Chiropody & Podiatry

Your first Chiropody or Podiatry appointment

At your first treatment you will receive a careful examination of your feet and your therapist will then explain to you the nature of the problem and what treatment is recommended for best results.

Services We Treat at Oakwood Chiropody Clinic – Enfield, Southgate

Toenail trimming for those having difficulty reaching them

Many people regularly visit our chiropodists and podiatrists for toenail clipping or nail trimming because they either cannot easily do this themselves, or they prefer a chiropodist to help do this for them.

Your visit is unhurried so there is time to ensure a really good nail trim which will last. The time before you’ll need another nail trim will vary depending on how quickly your nails grow, but is usually between 6 to 10 weeks.

Hard skin, callus and corns

Most calluses and corns are caused by the foot rubbing against a shoe. Large areas of rough hard skin such as on the ball of the foot are called calluses; small, round bumps made of hard skin are called corns.

At Oakwood Clinic our chiropodists and podiatrists treat these problems by painlessly removing hard skin. They may also supply special padding expertly applied to protect pressured areas of the feet. They also give helpful advice regarding appropriate foot creams, footwear and daily footcare at home.

Verrucas

Verrucas are common and cause small bumps of hard skin on the feet. They are caused by a virus that lodges in the skin of the feet and can persist for many months.

We offer high-quality painless treatments, firstly by removing the hard skin and then applying a lotion to clear the virus. These treatments have been shown to be more effective than over-the-counter medications.

Painful toenails including ingrowing toenails

Ingrowing toenails occur when the corners or edges of the toenails – usually the big toe – grow into the skin next to the nail. This can cause the skin at the edge of the nail to become inflamed – red, swollen and painful.

Our chiropodists and podiatrists treat these symptoms by removing the ingrowing part of the nail and applying soothing dressings as well as advising on home care.

Occasionally people experience repeated episodes of this condition due to the shape of their nails. In this case our chiropodists may recommend a permanent cure in toenail surgery. The surgical treatment is simple, gentle and is also provided at our Chiropody Clinic in Enfield.

There are other causes of pain in the toenails which our chiropodists and podiatrists will be able to assess and advise you on, including bruised nails and infections.

Hard thickened nails, black or discoloured nails

If you have thick, discoloured toenails, you may have a fungal toenail infection. In some cases thickening can occur naturally in older people. Black nails can be a sign of bruising under the nail.

Our chiropodists and podiatrists will provide professional assessment, diagnosis and treatment. It is best to get hard, thickened or discoloured nails treated as soon as possible to prevent them getting worse and more difficult to manage over time.

If our chiropodists find that you have a fungal infection, they will advise you to either use a medicated nail lacquer, or antifungal medication prescribed by your GP.

Orthotics and Insoles for fallen arches, aching feet, heel pain, repetitive Achilles Tendinitis or Plantar Fasciitis

Many of these problems are related to how you bear weight on your feet. Some people have flat feet or fallen arches – a few have the opposite where the arch is too high.

Firstly, you will be advised to have a biomechanical assessment with one of our podiatrists. In this assessment they will undertake a detailed examination and then advise you on whether you are likely to benefit from specialised insoles or “orthotics” in your shoes to normalise your foot position and foot arches.

We offer a variety of insoles and orthotics and our podiatrists will advise you on the best solution for your feet. These shoe insoles often alleviate aching feet and repetitive foot problems such as Achilles tendon problems, heel pain and Plantar Fasciitis.