Introduction Keeping mobile is key to good health. I'm not talking about your smartphone here, though you should definitely keep that charged up and ready to go at all times. Mobile in this context refers to moving around on a regular basis. And regular doesn't mean every few days or even every day—it means every minute of your waking hours! The old adage is true: A sedentary lifestyle will kill you (and it's not just metaphorical). That's why it's so important to stay active and get plenty of exercise, even if it's just walking around the office building or taking [...]

Winter Foot Warmers Coming into the colder seasons we all need to be careful and look after our feet to ensure we do not get chilblains, and if you have Raynaud’s phenomenon then you need to take extra precautions.  When stepping out into the cold weather check that your footwear has enough insulation in them to keep your foot warm for a few hours. Wellingtons do not have enough insulator properties in them to keep your feet warm because they are plastic and do not have a thick sole. A walking boot or shoe would be more suitable for going [...]

4 Father's Day Footprint Keepsakes With Father’s Day approaching, you may be looking for lovely gifts or keepsakes for the Daddy in your children's lives. Davenport House Podiatrists have a great idea for a thoughtful yet quick and easy keepsake for you. Here are 4 easy footprint Father’s Day art and craft ideas for your kids. For some of them, all you will need to do are print out the templates and paint your child’s feet or foot on them which makes them a perfect last minute Father’s Day gift! Keepsake 1 - I love you Daddy from the tip [...]

A podiatrist is a health care practitioner who can assess, diagnose and treat disorders of the lower limb. The terms chiropodist and podiatrist are used by practitioners and although both podiatrist and chiropodist are currently interchangeable terms, there is a move by a lot of podiatrists to move away from the term chiropodist. To become a podiatrist, you must have completed an honours degree level course which includes 1000 hours of clinical practice. Podiatry students study areas including anatomy, physiology, medicine, biomechanics, clinical practice and much more. Once qualified, a podiatrist is an autonomous practitioner who can deliver the treatment [...]

Pokemon fever is taking the world by storm, (they've even invaded the clinic!) and as a consequence is causing many people to become much more active. There is however a side effect, the very real problem of foot pain from this sudden increase in activity. The news and media are covering lots of stories of people injuring themselves whilst hunting the little monsters, mostly through spending too long on their feet. The tissues in the foot are susceptible to injury just like any other part of the body. Feet are capable of holding us up all day long and carrying us [...]

A Biomechanical Assessment involves a complex evaluation of the feet, legs and body position whilst weight bearing and non-weight bearing. The information gained from a biomechanical assessment forms the basis for a rehabilitation programme, or if the problem is mechanical - an orthotic prescription. We would recommend a biomechanical assessment for patients experiencing pain in their feet or lower limbs as this can sometimes be due to a biomechanical fault. This type of assessment is the starting point for understanding the cause of your pain, where it has originated from and how we can help you to treat it. The [...]

I recently saw a quote on Runners World and it really struck a chord. “Keep a machine in a good working order and it will serve you well”. If you are a runner you will know how frustrating it can be if you become injured. On many occasions an injury is no fault of the runner but for some, the ‘machine’ could’ve been taken care of a little better. Did you know that regular sports massage can play a pivotal role in the training of runners and athletes of all abilities? Sports massage is proven to be effective in the [...]

This Valentine’s Day you needn’t break the bank with a lavish gift. A foot massage for those weary, over-worked feet will go a long way to keeping you in the good books. Before the massage prepare a basin of warm water to soak those tired and aching feet. Ideally the sides of the basin should come up to the ankles so ensure that the feet are fully submerged. Make sure that there is enough space for both feet to fit comfortably side by side. Make sure you place a large towel under the basin to stop spillages and have a [...]

They are an important piece of the winter wardrobe for many but could the trend for Ugg style boots affect your foot health? Ugg boots are made from sheepskin and originated down under in Australia but did you know that they were never intended for outdoor wear hence the fact that they are not waterproof? The popularity of the Ugg boot boomed back in 2000 when they landed in America. Oprah Winfrey added them to her ‘Oprah’s Favourite Things’ show and spent an incredible $50,000 on buying a pair for each of her 350 members of staff! They came to [...]