What's new

New pages, and pages that changed in a way you should know about. Follow by RSS.

October 2026

27 October 2026 · New guide
Chronic ankle instability
Chronic ankle instability is when an ankle keeps giving way after a sprain, often with a wobbly feeling and repeat sprains. Exercises for balance and strength are the best-supported place to start, with a brace or tape for sport. Surgery is considered if a full exercise programme hasn't worked.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Midfoot pain
Midfoot pain is pain in the arch area of the foot, between the heel and the toes. Common causes include arthritis and injuries to ligaments or bones. Stiff, supportive shoes, insoles and easing off activity are the usual first steps, and a podiatrist can help find the cause.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin that makes it red, hot, swollen and painful, most often on a lower leg. Suspected cellulitis needs urgent medical assessment, usually the same day, and often antibiotics. It can come back, so looking after leg swelling and skin matters.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Black toenail
A black toenail is usually blood trapped under the nail after a knock, a crush or repeated pressure. Small, painless ones often need only ice, elevation and pain relief, and a clinician can drain a painful one. A dark nail with no clear injury should be checked.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Paronychia (infected nail fold)
Paronychia is a red, swollen, sore nail fold: the skin around a fingernail or toenail, often after a small injury. Mild early cases usually start with warm soaks. Pus, worsening redness or pain, or a problem lasting more than 6 weeks needs a GP or podiatrist.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Signs of wound infection
An infected wound usually shows two or more signs: pain, tenderness, warmth, redness, hardness or pus. A little redness can be normal healing. In people with diabetes, foot infections can become serious very quickly, so early care from a podiatrist matters.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Tingling in the foot
Tingling in the foot is a 'pins and needles' feeling that is common and usually settles within minutes once pressure is taken off a nerve. Tingling that lasts or keeps coming back can have other causes, such as diabetes, so it's worth having it checked rather than guessing.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Nail discolouration
Nail discolouration is any change in the colour of a fingernail or toenail. Causes range from knocks and nail products to fungal infection and medicines, and most are harmless. Treatment depends on the cause, so it's worth confirming it first. A single new or changing dark band needs a doctor's check.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Dry needling
Dry needling puts a thin, solid needle into sore spots in a muscle to ease pain and tension. It may give short-term pain relief, but it's usually no better than exercise. Side effects are mostly minor, and screening beforehand matters.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Cold feet
Cold feet is a symptom, not a condition in itself. It can come from narrowed arteries, Raynaud's phenomenon or nerve changes, so finding the cause comes first. Simple steps such as not smoking, regular walking and good foot care can help, and some signs need same-day care.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicines
Painkillers such as paracetamol ease pain, and anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen also calm swelling. They relieve symptoms rather than cure the cause. A gel or cream is often tried first for sprains and knee arthritis, while tablets suit some people but carry more risks.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Wound vac (negative pressure wound therapy)
A wound vac, or negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), seals a wound with a dressing connected to a small suction pump that draws fluid away. It's used for stubborn or complex wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, though how well it works is mostly low certainty.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Plantar fibromatosis (Ledderhose disease)
Plantar fibromatosis (Ledderhose disease) is a benign thickening of the tissue under the foot that forms firm, slow-growing lumps along the arch. Comfortable footwear, adjusting activity and sometimes insoles ease pressure. See your GP soon if a lump grows quickly or looks unusual.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Wound dressings
A wound dressing is a covering that protects damaged skin and helps keep a wound moist but not too wet while it heals. It doesn't heal the wound by itself, and no single type suits every wound, so the right choice depends on the wound.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Wound debridement
Wound debridement is the removal of dead or damaged tissue from a wound so that healthy tissue can heal. There are gentle and sharp methods, and the right one depends on your wound, your circulation and your health. It may help healing, but how much isn't certain.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Big toe pain
Big toe pain is pain in or around the big toe joint. Common causes are arthritis of the joint, gout, bunions and irritation of the small bones under the toe. Roomier shoes, adjusting activity and simple pain relief are the usual first steps, and a podiatrist can help find the cause.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Freiberg's disease
Freiberg's disease is a rare condition in which the blood supply to the end of a toe bone is disrupted, causing pain in the ball of the foot, most often behind the second toe. It mostly affects teenage girls and young women. Most people start with taking pressure off the area; surgery is rarely needed.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Nail matrixectomy
Nail matrixectomy is a procedure, done under local anaesthetic, that destroys the nail root so part or all of a toenail doesn't grow back. It's mainly used for ingrown toenails that are painful, keep coming back or haven't settled with simple care.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy uses extreme cold, usually liquid nitrogen, to destroy small skin lesions such as warts, verrucas and sun spots. It suits sun spots best, gives mixed results for warts, and often needs several sessions.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Compression therapy
Compression therapy uses firm, graduated pressure from bandages, stockings or devices to help blood and fluid move back up the leg. It works best for venous leg ulcers, and it should be chosen and fitted by a health professional after a circulation check.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Claw toe
Claw toe is a curling of the smaller toes, where the toe bends up at its base and down further along. Wider, deeper shoes with a soft upper, plus pads, are the usual first steps. Surgery is kept for toes that don't improve.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Ankle braces
An ankle brace is a support worn around the ankle, used mainly to help prevent repeat sprains and to protect the ankle after a recent one. It seems to help most if you've sprained the ankle before, and it works best alongside exercise rather than on its own.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Heel cups and heel lifts
Heel cups and heel lifts are inserts that sit at the base of the heel inside a shoe, used for heel pain and to make up for a leg length difference. The benefit is modest and often short-term, so they work best as one part of a wider plan.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Footwear modifications
Footwear modification means changing an existing shoe, such as adding a raise, wedge, flare or rocker sole, to ease pain, reduce pressure or improve walking. It's best studied for preventing repeat foot ulcers in adults with diabetes. It only helps when worn, and not every shoe can be adapted.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Night splints
A night splint is a brace worn on the ankle and foot during sleep, holding the ankle in a neutral position. It's aimed at plantar heel pain, especially pain with the first steps in the morning. Results are mixed, and it's usually tried after stretching and taping.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Tailor's bunion
A tailor's bunion (bunionette) is a bony lump on the outer side of the foot, at the base of the little toe. Wide, soft shoes and padding that cut down rubbing ease the pain for most people, and surgery is an option if pain and shoe problems continue.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Plantar plate tear
A plantar plate tear is damage to the ligament under the base of a toe, most often the 2nd toe, and it causes pain in the ball of the foot. Simple care such as taping, supportive shoes and padded insoles comes first, and early assessment matters.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Bursitis of the foot
Bursitis of the foot is inflammation of a small fluid-filled cushion (a bursa), often at the back of the heel. It usually comes from friction and pressure, and most people improve with easing activity, ice and roomier, supportive shoes. Signs of infection need urgent medical assessment.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Sesamoiditis
Sesamoiditis is pain under the big toe joint, from irritation of two small bones there, usually through overuse. Easing the load with activity changes, wide low-heeled shoes and padding or insoles is the usual first step. A podiatrist can assess it and rule out a fracture.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Peroneal tendinopathy
Peroneal tendinopathy is pain along the outside of the ankle from the peroneal tendons, usually after overuse or an ankle sprain. The first steps are easing the load, keeping gently active and building up gradually. A podiatrist or physiotherapist can guide exercises if it isn't settling.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Padding and offloading
Padding and offloading means using cushioning or devices to take pressure off a sore or vulnerable spot on the foot so it can heal. It's best supported for foot ulcers in people with diabetes, where casts or boots usually come first and padding is a lower choice.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Pump bump (Haglund's deformity)
Haglund's deformity, or pump bump, is a bony bump at the back of the heel that stiff-backed shoes can rub and irritate. Comfortable, supportive shoes that don't press on the bump are the usual first step, with other non-surgical care. Surgery is considered only if that hasn't helped.
27 October 2026 · New guide
High arches (cavus foot)
A high-arched foot, or cavus foot, has an arch that stays high when you stand. It can be harmless, but it's sometimes linked to a nerve or muscle condition. Shoe inserts made for your foot can ease pain in adults, and a podiatrist can check for a cause.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Hammertoe
A hammertoe is a smaller toe that bends down at its middle joint, leaving it curled like a hammer. Roomy, soft shoes and simple padding or taping are the usual first steps, and early on the toe is usually flexible. Surgery is kept for toes that don't improve.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a squeezed nerve on the inside of the ankle, causing burning, tingling or numbness in the sole, heel or inner ankle. It's often missed. Simple care such as adjusting activity, stretching and supportive footwear is the usual first step, with injections or surgery kept for later.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Stress fracture
A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone from repeated load, often after doing too much too soon. Pain that builds with impact and eases with rest is the main sign. Many settle with activity changes, but some sites need closer care.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Broken metatarsal
A broken metatarsal is a crack or break in one of the long bones in the middle of the foot. It needs checking rather than self-treating. Most breaks where the bones haven't shifted heal without surgery, using a protective shoe, boot or cast, and healing takes weeks.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Blisters
A blister is a small pocket of fluid that forms in damaged skin, most often on the hands and feet. Foot blisters usually come from repeated friction. Most settle with protection and a clean covering, and it's best not to burst them. Some need checking.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Chilblains
Chilblains (pernio) are red or purple, itchy or painful patches on the toes and fingers, caused by the skin reacting to cold and damp. Most settle on their own within a few weeks. Rewarming slowly, avoiding direct heat and not scratching is the main thing to try.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Broken ankle
A broken ankle (ankle fracture) is a break in one of the ankle bones, usually the fibula, often after a twist, a fall or a knock. Many heal in a cast or boot over about 6 weeks, while unstable breaks often need surgery.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Lisfranc injury
A Lisfranc injury is damage to the ligaments or bones in the middle of the foot, around the arch. It's often mistaken for a sprain, so a painful, swollen midfoot after an injury needs proper assessment. Stable injuries can heal in a cast; unstable ones usually need surgery.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Stretching and flexibility program
A stretching and flexibility program is a routine of gentle calf, Achilles and foot stretches done at home. It's a first-line part of care for plantar heel pain in adults, works best alongside taping and education, and can take weeks to months to help.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Athlete's foot
Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is a common fungal skin infection of the foot, causing itchy, flaky or cracked skin, often between the toes. Creams, sprays or powders from a pharmacy usually treat it, though it can keep coming back.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Toenail removal (nail avulsion)
Nail avulsion is a minor operation that removes part or all of a problem toenail, usually under local anaesthetic. It's mostly used for ingrown toenails that haven't settled with simpler care. A chemical called phenol is often added to help stop the nail growing back.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Foot cramps
Foot cramps are sudden, painful tightenings of a muscle in the foot, and they usually ease within minutes on their own. Often no cause is found. Gently stretching or massaging the muscle helps when one strikes, but ways to stop them coming back are limited. Some signs need prompt medical help.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Arch pain
Arch pain is pain along the inner curve of your foot. It has several possible causes, most often irritation of the band of tissue under the foot, so the cause needs to be worked out. Simple self-care helps many people, and a podiatrist can help if it isn't settling.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Cracked heels
Cracked heels (heel fissures) are splits in dry, thickened skin on the heel. The usual first step is a daily moisturiser, such as a urea cream, heel balm or simple emollient, with gentle filing of hard skin and well-fitting shoes. See a podiatrist if they don't improve.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Footwear assessment
A footwear assessment is a structured check of the shoes you wear and how well they suit your feet and your health. It aims to find poor fit before it causes pain or wounds, and it leads to advice on better shoes. It matters most if you have diabetes.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Broken toe
A broken toe is a crack or break in a toe bone. Most heal in about 4 to 6 weeks with rest, taping to the next toe and a stiff-soled shoe. See your GP or a podiatrist the same day for a big toe, a crooked toe, a wound, numbness or a colour change.
27 October 2026 · New guide
Achilles tendon rupture
An Achilles tendon rupture is a tear of the tendon that links your calf muscles to your heel, usually during sport, with a sudden pop or sharp pain. See your GP or a podiatrist the same day if you suspect one. For recent ruptures, surgery and non-surgical care with early rehabilitation can give similar results.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Wound that won't heal
A wound that won't heal is one that has stalled instead of steadily improving, often because of vein or artery problems, diabetes or ongoing pressure. Care depends on the cause, so finding it comes first. A wound not improving after about 4 weeks, or any foot wound with diabetes, should be checked.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Total contact casting
A total contact cast is a close-fitting, non-removable cast that takes pressure off a foot ulcer. It's mostly used for ulcers on the sole of the foot in people with diabetes. It heals more ulcers than removable options, but it isn't suitable for everyone and needs regular checks.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Offloading devices
Offloading devices are casts, boots and shoes that take pressure off a sore area of the foot. They're best proven for helping ulcers on the sole heal in adults with diabetes, and for lowering the chance of ulcers coming back. Wearing the device as directed matters most.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Bunion surgery
Bunion surgery realigns the big toe, usually with cuts in the bone and releases of tight tissue, to ease the pain of a bunion (hallux valgus). It's usually considered when shoe changes and other non-surgical care haven't helped, and it brings risks and a recovery of weeks to months.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Shockwave therapy
Shockwave therapy (ESWT) passes sound waves through the skin to treat long-standing heel and tendon pain, without injections or surgery. It has the best support for plantar heel pain, and results vary by condition. It's usually tried after other treatments haven't been enough.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Off-the-shelf orthotics
Off-the-shelf orthotics (prefabricated orthoses) are ready-made insoles, usually foam, that a podiatrist can adjust to your foot. For adult heel pain they may help a little, and custom insoles give similar results. Mild aching at first is normal.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Verruca treatment
A verruca (plantar wart) is a viral wart on the sole of the foot, and many clear on their own without treatment. When treatment is chosen, acid-based paints or gels and freezing are the main options. Neither works for everyone, and it can take months.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Corn and callus removal
Corn and callus removal means taking off thick, hard skin, usually with a sterile scalpel, and a podiatrist does it. It can ease pain for a while, but corns often return unless the cause of the pressure is dealt with. People with diabetes or poor circulation shouldn't treat them at home.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Cortisone injections
A cortisone (corticosteroid) injection places anti-inflammatory medicine into or around a sore joint or tendon to ease pain, swelling and stiffness. Relief usually lasts weeks to months, and it works better for some problems than others. Exercise and physiotherapy often still matter.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Moon boots and CAM walkers
A moon boot, or CAM walker, is a removable, supportive boot used after some foot and ankle injuries or surgery. It protects the area while letting you put weight on it. It suits stable injuries best, and your clinician decides how long you wear it.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Therapeutic footwear
Therapeutic footwear is footwear built for at-risk or changed-shape feet, mainly in people with diabetes and numb feet. It aims to ease pressure under the foot. It may help prevent foot sores, though the evidence is less certain than the guidelines suggest, and it needs proper fitting and follow-up.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Strengthening exercises
Strengthening exercises build muscle strength in the foot and ankle using simple moves such as towel scrunches, calf raises and the short foot exercise. They help most with an ankle that keeps giving way, and may help flat feet and balance. Build up gradually.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Strapping and taping
Strapping and taping means applying adhesive tape to the foot or ankle to support a joint or limit its movement. It can lower the risk of ankle sprains and ease heel pain in the short term, usually alongside exercise and stretching, but it isn't a cure.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Footwear advice
Footwear advice is guidance on choosing and wearing shoes that fit and suit your feet, so they support your feet rather than strain them. It matters most for people with diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, and it's a sensible, practical step rather than a proven treatment on its own.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Overpronation
Overpronation means your feet roll inwards too much, and it's often linked with flat feet. If it doesn't hurt, it usually needs no treatment. If it does, supportive shoes, lower-leg stretches and exercises, and sometimes insoles are the usual first steps, and a podiatrist can help find the cause.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Swollen feet and ankles
Foot and ankle swelling is usually oedema, fluid building up under the skin. It often comes from long periods of standing or sitting, but can also come from a vein, heart, kidney or liver problem. Keeping your ankles moving helps. Sudden or one-sided swelling should be seen by a GP or podiatrist the same day.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Thick toenails
Thick toenails (onychauxis) are common, especially in older people, and are often a normal part of ageing. Other causes include fungal infection, shoe pressure and injury. Gentle filing and regular nail care help first, and a podiatrist can help if the nails are hard to manage.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Burning feet
Burning feet are a disturbed feeling in the feet, often with tingling or numbness. Nerve damage is a common cause, especially with diabetes, but there are other causes. A GP or podiatrist can work out why, and what helps depends on the cause.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Ankle pain
Ankle pain is a symptom with many possible causes, most often a sprain, but also arthritis, tendon problems and overuse. Staying gently active, using real support such as a brace or tape, and building strength and balance often help. See a podiatrist or your GP if it isn't improving.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Ball of foot pain
Ball of foot pain (metatarsalgia) is pain under the front of the foot, often burning or stabbing, and several different problems can cause it. Roomy, cushioned shoes, soft insoles or pads and easing off what hurts are the usual first steps. A podiatrist can work out the cause if it doesn't settle.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is narrowing of the leg arteries that cuts blood flow to the muscles, often causing calf pain when you walk. Regular walking exercise and stopping smoking are the main first steps. Some signs, such as pain at rest or a wound that won't heal, need same-day care.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Peripheral neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, often causing numbness, tingling or burning pain in the feet. Diabetes is the most common cause. Protecting your feet, looking after the underlying cause and getting checked early all help limit problems.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Flat feet
Flat foot means the arch on the inside of the foot is low or missing. It's often painless and needs no treatment, and most young children grow out of it. If it's sore, supportive shoes, insoles and exercise can help, and new or changing flat feet should be checked.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Ball-of-foot pain (metatarsalgia)
Ball-of-foot pain, or metatarsalgia, is pain on the sole of the foot near the toes. It's a symptom with several possible causes, often extra pressure on the forefoot. Roomier, low-heeled shoes, calf stretching and easing off what aggravates it can help, and a podiatrist can look for the cause.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Corns and calluses
Corns and calluses are patches of thickened skin that build up where shoes, bones or the way you move put repeated pressure or friction on your skin. They can be sore but are not often serious. Easing the pressure is the main step, and some people should be seen rather than self-treat.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Fungal nail infection
A fungal nail infection (onychomycosis) can turn a nail discoloured, thick and crumbly. Other nail problems look similar, so a laboratory test of a nail sample confirms it. Treatment takes months and doesn't always work, so treating athlete's foot early and keeping shoes clean matter.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Flat feet in children
Flat feet in children are very common and usually a normal part of growth: the arch tends to develop by itself over the first decade. Most children have no symptoms and need no treatment. See your GP or a podiatrist if there's pain, stiffness, a limp or only one foot is affected.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Charcot foot
Charcot foot is a condition in which nerve damage, usually from diabetes, weakens the bones and joints of the foot so they can break down and change shape. It often causes a warm, swollen foot with little pain. It needs prompt care from a diabetes foot team.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Arthritis of the foot and ankle
Osteoarthritis of the foot and ankle is wear-and-tear arthritis that causes pain and stiffness, most often in the big toe joint or the ankle. Simple care comes first: suitable footwear, easing back on what aggravates it, pain relief and exercise. If that isn't enough, a podiatrist or doctor can discuss other options.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Gout
Gout is a painful type of arthritis caused by urate crystals building up in a joint, most often the big toe. Flares come on suddenly and usually settle within a week or two. Medicines from a doctor treat flares and can help prevent them coming back.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Foot circulation check (vascular assessment)
A foot circulation check, called a lower limb vascular assessment, looks at the blood supply to your legs and feet, mainly to find peripheral arterial disease. It uses questions, a hands-on examination and usually a painless blood pressure test at the ankle and arm. A normal result doesn't always rule the disease out.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Numbness in the foot
Numbness in the foot means losing some or all feeling, often with tingling, because of a problem with the nerves. Diabetes is the most common cause, but there are many others. A doctor can look for the cause, and protecting your feet from unnoticed injury matters in the meantime.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Antifungal medicines
Antifungal therapy means using medicines, as creams, paints or tablets, to treat fungal infections of the skin and nails. Tablets clear toenail infections more often than topical treatments but carry more risks, and nail treatment takes months. A pharmacist or GP can advise which suits you.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Diabetes foot check
A diabetes foot check looks for early signs that diabetes is affecting your feet, such as nerve damage, poor circulation or changes in foot shape, before a sore forms. It gives you a risk category that sets how often you're checked and what care you need.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Claudication: leg pain when walking
Claudication is cramp-like pain, aching or tiredness in the calf or other leg muscles that comes on with walking and eases with rest. It's usually caused by narrowed leg arteries. Stopping smoking, structured exercise and looking after blood pressure and cholesterol are the main first steps.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Phenol nail surgery
Phenol nail surgery (phenolic nail ablation) removes part or all of a problem toenail, then uses a chemical to stop it growing back. It's mainly used for ingrown toenails that haven't settled with simple care, and regrowth is uncommon. Healing takes several weeks.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Sprained ankle
A sprained ankle is usually an injury to the ligaments on the outer side of the ankle, caused by the foot rolling inwards. Most sprains are best managed with a brace or tape and gentle exercise started early, rather than a long time in a cast, and with a gradual return to activity.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Morton's neuroma
Morton's neuroma is a painful thickening of a nerve between the toes in the ball of the foot, often felt as burning or like walking on a pebble. It isn't a cancer. Roomy, low-heeled shoes and easing aggravating activities are the usual first steps, with injection or surgery if they don't help.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Bunions
A bunion (hallux valgus) is a bony bump at the base of the big toe, with the toe leaning towards the others. Many people have no pain. Wide, low-heeled shoes, pads and simple pain relief can ease symptoms, and a podiatrist can advise on insoles, spacers or splints.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Plantar warts
A plantar wart (verruca) is a thickened, often flat patch of skin on the sole caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). It's usually harmless and many clear on their own, though it can take a long time. Wart paint is the usual first step, and a podiatrist can offer other treatments.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Ingrown toenails
An ingrown toenail happens when the edge of a nail grows into the skin beside it, causing pain, redness and swelling, most often on the big toe. Mild cases usually start with warm soaks, roomy shoes and careful nail cutting. Nail surgery is an option if it keeps coming back.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Achilles tendinopathy
Achilles tendinopathy is pain in the tendon at the back of your heel or lower calf, often worst first thing in the morning or after rest. It usually builds up from overload. Gradual calf-strengthening exercise is the first treatment, and most people improve over a few months.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction
Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction is a strained tendon on the inside of the ankle that helps hold up the arch, and over time the arch can flatten. It's most common in women over 40. Supportive insoles, often with exercise, are the usual first step, and early checking matters.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Stiff big toe (hallux rigidus)
Hallux rigidus is arthritis of the big toe joint, causing pain, stiffness and less movement, often with a bony lump on top of the joint. Supportive footwear and activity changes are the usual first steps, and your GP or podiatrist can discuss other options if it isn't settling.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Gait analysis
Gait analysis is a way of measuring how you walk, from a clinician watching and timing you to camera and sensor systems. It's used to answer a clinical question, such as guiding treatment or tracking change over time, and full laboratory testing is kept for complex walking problems.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Custom orthotics
Custom orthotics are shoe inserts made for one person's foot, from a cast, scan or mould, to support the foot or ease pressure on sore spots. Guidelines favour them for adults with diabetes at risk of foot ulcers; for other problems, results are mixed.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Heel pain
Heel pain is pain under or behind the heel, and in adults it's most often plantar fasciitis. Most people improve with self-care: stretching, supportive shoes and easing back on what sets it off. A podiatrist can work out the cause and suggest next steps if it isn't settling.
26 October 2026 · New guide
Plantar heel pain
Plantar heel pain is pain under the heel, often worst with your first steps in the morning or after rest. Self-care is the usual first step: easing back, stretching, supportive shoes and ice. If it isn't settling, a podiatrist, GP or physiotherapist can suggest other options.