Foot, ankle and lower limb aches and pains
Foot, ankle and lower limb aches and pains
If you are experiencing pain or have an injury or disease relating to the muscles, bones, joints or nerves in your foot, ankle or lower limb, you may be seen by one of our specialist musculoskeletal podiatrists.
Musculoskeletal (MSK)/biomechanics podiatrists focus on foot and ankle movement issues and can help with problems like your gait (the way you walk), foot pain, preventing and treating lower limb conditions and addressing structural imbalances to improve your walking.
Our MSK/biomechanics team works at clinics across Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven providing a wide range of treatments including guidance on footwear, exercises, therapeutic advice, orthotics/insoles, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, and acupuncture.
We also facilitate referrals to other services when needed, such as the musculoskeletal consultant team, physiotherapy (to help restore movement and function), orthotist (for special footwear, braces or splints) or orthopaedics (bone, joint and muscle surgeons).
You may find the videos below helpful to understand what musculoskeletal podiatrists do and to learn more about one of the conditions we treat – heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis. Please also read our frequently asked questions below.
-
There are several ways you can access MSK podiatry:
- your GP may refer you,
- another health care professional may refer you, or
- you can self-refer using this referral form.
-
When we receive your referral, it will be assessed and if we believe you can benefit from our help you will be added to our waiting list. You will be sent an invitation and opt in letter by post asking you to book your appointment by contacting the podiatry administration team on 01274 221165, Monday to Friday, between 8.00 am and 5.00 pm.
Please contact us as soon as possible after receiving your letter. If we do not hear from you within 21 days of posting your invitation letter you will be discharged from the MSK/Biomechanics service.
If you fail to attend your appointment without giving us notice you will be discharged from the MSK/Biomechanics service, and you will need to submit a new referral so another appointment can be booked.
If you prefer, you can also now register to receive digital letters from the podiatry team.
-
If you are unable to attend your appointment, please contact the podiatry administration team on 01274 221165, Monday to Friday, between 8.00 am and 5.00 pm.
If you fail to attend your appointment without giving us notice you will be discharged from the MSK/Biomechanics service, and you will need to submit a new referral so another appointment can be booked.
-
Please wear or bring with you shorts, loose trousers or other suitable clothing so we can examine your lower leg, ankle or foot.
It is also helpful to bring some of your current regularly used footwear for us to take a look at in case an insole needs to be fitted.
You may find the information on our footwear advice page helpful.
-
Please arrive on time for your appointment, and be ready to share information about your symptoms. Your podiatrist will need to know information like:
-
- when the problem started,
- how long you have had the problem,
- whether something specific caused the problem eg: a sports or other injury,
- the types of pain that you may be experiencing,
- when your symptoms are worse, and
- what if anything helps your symptoms.
During your appointment, your podiatrist will gather detailed information about the problem you are having with your foot, ankle or lower limb. They will also ask about your medical history, medication, and general health.
Your foot, ankle or lower limb will then be examined and your podiatrist will talk through your diagnosis, likely outcomes and treatment options, based on clinical evidence, expectations, realistic goals, and the potential benefits and risks of those treatment options, including the choice of doing nothing.
Your podiatrist will expect you to be willing to follow the treatment plan and advice to facilitate your rehabilitation.
-
-
What are orthotics?
Orthotics are devices you wear to relieve pain associated with various foot and ankle conditions. When our podiatry team refers to orthotics, we generally mean insoles which have been specifically designed for your foot.
Using your orthotics
If you have been prescribed orthotics, they need to be ‘broken in’. Wear for 30 minutes on the first day and increase the amount of time you wear it/them by 20 minutes a day each day for two weeks. During this two week ‘breaking in’ time do not exercise wearing your orthotics.
Shoes for your orthotics
Your orthotics may be in the form of a simple heel pad or a complex device that alters the way your foot functions. In order for your treatment to be successful, it is very important that you wear a shoe that can accommodate the insole.
The shoe should have:
- increased depth at the toe and heel
- an adjustable fastening
- no more than 1 ½” (4cm) heel height, or
- a removable insole that will allow easy accommodation of the prescribed orthoses
Taking care of your orthotics
When you need to clean your orthotics it’s important that you do not use hot water or immerse in water. Anything too hot for your hat is too hot for your orthotics.
Wash your orthotics under running water, with a damp soapy cloth. Make sure all the soap is washed off and dry with a towel.
Do not place your orthotics near a heat source, or attempt to alter or modify them. Your orthotics were especially prescribed for your foot shape so do not share them with anyone else.
Three month warranty
There is a three month warranty on your orthotics. Refunds or alterations may be refused if we believe your orthotic has been altered or damaged abnormally in anyway – eg: cut, chewed by a dog, microwaved or exposed to a heat source above 50 degrees Celsius.
If your orthotic needs recovering within the three month warranty period, you will need to post it/them to us. We will charge you postage fees to send on to the lab which does this.
Beyond the three month warranty period, standard lab refurbishment and/ or re-covering fees and postage costs apply.
Purchasing more orthotics
If your podiatrist prescribes orthotics and you find them beneficial, you can purchase a second pair from Orthochoice – simply ask your podiatrist how to do so.
Orthotics/insoles usually last one to two years. Consider replacing them if you experience your previous symptoms of discomfort, notice hard skin or corns developing, or if your feet have grown or shrunk in size, or the orthotics show visible damage.
If you have been discharged from the podiatry MSK/biomechanics service and your insoles are worn out, you will need a new referral. You will also be required to bring your worn-out insoles to your reassessment appointment for review.