PHYSIOTHERAPY
Foot, Ankle & Lower Limb Pain
Helping you move without pain.
Pain in the foot, ankle, knee or hip can affect how you walk, stand and stay active, and often has knock-on effects further up the body.
At The Vale Clinic, our physiotherapy team assesses and treats foot, ankle and lower limb pain.
Where relevant, we work closely alongside our podiatry team, particularly for gait, biomechanics and foot-related causes of your symptoms.
No GP referral needed. Your first assessment lasts 45 minutes and gives you a clear picture of what’s going on and what to do next.
Your assessment
Your physiotherapist will take the time to understand your symptoms, how they affect your everyday life and what you want to get back to.
We’ll assess your movement, mobility, strength and function, and explain our findings clearly before recommending the most suitable treatment and rehabilitation plan for you.
Your treatment
Depending on your assessment, treatment may include hands-on therapy, tailored exercises, progressive strengthening and pain-management strategies.
For certain conditions such as plantar heel pain, we may also recommend shockwave therapy as part of your treatment plan, where clinically appropriate.
Your progress will be reviewed throughout, with treatment adapted as you improve.
Our aim is more than reducing your pain
We want to help you restore movement and function, build strength and feel confident on your feet again, while giving you the knowledge and strategies to manage things in the longer term.
Why patients choose The Vale Clinic
We’re a HCPC registered team, recognised by Three Best Rated for our commitment to exceptional patient care in Wokingham, and have treated over 5,000 patients across podiatry and physiotherapy. Our integrated approach means our podiatry and physiotherapy teams work together on musculoskeletal cases where it’s relevant, so you’re not treated in isolation if your symptoms crossover.
Ready to get moving again?
Whether your symptoms have just started, keep returning or have been troubling you for some time, we’re here to help.
Keeping you and your
family pain free and mobile
Ingrowing Toenail
Removal & Surgery
3D Gait
Analysis
Shockwave
Therapy
Verruca &
Wart Care
Keeping you and your
family pain free and mobile
Ingrowing Toenail
Removal & Surgery
3D Gait
Analysis
Musculoskeletal
Biomechanical
Assessments
Shockwave
Therapy
Custom Made Foot Orthotics
Verruca &
Wart Care
Fungal
Nails
Foot Care Treatments & Assessments
Cosmetic
Podiatry
Other conditions we can help with
Arthritis is swelling in one or more joints of the feet, causing pain and stiffness. A Podiatrist or Chiropodist are one of the healthcare professionals able to advice and help manage symptoms of arthritis in the feet.
Children also experience foot and lower leg conditions such as ingrowing toenails, verruca and warts, heel pain and knee pain – If you need professional advice or opinion, on an observed trait in your child, for example toe walking or flat feet, this is something we can help with at the foot clinic.
Numb feet is caused by damage, irritation or entrapment of nerves often seen in chronic conditions such as diabetes. We can assess your feet, and advice you on how you can manage your them.
If there is a need to refer you for further management, your doctor will be contacted in writing to request their input.
As we age, our feet can develop associated physiological changes such as inelasticity of the skin, where it becomes dry, thin and fragile. A depletion of the padding to the sole of the feet can at times be seen – you might describe it as ‘walking on pebbles’; aches and pains in arthritic joints – these are normal wear and tear that can cause us to experience pain in the feet.
It is recommended that we have an annual foot health check, or regular general foot care every few months. A podiatrist or chiropodist is well placed to help general foot care and with management advice. We can also pick up on conditions such as poor circulation, which can occur in old age or in chronic conditions such as diabetes.
Chilblains are painful, itchy swelling on the foot, caused by poor circulation in the skin when exposed to cold.
Blisters are small or large bubbles that can appear on the skin, they are filled with serum. In the feet, It is usually caused by chafing or friction from ill-fitting footwear.
Please click to view our ‘Blisters’ Information Leaflet
Poor circulation is reduced blood flow to the legs and feet, through the hardening of the arteries. It causes cold feet, cramps and sometimes pain in the lower limb, and can undermine the body’s healing process of fighting off infection. Smoking and conditions such as diabetes, can cause poor circulation. Book an appointment to have your circulation checked, if you are experiencing any symptoms of poor circulation.
Please click to view our ‘Poor Circulation’ Information Leaflet
Athlete’s foot is a very common skin condition, and is prevalent the summer months. This is a fungal skin infection caused by Tinea, a fungus that grows on the foot.
It can be itchy, flaky, and appear as moist patchy white areas in-between the toes. This can sometimes crack and become painful. It can also appear as red spots, on toes, soles, or sides of the feet.
Athlete’s foot can be treated very easily with antifungal powders, sprays or creams from the pharmacy. Improvement can be seen as little as a few days.
If left untreated, the fungal infection can spread to the nails, causing fungal nail infection.
Foot sores also known as wounds or ulcers, are seen in many chronic conditions such as diabetes. Diabetes is known to be the one of the main causes for foot ulcers. Ulcers are simply a break in the skin which and range from a small superficial wound, to very deep – they vary in size, depth and location.
Ulcers can come about as a result of nerve damage in the feet – known as peripheral neuropathy. This is where the sensation in the feet is altered, and the perception of cold, heat or pain is diminished.
Poor circulation in people with Diabetes, through hardening of the arteries, reduces the blood flow to the legs and feet, and can undermine the body’s healing process of fighting off infection.
Ulcers can fester if not treated in a timely manner. If you discover an ulcer seek immediate medical assistance as this would require a specialist’s input to help progress the ulcer to healing.
Podiatrists specialise in wound care, and can assess and treat ulcers effectively.
NOT SURE IF PHYSIOTHERAPY IS THE RIGHT PLACE TO START?
Let’s help you take the next step
Tell us a little about what’s been going on, and we’ll help you decide whether physiotherapy is the right starting point.