.

Contact our reception team to schedule a New Patient Assessment with one of our podiatrists to help develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Electrosurgery and needling

These advanced treatments carried out under local anaesthetic enables us to offer options for both verrucae and painful hard skin like corns.
These advanced procedures can be discussed with you in detail by your podiatrist at your consultation to help you and your podiatrist determine if these options are the right treatment.

Low Level Laser Therapy (cold Laser therapy)

LLLT is drug free, non-invasive and pain free and works by generating a cold laser beam, which emits harmless light energy into the tissue, stimulating a reaction in the cells and tissue of the body. The treatment increases cellular activity, which in turn increases tissue healing rates. There is reduced pain and modified inflammation.

LLLT can be used on patients who suffer from a variety of acute and chronic conditions such as:

· Heel pain (Plantar Fasciitis)
· Metatarsalgia (Pain in the Ball of the Foot)
· Neuroma (or Mortons Neuroma)
· Posterior Tibial Tendon Tendinitis
· Toe Joint Pain
· Verrucae
· Fungal Toenails
· Achilles Tendinopathy
· Arthritis
· Ulceration and blisters

Kid’s feet

Regular annual check-ups of children’s feet is something that The Footcare Centre encourages. Foot check-ups can encourage children of the importance of foot-health. Podiatrists are able to detect the potential for foot problems early and give you helpful foot care interventional advice.  Should any foot problems be detected early treatments can be discussed.

All currently attending registered patients are able to bring their children (under the age of 12) along for an annual children’s check-up.
This service is complementary – just ask at reception to arrange this. All we ask is that the parent/guardian is a current patient, having seen us within the previous 6-months.

We are proudly serving the communities of Weybridge, Addlestone, Chertsey, Hersham, West Byfleet, Shepperton.