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What Is Podiatry & Chiropody?

Soleus Podiatry helps with common problems including fungal nails, verrucae, ingrowing toenails, calluses and corns. We also treat all sort of foot pain and foot posture problems such as bunions, neuroma, plantar fasciitis and achilles tendonitis.

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What is Podiatry & Chiropody?

Podiatry is a branch of healthcare which specialises in conditions and treatments of the foot.

Podiatrists study for a degree qualification and are entitled to use local anaesthetics and some prescription-only-medicines if appropriate to their treatment.

Chiropody is an old-fashioned term that was used to describe how we treat basic skin and nail problems.

Since the mid-1990’s the diploma was replaced with a degree course, that included a much wider range of training, for example woundcare, the effect of diseases on the feet, biomechanics, use of anaesthetics for nail surgery and access to some prescription only medicines.

We are also regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council and have to maintain registration by undertaking regular and varied training.

This registration is how you know we are legitimate.

Sometimes footcare treatments can be available from other providers called Foot Health Practitioners. These practitioners have undergone only a short basic training and are not a regulated healthcare profession.
Professionally, we are supported by the Royal College of Podiatry who provide our clinical standards and treatment guidelines to adhere to. Any breach in either professional standards or clinical standards could lead to being removed from the Council’s register. Therefore, being able to legally use the designation Podiatrist or Chiropodist is testament to our skills and education, and an honour.

What We Treat?

Ingrowing Toenail

When a nail has a curved edge, it can easily cause aggravation to the skin alongside it. This situation can very quickly escalate into an ingrowing nail, with bleeding or pus or even extra tissue growing over the nail.

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Verrucae/Warts

Verrucae, or warts, can be a persistent and annoying problem because they can take years to disappear or may not at all.

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Fungal Nails

Nails that are damaged or thick can be most vulnerable to fungal infections.

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Foot Pain

Who wants to be stopped in their tracks by pain?! Do you suffer with pain under the arch or achilles tendon? Maybe a sore bunion or burning sensation under the ball of the foot?

Pain around the feet and ankles can occur for so many reasons and can require investigations into movement and function.

Often musculoskeletal or biomechanical pain will require orthoses to resolve and some rehabilitation work to get you fully fit and back to activity again.

Flat Feet

Having flat feet is not always a problem, but if it is accompanied by pain in the foot, ankle, knee or hip, the foot position can be a sign of a more significant problem. 

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Forefoot Pain

There are many different causes and sites of forefoot pain, but mostly it arises as a result of overloading the front of the foot.

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Heel Pain

Pain under the heel is often a result of tissue injury or overload, but the causes aren’t always clear. 

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Thickened Nails

Nails are frequently the cause of embarrassment, but they need not be!

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Athletes Foot / Tinea

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin.

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Skincare

Quick diagnosis of problems and effective treatments are key to maintaining the skin’s integrity

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Corns and Calluses

Hard, thick skin can become really compacted and form a corn. This is usually described as standing on a stone or a needle.

Who would have thought skin could be so painful?! Unfortunately corn plasters and razor blades are not safe methods of corn removal and injuries easily occur! The use of scalpels for corn and callus treatment is something that podiatrist are uniquely trained and experienced in.

A few minutes in the right hands and you will be skipping along again!

 Learn More

Diabetes Footcare

With the feet being so vulnerable to problems it is imperative that they are expertly looked after.

We can help prevent ulcerations and amputations to feet affected by diabetes, because we are experts in foot care.

We can monitor blood flow into the feet and nerve ending function, which are commonly affected, and also keep a keen eye on any vulnerable areas.

We can tell you all the best tips to keep them safe for as long as possible and advise on safe products to use to improve their health.

Learn More

Broken Toenails

We can rebuild broken and damaged toenails with a flexible durable gel

Learn More

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What We Treat?

Ingrowing Toenail

When a nail has a curved edge, it can easily cause aggravation to the skin alongside it. This situation can very quickly escalate into an ingrowing nail, with bleeding or pus or even extra tissue growing over the nail. It is acutely painful and difficult to deal with by yourself. It will be life-affecting, making activity very painful and even difficult to wear shoes.

Podiatrists are trained as standard in a procedural technique to remove all or part of the ingrowing nail for a permanent resolution. This procedure is very effective, and particularly worthwhile for recurrent ingrowing nails.

Verrucae/Warts

Verrucae, or warts, can be a persistent and annoying problem because they can take years to disappear or may not at all.

A verruca (aka warts) is a benign skin lesion caused by variants of the Human Papilloma Virus. They are most often associated with shared damp environments such as changing rooms and swimming pools. They can often disappear on their own in children, but in adults can be very stubborn. This is because the virus lives in the middle layer of the skin and is hard for the immune system to detect. On their own they aren’t usually a problem, but they can develop a thick layer of skin, especially on weight-bearing areas of the foot, which can be very painful. They may also spread around the foot and for these reasons people will often seek treatment.

We have two treatment packages, Needling and Swift, which both stimulate the immune system to find the viral infection and then mount a response. When successful the patient has generated antibodies to the strain and the verruca disappears.

  • Needling is undertaken with local anaesthetic, utilising a small needle to damage to the verruca and alert the body to the location.
  • Swift causes a similar alert to the immune system by way of heating the area. It needs no anaesthetic or needles.

Fungal Nails

Nails that are damaged or thick can be most vulnerable to fungal infections. The infection can be hard to identify or differentiate from a traumatised nail. We have a quick test that will tell us if there is fungus present, so that we can start you on a treatment plan right away.

Foot Pain

Who wants to be stopped in their tracks by pain?! Do you suffer with pain under the arch or achilles tendon? Maybe a sore bunion or burning sensation under the ball of the foot?

Pain around the feet and ankles can occur for so many reasons and can require investigations into movement and function.

Often musculoskeletal or biomechanical pain will require orthoses to resolve and some rehabilitation work to get you fully fit and back to activity again.

Flat Feet

Having flat feet is not always a problem, but if it is accompanied by pain in the foot, ankle, knee or hip, the foot position can be a sign of a more significant problem. We can delve into the lower limb mechanics with you and find out where the chain is broken. We can then help you on a course of remedial action, often including insoles/orthoses and exercises.

Forefoot Pain

There are many different causes and sites of forefoot pain, but mostly it arises as a result of overloading the front of the foot. We need to address the loading issues and help the foot to work more effectively as you pass over it during walking. An insole/orthosis is sometimes needed, as are rehabilitation exercises. A full assessment of the lower limb mechanics is utilised to root out the problems and formulate a treatment plan.

Heel Pain

Pain under the heel is often a result of tissue injury or overload, but the causes aren’t always clear. We will fully assess your movement and foot positions to establish why the injury has occurred and address the underlying causes. We often utilise rehabilitation exercises with heel pain cases and there may be need for an insole/orthosis.

Thickened Nails

Nails are frequently the cause of embarrassment, but they need not be! Trust us when we say we have seen it all, and there is no need to feel embarrassed when you attend. Nails can become thickened after trauma or ill health, and they can be unsightly or painful as a result. We can help you manage your thick nails, reducing their thickness and improving comfort.

Athletes Foot / Tinea

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin. Often it occurs between the toes, but it can also be present all over the feet, and mistaken for dry skin. Podiatrists know how to differentiate these and the right course of treatment for you. The presence of tinea infection is often a precursor to fungal nails.

Skincare

Corns and calluses, heel splits and dry skin are frequently treated in podiatry clinics. We have the right skills to remove hard skin and corns effectively, so you have comfortable feet right from the very next step. We can advise on how to prevent skin conditions such as these arising, so that your largest organ stays in excellent condition. Simple skincare routines can prevent a multitude of complications and we believe that prevention is always the best cure.

“Skin, skin, such a wonderful thing. It keeps the outside out and the inside in.”

Corns and Calluses

Hard, thick skin can become really compacted and form a corn. This is usually described as standing on a stone or a needle.

Who would have thought skin could be so painful?! Unfortunately corn plasters and razor blades are not safe methods of corn removal and injuries easily occur! The use of scalpels for corn and callus treatment is something that podiatrist are uniquely trained and experienced in.

A few minutes in the right hands and you will be skipping along again!

Diabetes Footcare

With the feet being so vulnerable to problems it is imperative that they are expertly looked after.

We can help prevent ulcerations and amputations to feet affected by diabetes, because we are experts in foot care.

We can monitor blood flow into the feet and nerve ending function, which are commonly affected, and also keep a keen eye on any vulnerable areas.

We can tell you all the best tips to keep them safe for as long as possible and advise on safe products to use to improve their health.

Our Clinic

Our beautiful clinic is situated in a prominent position in Ilminster, one of South Somerset’s traditional market towns. We are adjacent to the two GP surgeries with plenty of free parking, and ground level access throughout.

We have 4 bright spacious clinical rooms, and a comfortable waiting room complete with artwork from local artists. Currently we stock a range of Barekind bamboo socks and plenty of footcare products to help you with your self care as recommended by the clinicians. Our patient support team is ready to welcome you with a smile!

I just need help managing them

Sometimes there isn’t a major problem, but they are just too far away to deal with yourself! Everything becomes harder to maintain when it seems like your legs are getting longer and your arms are getting shorter, and it’s all a bit of a struggle. You can relax in the knowledge that our expert care will keep them safe and well.
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I just need help managing them

Sometimes there isn’t a major problem, but they are just too far away to deal with yourself! Everything becomes harder to maintain when it seems like your legs are getting longer and your arms are getting shorter, and it’s all a bit of a struggle. You can relax in the knowledge that our expert care will keep them safe and well.

There are a number of key benefits to podiatry, including:

jogging

Confidence in being able to walk comfortably

exam

Screening for health conditions such as diabetes and irregular heartbeat

monitoring

Foot health is monitored closely and changes reported

foot-massage

Knowledge of pharmaceutical effects on foot health

toe

Only non-medical profession trained in nail surgery

systemic+foot+disease

Identify effect of systemic disease on foot health and function

dermatology

Dermatology trained, including verruca treatment

cpr

Trained in CPR and defibrillation and anaphylaxis

leg

Wound care trained, including diabetic wounds

antibiotics

Access to supply and administer relevant prescription-only medicines, e.g. antibiotics and antifungals

leg+copy

Trained in assessing and rehabilitating mechanical function of the lower limb and prescription of orthoses

certificate

Reassurance that the professional is regulated and registered, and training kept up-to-date

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What To Expect In Your First Appointment?

At the Initial Appointment you will be asked to provide some information regarding your health and lifestyle. This is because the feet, being connected to the body, are affected by everything else that affects the whole system. In particular certain condition and medications will have a direct effect on foot health.

We will then use a few tests to screen blood supply and nerve function. At this point we are well placed to identify any heartbeat irregularities, which are a major risk for stroke and heart attack. (You will be referred to your GP). This bit makes us lifesavers!

Next we assess the skin and nail health and look for any infections. We assess the foot structure and note any misalignments. We will also look at your footwear, as this is what our feet sit in all day!

Once we have a general picture of what is happening, we can focus in on your specific problem. Diagnosis comes from assessing the nature of the lesion and it’s history, together with the medical history that you have provided.

Then we can formulate an appropriate treatment plan with you. If it’s possible, we will provide treatment at this appointment, and advise you on what you can do to stop it returning/improve the problem.

For us, this is really important as we love to motivate and empower people to think preventatively about their feet and preserve them for the future!

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Where To Find Us

Soleus Podiatry
Canal Way
Ilminster
TA19 9FE
United Kingdom
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