Your legs and feet should be examined every year by someone trained in foot examination. You will be asked to remove your stockings/socks and shoes and, if you wear trousers, you will be asked to roll up your trouser legs so that your legs, as well as your feet, can be examined.
You will probably be asked questions about your present and past medical health; do include any medication you are taking. If you are seeing a podiatrist you may wonder why s/he needs information which does not seem to apply to the feet directly. The most important reason for these questions is that the examiner needs to get a full picture of your health before they can recommend the best treatments for you.
You may also be asked questions such as:
- do you have, or have you ever had, an ulcer?
- how do you look after your feet?
- do you have any pain?
- how often do you check your feet and what do you check for?
- how well are you managing your diabetes?
This is an important opportunity for you to ask questions and seek advice.
Tests
The following tests will be carried out – and none of them cause any discomfort or pain.
Neuropathy testing
The examiner will have a range of simple instruments to test for any numbness in your feet. Sensation will be checked with either gentle pressure to the underside of your toes and the ball of your foot using either finger touch or a fine plastic strand called a monofilament or vibration using a tuning fork. The examiner may also test your reflexes to discover if you can feel the difference between hot and cold on your skin.
Circulation testing
The examiner will feel the pulses that you have in your feet and legs to check how well the blood is circulating to your feet. Equipment may be used to listen to the sound of the blood moving in the arteries of the legs and feet. Your blood pressure may be taken in the same way as the doctor or nurse does on your arm, only this time you may have the blood pressure taken in your legs.
Foot inspection
Your feet will be checked for corns,calluses or changes in their shape. Your footwear will be checked to make sure it will not be the cause of any foot problems.
You will be told the result of the examination and whether you are at risk of foot problems. If all is well you will be given general footcare advice until your next annual foot review. If you are at risk you will be referred to see a member of a foot protection team, who will treat any immediate problems and advise on the best ways to look after your feet and keep them healthy.
Reviewed: February 2012
Next review: August 2013