Musculoskeletal Podiatry

Foot, ankle and lower limb pain can affect how you move, work and exercise. Our role is to assess the underlying cause and recommend the most appropriate treatment — which may or may not include orthotics.

People attend because they are in pain, have sustained an injury, or are concerned about their foot shape (for example “high” or “low” arches).

Common problems we assess include:

• Heel pain and plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendon pain
• Arch and metatarsal pain
• Flat feet or high arches
• Bunions and forefoot pain
• Knee, hip or lower back pain linked to foot mechanics
• Arthritis
• Sports injuries
• Overload from prolonged standing
• Paediatric or age-related structural changes

Orthotics can help in some cases by:

• Improving load distribution
• Supporting or guiding foot motion
• Reducing strain through the ankle, knee and hip
• Redistributing pressure away from painful areas

However, orthotics are only one part of treatment. In many cases, footwear advice, strengthening exercises, load management, or MLS laser therapy are equally — or more — important.

Assessment – £120

Every treatment plan begins with a comprehensive Foot Pain & MSK Assessment.

• Detailed history and symptom discussion
• Lower limb biomechanical examination
• Joint range and muscle testing
• Gait assessment
• Leg length evaluation where relevant
• Footwear review
• Discussion of work, sport and activity demands

Where appropriate, we may use plantar pressure analysis to assess how load is distributed during walking.

You will receive a short questionnaire before your appointment to help guide the consultation. At the end of the assessment, we will discuss findings and agree a management plan tailored to your goals.

Orthotic Options

Not everyone needs an orthotic and not everyone needs a fully custom device. The appropriate option depends on the condition, its duration, your activity level and the demands placed on your feet. Your footwear and lifestyle will impact the choices we make and footwear choices have become far better with more choice (and complicated) in recent years.

Prefabricated Orthotics – from £85

High-quality, medical-grade devices available in different sizes and profiles. They can be heat-moulded and modified in clinic.

Suitable for:

• Mild to moderate mechanical overload
• Early or shorter-term conditions
• Growing children
• Patients wishing to trial orthotic therapy or where outcome is uncertain

Semi-Custom Orthotics – from £200

Lab-manufactured devices made to prescription from a structured range of shell designs.

Allowing:

• Specific arch contour selection
• Defined rearfoot and forefoot control and forefoot offloading
• Choice of material stiffness
• Asymmetry
• Condition-specific modifications and orthotic choices

Fully Custom Orthotics – from £350–£400

Manufactured from a cast or 3D scan of your foot. Typically reserved for:

• Significant structural deformity
• Marked asymmetry
• Complex or long-standing pathology
• High-demand occupational or sporting requirements
• Cases where other devices have not been successful

Design Philosophy

Our approach is proportional. We start with the simplest effective option. Many patients do very well with a carefully selected prefabricated device. Others benefit from more structured prescription control.

Orthotics are selected based on:

• The nature and duration of the problem
• Your age and activity level
• Work and sport demands
• Footwear compatibility
• Long-term goals

Fitting & Follow-Up

We keep many prefabricated orthotics in stock and have the materials to make adjustments and personalisation in the clinic and we can usually supply these at your appointment or within a couple of days. The semi bespoke orthotics will also be ready within 2-3 days based on current laboratory turnaround times, Orthotics that are fully custom from a mould of your foot are usually ready within approximately two weeks.

At your fitting appointment:

• The device is checked against your feet and footwear
• Adjustments are made if required
• You will be given clear break-in guidance

Typically, wear begins at around one hour per day and increases gradually. You should be comfortable wearing it all day before wearing it for sport. If you work from home or don’t wear shoes in the house then you will have to in order to benefit from the orthotic! Follow-up is arranged if needed. If the device isn’t comfortable within two or three of weeks we will review and adjust.

We allow 6 weeks of comfortable use before the symptoms should ease but this will be condition dependent and discussed at your appointment.

To arrange an appointment, you can book online.