Specialised footcare clinic opens in Navan

Client-orientated podiatry and chiropody practice at Step Care Clinic

A brand-new state of the art podiatry and chiropody clinic has opened in Navan providing highly-specialised footcare in a spacious and relaxed environment.

Step Care Clinic is a patient-orientated podiatry practice based on Mill Lane off Flower Hill offering expert treatment and care for a wide range of foot and lower limb conditions. Using the newest technology, Step Care Clinic provides bio mechanical assessment, diabetic care and advice, athletic taping, aromatherapy, verruca cryotherapy and much more.

All foot care such as ingrown toenails, corns and calluses are carried out with the latest generation equipment in strict compliance with hygiene and sterilisation.

Using state of the art technology, Step Care Clinic through the only machine of its kind in Ireland, can provide the patient with insoles immediately upon podiatry consultation.

"We believe in a patient-focused approach to our practice and all of the treatments and advice given to you will have your foot health, care and interests as our main priority," says Step Care.

Already established in Drogheda, the healthcare provider decided to open a centre in Navan such was the demand for from the people of Meath for their expert care.

"The clinic in Drogheda became full very quickly. We decided because we have a lot of patients from Navan to open a clinic here. We treat a range of things from sports injury to the high-risk limb.

Step Care continues: "Podiatry is a profession that looks at everything from the foot to the leg. We are a lower limb specialist. We treat things like verrucas, heel pain and corns. We also specialise in sports injuries, and we get a lot of people referred from physiotherapists.

"We can look at different footwear and different insoles. We will work out a plan based on what the patient prefers in terms of treatment. It's vital to have good communication with the patient to try and see what kind of treatment is suitable for them to give them the best outcome in the long run."

A thorough patient examination is provided to get to the root of the problem quickly, Step Care explains: "By doing a holistic assessment, we watch the patient walk and do different tests for the muscles, we look if there is a tilt in the hip or the shoulders and we look at the length of the feet as well. If one side of the body is slightly tilted, the other side will try to compensate. The insoles provide that correction on the side that's affected so the other side doesn't have to compensate.

"The insole machine we have is amazing because we have the insoles made within fifteen minutes and the success rate is incredible."

People with diabetes need to be diligent when it comes to footcare, Step Care adds.

"It's really important for people with diabetes see a podiatrist as regularly as they can just to get clear management.

“It's so important to keep an eye of your foot when you have diabetes, because if ignored you could lose sensation and nerves begin to die because the sugar is trapped within the blood stream.

"We advise patients to have their feet checked regularly and get good diabetic foot advice because something as simple as a stone if not felt can cause a huge ulcer."

The podiatrist says the most rewarding part of the job is to see the results of the expertise offered at the clinic.

"When a patient comes through the door in pain, when you are able to alleviate that pain and you see the difference straight after, it's very rewarding."