Plain-English definitions of the terms we use across podiatry — from ingrown toenails, verrucae and fungal nails to heel pain, biomechanics and diabetic foot care — so you know what each condition and treatment actually involves.
Also known as: Chiropody.
The clinical profession (formerly called chiropody) that assesses, diagnoses and treats conditions of the foot, ankle and lower limb — from skin and nail problems to musculoskeletal pain. In the UK "podiatrist" is a protected title and practitioners must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Source: rcpod.org.uk
Also known as: Onychocryptosis.
A nail that grows into the surrounding skin, usually on the big toe, causing pain, redness and sometimes infection. Mild cases may settle with conservative care; recurrent or infected ingrown nails are often resolved permanently with minor nail surgery.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Partial Nail Avulsion, Phenolisation.
A minor procedure under local anaesthetic that removes part or all of a problem nail. A chemical called phenol is usually applied to the nail matrix (phenolisation) to stop the treated portion regrowing, giving a permanent correction for recurrent ingrown nails.
Source: rcpod.org.uk
Also known as: Plantar Wart, Verruca Pedis.
A wart on the sole of the foot caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Verrucae are harmless and often clear on their own over months or years; treatment is considered when they are painful or spreading, though no single treatment is reliably curative.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Swift Therapy.
A treatment that delivers precise microwave energy into a verruca to stimulate an immune response against the HPV virus. It is a newer option with promising but still-emerging evidence, used as one of several approaches to stubborn verrucae.
Also known as: Heloma.
A small, well-defined area of thickened skin with a hard central core, caused by concentrated pressure or friction — often on or between the toes. A podiatrist can painlessly remove a corn, but it will return unless the underlying pressure is addressed.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Hard Skin, Hyperkeratosis.
A broader area of thickened, hardened skin that forms in response to repeated pressure or friction, usually on the sole or heel. Calluses are the body’s natural protection; a podiatrist reduces them and addresses the cause to stop them building back up.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Heel Fissures.
Splits in dry, thickened skin around the heel. When deep they can be painful or bleed and occasionally become infected. Treatment combines reduction of the hard skin, an emollient routine, and addressing footwear or pressure that contributes.
Also known as: Onychomycosis.
A fungal infection that makes a nail thickened, discoloured and crumbly. Diagnosis should be confirmed because not all thickened nails are fungal. Treatment is slow — a nail can take 9–12 months to grow out — and cure is not guaranteed.
Source: cks.nice.org.uk
Also known as: Tinea Pedis.
A common fungal skin infection that typically causes an itchy, scaly rash between the toes and can spread to the nails. It usually responds to antifungal treatment and good foot hygiene; persistent cases should be assessed by a podiatrist.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Plantar Heel Pain.
Pain under the heel from irritation of the plantar fascia, the band of tissue along the sole. It is typically worst on the first steps of the day and after rest, and most cases settle with load management, stretching, footwear changes and orthoses.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy delivers acoustic pressure waves to a painful area to stimulate repair. NICE interventional procedures guidance supports its careful use for refractory plantar fasciitis and some tendinopathies as an adjunct to a loading programme; the evidence is mixed.
Source: www.nice.org.uk
Also known as: Hallux Valgus.
A bony bump at the base of the big toe where the joint has shifted out of alignment. Podiatry manages the symptoms conservatively with footwear advice, padding and orthoses; the deformity itself can only be corrected by surgery, which is an orthopaedic referral.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Pes Planus, Fallen Arches, Overpronation.
A low or absent arch so that more of the sole touches the ground. Flat feet are common and often cause no problems; treatment with orthoses and strengthening is only needed when they cause pain, fatigue or related lower-limb symptoms.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Ball-of-Foot Pain.
A general term for pain and inflammation in the ball of the foot, often from high-impact activity, tight footwear or foot shape. It is usually managed with footwear changes, offloading pads or orthoses, and addressing the underlying load.
Source: www.nhs.uk
A thickening of tissue around a nerve between the toes, usually causing burning pain, tingling or a feeling of a pebble underfoot. It is often linked to footwear and forefoot pressure and frequently improves with footwear changes, padding and orthoses.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Gait Analysis.
Assessment of how the foot, ankle and lower limb move and load during standing and walking, to identify mechanical factors behind pain or overuse injury. Findings guide a targeted plan of footwear advice, orthoses and exercise rather than a one-size-fits-all fix.
Also known as: Orthotics, Insoles.
Custom or prefabricated insoles prescribed to redistribute pressure, support the foot and reduce strain on painful structures. Orthoses support a wider treatment and rehabilitation plan; they manage load rather than permanently changing the shape of the foot.
Damage to the nerves of the feet and legs that reduces sensation, common in people with diabetes. Loss of protective sensation means injuries and pressure problems can go unnoticed, which is why regular professional foot care and checks are important.
Source: www.nhs.uk
The increased risk to the feet from diabetes, where nerve damage and reduced circulation can turn minor problems into ulcers and serious infection. NICE recommends everyone with diabetes has at least an annual foot check and seeks same-day help for any new foot problem.
Source: www.nice.org.uk
Also known as: Health and Care Professions Council.
Health and Care Professions Council — the UK statutory regulator for podiatry and 14 other health professions. Every UK podiatrist must be HCPC-registered to use the protected title and practise; the public register lets anyone verify a practitioner.
Source: www.hcpc-uk.org
Also known as: Royal College of Podiatry, MRCPod.
The UK professional body for podiatrists. Membership (shown by the post-nominal MRCPod) signals adherence to professional and evidence-based practice standards alongside statutory HCPC registration.
Source: rcpod.org.uk