Footmed Natasha Horn - Podiatrist

16/10/2026

👣 SMALL SPOT, BIG PAIN!

Have you ever had a tiny, hard spot on your toe that feels like you're walking with a stone in your shoe?

It could be a corn!

Corns develop when repeated pressure or friction causes the skin to thicken, often forming a hard central core.

They commonly occur on or between the toes, or underneath the foot.

The good news? A podiatrist can carefully remove the thickened skin to relieve discomfort.

But here's the important part: if the pressure causing the corn isn't addressed, it may return!

At FootMed Podiatry, we don't just look at the corn. We also assess what is causing it, including your footwear and areas of excessive pressure.

⚠️ Avoid cutting corns out yourself, especially if you have diabetes or poor circulation.

Your feet shouldn't have to hurt!

16/10/2026

Sending your podiatrist a foot photograph? Make it useful.

If photographs form part of your agreed care plan, they can help your healthcare team follow visible changes between appointments.

Try this:

1. Sit safely in good light. Ask someone to help if needed.
2. Take an overview showing where the concern is, followed by a clear close-up.
3. Keep the lighting and angle similar when comparing changes.
4. Include the date, which foot, when the change started and any new swelling, warmth, discharge, smell or pain.

Follow your dressing plan. Photograph an existing wound during an agreed dressing change; do not remove a cast or alter treatment simply to take a picture.

Photographs have limits. They cannot reliably tell your healthcare team how deep a wound is, whether blood supply is adequate or whether infection is present.

If a wound is accompanied by fever or you feel unwell, or the foot is rapidly deteriorating, seek urgent medical care. Do not wait for a message reply.

Sources:
[Foot Selfie study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34719973/)
[Research on photographic assessment](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-09828-4)
[NICE diabetic foot guidance](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng19/chapter/Recommendations)

15/10/2026

Diabetic foot care starts before a wound appears.

A corn, patch of hard skin, blister or crack deserves attention—especially if diabetes has reduced the feeling in your feet. A problem may develop without much pain.

Make checking your feet part of your daily routine:

• Look at the soles, heels, tops, sides and between your toes.
• Check for blisters, cracks, bleeding, broken skin or changes around a corn or callus.
• Use a mirror or ask someone you trust if you cannot see properly.
• Report changes to your podiatrist or healthcare team.

Do not cut corns or callus yourself or use acid-containing corn removers.

A new wound, bleeding beneath hard skin, or a newly hot, swollen foot needs prompt assessment. Do not wait for it to become painful.

Your podiatrist can assess the skin, sensation, circulation and footwear, treat problematic hard skin, and address pressure on vulnerable areas.

Home checks are part of your care between appointments.

Sources:
[IWGDF practical guidance, 2023](https://iwgdfguidelines.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IWGDF-2023-01-Practical-Guidelines.pdf)
[NHS podiatry advice for high-risk feet](https://www.rdash.nhs.uk/services/podiatry-foot-protection/diabetes-foot-care/high-risk-feet/)

14/10/2026

**Not every rocker-soled shoe is the same**

A “rocker sole” is curved to help the shoe roll forwards - but the word *rocker* does not describe one standard design.

A recent review found considerable differences in:

• where the sole begins to curve
• the shape and radius of that curve
• how far the toe sits above the ground
• the stiffness of the sole

These differences may influence how the shoe affects movement and pressure beneath the foot.

This is why simply buying a shoe labelled “rocker” may not address a particular foot problem. The shoe still needs to suit the individual’s foot shape, symptoms, movement, fit and clinical goal.

The review also found that no included study investigated whether rocker footwear prevented future injuries. A change in biomechanics should therefore not automatically be interpreted as proof of pain relief or injury prevention.

A podiatric assessment can help determine what the shoe is intended to achieve - and whether its design is appropriate for that individual.

13/10/2026

**Good foot care should never make a patient feel ashamed**

People sometimes apologise before removing their shoes. They may feel embarrassed about their nails, cracked skin, wounds, foot odour or difficulty caring for their own feet.

There is no need to apologise. These are health concerns—and seeking professional help is a positive step.

A systematic review of 25 studies found that effective communication and the protection of privacy are important in maintaining patient dignity during healthcare.

Respectful care does not mean avoiding honest advice. A podiatrist may need to discuss infection, poor circulation, loss of sensation, unsuitable footwear or the risks of delaying treatment. However, this information should be explained clearly and compassionately, without blame or humiliation.

At FootMed Podiatry, we believe patients should:

• understand what has been found;
• know their treatment options;
• be involved in decisions; and
• receive appropriate care with dignity and privacy.

We treat the foot condition—but we always remember the person attached to those feet.

**Reference:** Fuseini AG et al. *Journal of Advanced Nursing*. 2022;78(11):3540–3558.

13/10/2026

---

**POST 2 — Safety footwear: protection matters, but so does the foot inside it**

Safety shoes have an essential job to do.

They may need to protect against impact, compression, pe*******on, slipping and other hazards depending on the workplace.

But a safety shoe is still worn by a real person — often for an entire working shift.

A 2024 systematic review looked at foot-related problems reported by workers wearing safety footwear.

Across the studies reviewed, workers reported problems including:

• foot discomfort and pain
• heat and sweating
• heaviness
• problems with flexibility
• pressure around the toes and toe-cap area
• callus, corns and blisters.

This doesn't mean safety footwear is “bad”.

It means **protection and appropriate fit both matter**.

Where different approved footwear choices are available, the worker's foot shape, sizing, symptoms and actual job should form part of the conversation.

A painful safety shoe isn't necessarily something a worker should simply “get used to”.

🦶 Protect the foot — and remember the person wearing the protection.

**Reference:**
Arceri A, Mazzotti A, Liosi SG, et al. What's the Impact of Safety Footwear on Workers Concerning Foot-Related Problems? A Systematic Review. *Healthcare.* 2024;12(15):1522.

12/10/2026

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12/10/2026

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12/10/2026

When your job keeps you on your feet all day

For many people working in factories, workshops and industrial environments, sitting down isn't a big part of the working day.

Hours may be spent standing at a workstation, walking between different areas, or doing a combination of both.

And your feet notice.

A 2026 systematic review looked specifically at footwear and comfort in people doing prolonged standing work. The research found that footwear characteristics such as cushioning, sole firmness and insoles can influence comfort and fatigue.

But there was an important message:

There isn't one perfect shoe for every worker or every job.

Someone who spends most of a shift standing may have different needs from someone who walks continuously.

The shoe still has to provide the safety protection required for the job. But within those safety requirements, fit, comfort and the work being performed also matter.

And persistent heel, arch, forefoot or ankle pain shouldn't automatically be dismissed as:

“It's just because I'm on my feet all day.”

Sometimes it deserves a closer look.

Reference:
Kang LP, Gong TS, Quan XH, Zhang C. Influence of Footwear on Foot Comfort of Workers Engaged in Prolonged Standing Occupations: A Systematic Review. *Safety and Health at Work.* 2026;17(1):24–32.

10/10/2026

Technology that can improve patient outcomes in prevention.

- A Stanford team demonstrates that a smartphone app measuring vibration perception thresholds can detect large-fiber sensory deficits in patients with diabetes — a potential advance for accessible, patient-operated neuropathy screening. We spend a lot of time in this space talking about the devic...