Foot Care Tips

"A lot of patients who walk into my surgery are surprised to discover that you don't need a referral to see a podiatrist. For some reason, people still think that you have to go through a GP first.That can often mean they put off seeking help because it seems too complicated, too expensive or too time-consuming. In reality, all you need to do is make an appointment."

Top 3 Tips
1. Make an ice pack
"This is a great trick: fill up an old soft-drink bottle with water and put it in the freezer.When your feet ache or feel hot,take the bottle out and use your body weight to roll it back and forth under your feet. It will relieve the ache and cool your body down at the same time."

2. Buying shoes
"A lot of people think that, in order to be good, shoes need to be expensive. But I still put a lot of my patients in the tennis-style shoes that you can buy from Kmart for around $25.They might not be the most elegant shoes, but they provide great support for the feet. The other trap people fall into when buying shoes is thinking they can ‘wear them in'. While it's true some shoes will stretch over time, if they don't feel good at the start,they never will."

3. Cut toenails
"Always cut your toenails straight across,rather than down the sides.This helps avoid ingrown nails and infection.An infection can be serious if it's left untreated, especially if you're diabetic and have circulatory problems which affect your feet."