TREATMENTS
Podiatry can provide symptom relief in many situations by improving foot function thereby improving walking, standing, dancing and sports injuries. Conditions such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathies, shin splints, knee compartmental degeneration, runners and jumpers knee (iliotibial band syndrome & patellofemoral joint pains), metatarsalgias (including Morton’s neuralgia), stress fractures, trochanteric bursitis and tibialis posterior injuries are just some of the common pathologies that can be helped by a podiatrist.
MSK podiatrists commonly use manipulations, exercises, orthodigital and foot orthoses, as well as life style and footwear advice to help you recover from your problems. We also use several pain relief techniques to help reduce symptoms.

FOOT ORTHOSES (ORTHOTICS)
Foot orthoses commonly and erroneously called orthotics can be custom made or can be customised from prefabricated orthoses. Although having the orthoses tailored to your needs is important as is material choice the type of manufacture does not seem to affect the effectiveness of the orthoses. Therefore, unless you have an awkward foot type, we tend to mainly use prefabricated orthoses adjusted for you needs. This decision is backed by the bulk of resent research and means that our orthoses are provided at a much lower cost than custom devices. Andy Horwood is proud to have been involved in developing most of the prefabricated orthoses that the Leeds Podiatry Clinic uses, as he has been able to develop superior devices that fulfil our patient’s needs. The company Healthystep, which Andy Horwood part owns, is now one of the leading suppliers to the podiatry profession, and is a major supplier to the NHS. For more information please visit; www.healthystep.co.uk
For our custom devices when required we use a laboratory that can meet are very specific needs. Custom devices must be custom, not made off a big production line!

TOE DEFORMITIES;
As long as the deformity is not fixed, conservative treatment can be very effective. Mobile hammer toes, claw toes and early “bunions” (hallux abducto-valgus), can all be improved. If the deformity is well established or fixed, surgery may be the only option, and we are happy to advise and refer you to an appropriate surgical specialist. For those still not keen on the idea of foot surgery, often changes in foot wear and simple orthodigital devices may be able to resolve any pains, if not the deformity.

METATARSALGIAS
There are many causes of pain in the forefoot, som of the most common are flexor plate dysfunction, capsulitis, Morton’s neuralgia and stress fractures. Also conditions such as Rheumatoid arthritis can first present as forefoot pain. Diagnosis is essential for the management of metatarsalgia.

PLANTAR FASCIITIS & OTHER HEEL PAINS
Plantar fasciitis presents is several forms, but is the most common form of heel pain. Sever’s is common in children, while atrophy of the plantar fat pad as we age can also present problems. Andy Horwood has developed an education site on heel pain, plus a simple home treatment kit very effective for early stage plantar fasciitis. For detailed information on heel pain please visit, www.heelfixkit.com

TIBIALIS POSTERIOR DYSFUNCTION AND OTHER ARCH PAINS
Tibialis posterior is a very important muscle arising from the back of the leg, under the inside of the ankle, and under the foot. Failure of this muscle is painful and serious to your foot health. You are more likely to need a custom device for this problem than any other, particularly if the condition has been troubling you for several months. Arch pain should be check if it persists over two weeks. Most arch pain is fortunately due to simple muscle and ligament strains. However arthritis can effects the joints of the midfoot, which again should be dealt with early.

ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY
The Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest in humans. Despite this it is commonly injuried, especially in sports people. MSK podiatrists are very effective in altering the mechanical strain on the Achilles and we resolve many cases every year.

OTHER COMMON CONDITIONS
* Shin Pain (shin splints), there are several types and diagnosis is essential.
* Foot and Ankle Stress Fractures
* Primary and Secondary Injuries of Ankle Sprains
* Anterior Knee Pain (patellofemoral injuries)
* Medial and Lateral Knee Compartment Osteoarthritis (best in mild to moderate cases)
* Trochanteric Bursitis, Piriformis Syndrome, Peroneal injuries, and many more.