blog
The Tonbridge Half Marathon Is Only a Few Weeks Away – What Should I Be Doing Now?
Date Published: September 2026Date Last Reviewed or Updated: September 2026 Written by Tim Veysey-Smith MSc, HCPC Registered Podiatrist The Tonbridge Half Marathon is getting closer. By now most of your training is behind you. You may have spent the past few months...
Ingrowing Toe Nail Surgery – What to expect before, during and after
Date Published: September 2026Date Last Reviewed or Updated: September 2026 Written by Alison Pettican BSc, HCPC Registered Podiatrist Nail Surgery is a solution to your current pain and the answer to getting you back to your sport or into your shoes comfortably. What...
I Have Diabetes and Cracked Heels – Should I Be Worried About Infection?
Date Published: September 2026Date Last Reviewed or Updated: September 2026 Written by Alison Pettican BSc, HCPC Registered Podiatrist If you have diabetes and have noticed deep cracks around your heels, it is understandable to feel worried. Perhaps you've heard that...
Can Athlete’s Foot Spread to My Toenails? Yes – Here’s How It Happens and How You Can Prevent It
Date Published: 7 July 2026Date Last Reviewed: 7 July 2026 Written by Alison Pettican BSc, HCPC Registered Podiatrist, Founder of Fit Feet Podiatry Tonbridge With over 30 years' experience helping people stay active and healthy, Alison has a particular interest in...
Can I Keep Running with Plantar Fasciitis?
Date Published: 1 July 2026Date Last Reviewed: 1 July 2026 Written by: Tim Veysey-Smith MSc, HCPC Registered Podiatrist About the Author Tim Veysey-Smith is an HCPC Registered Podiatrist at Fit Feet Podiatry Tonbridge with an MSc in Sports Podiatry. As a keen runner...
Archies Flip Flops – a Podiatrists perspective
Are Archies flip flops good for your feet? A podiatrist’s perspective Sunny days in the UK often mean reaching for flip flops — but traditional pairs can leave feet aching by evening. Archies flip flops were designed to feel more like supportive footwear than a beach...
Heel pain – what a pain!
Do you hobble to the bathroom in the morning? After sitting for a period of time is your heel so painful that you limp to get yourself a coffee? It is highly likely you have Plantar Fasciitis and we have a great solution to reduce your pain and get you back on the...
Just a Sprain?
It’s so easy to sprain an ankle – kerbs, uneven surfaces, high heels, sports and sometimes your foot type (high arched feet😉) can lead to painful ankle injuries. Ankle sprains can happen at the inside, outside or even at the front of your ankle. Lateral (outside)...
How do tendons heal
Tendon pain—whether in the Achilles (calf), plantar fascia (sole of foot) or posterior tibial (inside ankle) — is one of the most common reasons people seek treatment in our clinic. Many people are surprised to learn that tendon rehabilitation looks very different...
what the heck is a corn?
What They Are and how to treat If you’ve ever noticed a small, hard patch of skin on your foot that feels sore or uncomfortable when you walk, you might have a corn. Corns are one of the most common foot problems we see in clinic—and thankfully, they’re also very...
Say Goodbye to painful corns
We have a long term solution to your painful corns or callus, Curacorn®, an innovative podiatry treatment using hyaluronic acid gel to protect areas of high pressure in the foot....
Bunions – How to help yourself
Bunions, not a great name but many of us have various stages of their development. Many people believe these occur when we wear inappropriate footwear or are hereditary. Both these opinions are correct, to a certain degree but not always the sole cause. Feet can...
Rocker Shoes – Painful Stiff toes or Arthritic Feet
If you have painful toes/feet related to arthritic changes then you will know how hard it is to find shoes that are comfortable and even aid your walking. We are not necessarily talking about orthopaedic shoes, we are able to offer you some information on trendy...
Tibialis Posterior Tendinopathy – Pain around inside ankle bone
Many of us have started a new exercise schedule which may include walking or running more, as this is a good way to exercise in lockdown. However with this increase may come a new injury or a new tenderness. This blog is going to look at a more common ankle injury...
Strong Foundations – 3 Strengthening Exercises
Feet are our foundation and they need to be strong. Generally our feet are weak due to wearing shoes and forgetting we even have feet. Walking barefoot and exercising without shoes are a good starting point (if you dont have any injuries or pains). During running you...
Biomechanical Assessments – What it is and when you may benefit from one
A biomechanical assessment is the analysis of your body’s movements when standing and walking. The assessment examines how joints of the body are positioned and move, how the many muscles of the body are working (strong or weak), and how one imbalance in the body...
What is the difference between a Podiatrist and a Chiropodist?
In short, there is no difference, they are both medical professionals who specialise in lower limb treatments. Always ensure that your podiatrist is HCPC registered at http://www.hpc-uk.org/check-the-register, a requisite for all UK podiatrists. The difference...
4 Steps to a Perfect Walking Technique
Walk locally as much as possible and remember to maintain your social distancing even when in the countryside. Protect our vulnerable and our healthcare system and staff. A great walking technique will give you better comfort, power, and speed. Whether you are a...
Ingrown Toe Nail – Don’t put up with pain, we can help
Ingrowing toe nails can be very painful but you do not need to suffer Many people will self care as they are sure they can remove a small bit of nail and move on. However on many occasions this is not possible, but we all want a quick solution. Well we have the...
Hard Skin – Remove the cause not just the symptoms
Why Does Callus Form? Callus develops when skin is exposed to excessive pressure or friction. The body wants to protect itself and therefore builds up a protective layer. Whilst sometimes this is related to footwear rubbing over bony prominences or...
Diabetic Foot Health: Prevention is peace of mind
Diabetics can be prone to foot complications however they are all preventable. How, well you need to follow some simple advice and get to know your feet. Many diabetic patients of mine are perhaps unaware that it is not just type I diabetics that may develop...
Is it fungal?
Do you think you may have a fungal nail infection? Are your nails thickened or discoloured or are you embarrassed about their appearance? We may be able to help clear up a few misconceptions and give some tips on trying to help. One thing to remember is not all nails...
Running Blisters – To pop or not to pop?
Updated August 2026 Alison Pettican BSc Podiatric Medicine Runners are prone to blisters and they can range from a small water filled bubble to a large red tomato looking like you have grown a sixth toe! Below I have outlined what to do if you already have a blister....
Flip Flop Facts
Summer is well and truly here and out come the ever faithful quick and easy flip flops. But are they any good for our feet? Here are a few facts and tips that may keep your feet more comfortable this summer. Interesting Stats The NHS spends almost £40million a year...
Winter Feet Guide
Well it is well and truly winter now and we have had some really cold spells which I know I have struggled with, especially my poor feet. Below I have outlined a few areas which may help you avoid chilblains and cold related foot conditions. Did you know that more...
Very highly recommended. Alison is an excellent clinician and I am so glad to have found her.
The clinic is accessible and since my appointment my foot is pain free.
I will definitely be visiting again.
C Gillespie