Podiatry: Looking after your feet

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Useful links

• Common foot problems
• General foot problems  
• Fungal nails
• Arthritis
• Diabetes and the feet
• Benefits of walking 
• Personal Footcare Guidance (Scottish Government)
• Purchasing self-care equipment

Personal footcare films

• How to care for your feet
• How to look after your toenails
• Self-care: Looking after your feet
• Looking after your feet when you have diabetes
• Personal footcare video (NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde)

Looking after someone else's feet

• NHS Western Isles: Carers Training and Footcare (Information video)
• Personal footcare video (NHS Fife)
• – English subtitles
• – Cantonese
• – Mandarin
• – Urdu

Footwear information

Well-fitting footwear is really important in resolving, or helping reduce, pain and callus/corns. The Podiatry department go to great lengths to get their patients pain-free and mobile, and strongly encourage patients to make suitable, well-fitting footwear a priority.

Please always consider the advice given by your Podiatrist before selecting the style and size of footwear to purchase. General advice given is that suitable footwear should:

• Be comfortable for you and deep enough to accommodate an insole
• Have a secure fastening over the top of the foot eg lace or Velcro
  • Remember to properly secure laces or velcro straps once your foot is inside the shoe, with the heel right at the back
• Be wide enough and not tight across the foot
• Be long enough; there should be a 1-2cm gap between longest toe and end of shoe when you are standing
• Have a firm support at the back of the heel
• Have a thick sole (for cushioning / shock absorption)
• Have a removable insole if possible