Active Podiatry Blog Posts

What Is Acupuncture?

Sports podiatrist treating a patient's foot with acupuncture

Western Acupuncture, or Dry Needling is an effective pain relieving treatment for persistent painful problems in the lower limbs. It is different to Chinese Acupuncture as it is based on Western medicine and an evidence based approach to pain relief. ​The treatment works by inserting tiny needles into the skin around a painful or tight…

Read More

Would I Benefit From a Gait Analysis?

Sports podiatrist using a treadmill for gait analysis

Gait analysis is literally watching you walk! The aim is to check movement patterns which may be contributing to injury or pain. ​This may be as simple as watching you walk up and down in the corridor using the Mk 1 Eyeball, right up to more complex assessments using a treadmill with multiple cameras to…

Read More

Fungal Nail Infections – The Facts

A patient with a fungal toe nail problem

The Problem – Fungal Toe Nails Fungal infection of the toe nails is a common complaint affecting 30% of the population. Once established on the nail bed, it distorts the shape of the nail, causing it to become discoloured and thickened. It is very resistant to treatments as topical anti-fungal treatments applied on to the nail simply…

Read More

How Can I Get Rid Of My Stubborn Verrucas?

Need a foot MOT? click here What is a verruca? Verrucas are a viral infection of the skin which is usually picked up by walking in bare feet in an area with lots of barefoot activity, such as a swimming pool changing room or gym. The good news is that they are completely harmless and…

Read More

Do I Need Orthotics?

A sports podiatrist fitting a patient with orthotics

What are Orthotics? Orthotics, or Orthoses, are specialised inserts that fit into the shoe and work by reducing the magnitude of abnormal forces acting on structures in the lower limb, thereby reducing pain and improving efficiency in balance, stability and movement. Where injury has occurred as a direct or indirect result of these excessive forces,…

Read More

Am I Overtraining?

An athlete running along a road

  Too much too soon ? As athletes we all want to improve our performance and shave those vital seconds or even minutes off our ‘PBs’ (Personal Best)!  The way to do this is to increase the intensity and frequency of training, and many amateur athletes believe that the harder and more often you train,…

Read More

How To Recover From a Calf Strain

A runner with a calf problem or other sports injury

  My calf muscle hurts while running. What have I done? Calf muscle strain is caused by an injury to the calf muscles at the back of the lower leg where the calf muscle is excessively strained during sporting activity. The injury can range in severity from a minor strain to a complete or partial…

Read More

How To Fix Painful Blisters

Blister on a toe

What is the most common sports injury? Ankle sprain, shin splints, knee pain? Nope none of those. The humble blister is by far the most common foot injury sustained by athletes involved in impact sports, in particular endurance sports such as running and hiking. At best they are irritating, at worst they can be show…

Read More