Blog

27/May/2026

In a few different circumstances, shoes can be uncomfortable. For example, sometimes we wear shoes that are aesthetically pleasing such as smart business shoes or stilettos, or endurance training in sports shoes may result in a number of issues such as corns, bursae, blisters, skin discolouration and calluses.

have launched three different types of lightweight foot pads (toe pad, long pad and the large oval pad) made from fleecy web and hypoallergenic glue. We’re talking you through step-by-step of how to use each of them.

Firstly, we will start with ‘toe pads’ which are mostly used on the fifth toe for people wearing high heels or tight-fitting shoes. The shape of these cushioned stickers have commonly been described as a spaceship or pirate hat and due to this when placed on the toe, the sticker can avoid the toenail which is very important. This allows the toenail to breathe. Furthermore, the placement of this sticker can be placed between the toes to prevent friction and soft corns forming. This cushioned toe pad distributes the pressures between the toes which makes wearing tight-fitting shoes more bearable.

Secondly, ‘long pads’ have a rectangular shape which helps to prevent calluses along the edge of the foot and on the sole of the foot. This foot sticker is commonly used for occupations such as tennis players, endurance runners, and footballers. For example, these particular stickers have been used by athletes that have climbed Mt. Everest and across the Pole from East to West as they are such lightweight products and a quick-fix when wearing uncomfortable footwear.

Also, some people can get a line of hard skin underneath the forefoot in between the first and second metatarsal head which can feel like a burning sensation which then becomes splayed. This can happen if you are wearing shoes that put pressure at the front of your foot or you are an athlete and have a burning sensation here from the added stress to this foot area.

The ‘long pads’ can be a quick fix when introducing insoles as it can take a couple of weeks to adjust to this new change. Sometimes it can annoy the back of the heel when patients are fitted with an orthotic and the long pad is perfect to avoid any friction and blisters when placed across the back of the heel.

Another tip for people that have one foot slightly larger than the other (which is extremely common), is to place a long pad on the back of the heel on the slightly smaller foot when wearing shoes so that it is not too spacious and the foot will not move around too much and create friction resulting in blisters.

Lastly, the ‘large oval pads’ can be used in various ways for bigger problem areas on the foot such as the heel, arch and sole.

A professional tip to relieve heel pain from Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin is to place half of the oval pad on your heel, then pull the other half of the sticker tightly and secure it by sticking it on the achilles heel. Similarly, you can also use it as an arch support for a quick fix solution. Place half of the oval pad under the arch and pull the other half up over the inner part of your foot. These foot stickers do not stretch and lose the support so it allows the distribution of the pressure, relieving the tension and discomfort.

Moreover, if you are wearing high heels and experience chafing underneath your foot, the large oval pads are a lifesaver halfway through an event. Likewise a sport with a stop/start motion such as tennis, netball or squash creates a lot of friction underneath the metatarsals on the skin.

Finally, if you have feet with high arches then a lot of the time the top area of your foot will undergo a lot of pressure from shoes, chafing the skin. The oval pad is perfect to place on the top of your foot to avoid this from happening.

For appointments and other queries:
Call: +971 4 3435390
WhatsApp: +971 50 355 3024

Dubai Podiatry Centre

27/May/2026

When people suffer from heel pain it can be extremely debilitating and frustrating due to the inconsistent nature and levels of pain. This can interfere with daily life and cause unnecessary stress.

Normally, heel pain develops overnight when you are resting so when you wake up in the morning and put your foot down from the bed it can be very painful. This is due to structures such as ligaments, muscles and bones that anchor into the heel bone which are straining and pulling away from the heel bone, especially if the foot arch is beginning to collapse. Therefore, the area becomes inflamed causing aches and pains.

In the ‘Heel Buzz’ box by Footerella, there are numerous products that can help with this problem. There are thick, soft cotton pads that stick to the feet with hypoallergenic glue that adds comfort to the heel area when walking and standing, and mini electro muscle stimulators which stick along your foot arch that creates electric currents to tighten and contract the foot muscles which helps to reduce a lot of the pressure in the heel area.

There are a couple of different ways you can use both of these products. For example, the EMS devices can be placed on the arch and across the forefoot on the sole of your foot which helps strengthen the inter-metatarsals. You may leave the EMS device on your foot for around 10-20 minutes to tighten the muscles and relieve the pressure and strain which is gathering in the heel area.

Secondly, the cotton pads can be used directly under the heel to give extra cushioning. Another way which you can place the cotton pad is half of the pad on the arch, the other half pulled up across to reach the top of your foot. This adds support and structure to your arch which eases some of the tension on the heel.

The ‘Heel Buzz’ is a quick, simple and efficient way to ease heel pain or tenderness if you have to stand for a long time for occupations such as a teacher, soldier, exhibitionist, cabin crew, chef, hairdresser, and so on. However, if this strain has occurred for a couple of months or more, then the ‘Plantar Fasciitis’ combination box may be more suitable.

For appointments and other queries:
Call: +971 4 3435390
WhatsApp: +971 50 355 3024

Dubai Podiatry Centre

27/May/2026

Dubai Podiatry Centre

27/May/2026

As we are all social distancing and mostly staying at home during these unprecedented times, many children are not wearing their school shoes with insoles. They are wearing shoes less and are more aware of their feet and toes.

It is encouraged that children do not need to wear shoes whilst at home for many reasons. For example, if they have ingrown toenails this allows respite because there are no tight socks or shoes pressing on the big toenails, therefore, easing any toe pain and discomfort. It is also a very good time to have toenail procedures when the children are not going to school so that they can comfortably recover at home.

Furthermore, due to children being mostly barefoot, they are discovering any blemishes on their feet such as plantar warts (otherwise known as verrucas). Care should be taken not to pick and play with these blemishes as they can spread to their fingers and other parts of the body. It is a good idea to cover them with a band-aid or wear socks in the house so as not to spread to other family members. This time at home can be well spent by treating plantar warts, especially with treatments such as dermojet as children can rest at home afterwards. Our clinic nurses can offer more information on dermojet treatment, please see our contact details at the end of the page.

Additionally, as children are not wearing their school shoes there is very little foot support but this is not necessarily a bad thing. If the alignment of the foot and ankle is normal without shoes this can be advantageous because it makes the foot muscles work more due to lack of assistance from footwear.

Although, if the child does have bio-mechanical or alignment issues with the leg, feet or ankles, then not wearing shoes can be problematic and cause some pain or discomfort in the ankles, especially the arches. If the child already has insoles, we would recommend putting the insoles in a lightweight and clean pair of shoes for inside the house, so the child can wear the shoes for a few hours each day to ease any discomfort or pain they have due to bio-mechanical or alignment issues in the leg, feet or ankles.

Alternatively, please make an appointment with our Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin for orthotic therapy. This will help the child’s alignment issues progressively better.

For appointments and other queries:
Call: +971 4 3435390
WhatsApp: +971 50 355 3024

Dubai Podiatry Centre

27/May/2026

Hello Everyone!

During Covid-19, the entire team at Dubai Podiatry Centre have been so impressed with how efficient and responsive Dubai residents have been to the new health and safety measures set in place by the Dubai Health Authority and World Health Organisation.

Therefore, we wanted to share the extensive precautions taking place at our clinic so that you are aware of what to expect when you arrive and what goes on behind the scenes before your appointment.

Firstly, our clinic is professionally cleaned by a sterilisation company (which is recommended by Dubai Health Authority and approved by Dubai Municipality) before we see any patients. This company specialises in purifying the air and all surfaces of the clinic. This is in addition to our own hospital-standard cleaning that takes place before and after every patient. Everyday, the temperatures of our staff members are checked and we all practise social distancing outside of the clinic.

When patients arrive at our clinic, there are measures we have introduced to ensure optimum sterilisation. Here is a step-by-step of what a patient should expect when arriving at our clinic:

Thank you in advance to all of our patients for your excellent cooperation, as well as our frontliners in Dubai.

Our entire team at Dubai Podiatry Centre wish you good health. Ramadan Kareem.

#StaySafe #StayHome

For more information,

Call +971 434 35 390 or WhatsApp +971 50 3553024 our clinic

Dubai Podiatry Centre

27/May/2026

Plantar fasciitis is a painful foot condition that can happen in the heel and at the start of the arch.

It commonly only happens in one foot but can happen in both feet for several reasons. So, plantar fasciitis is a painful swelling of the heel bone where the planter fascia attaches. It is most painful in the morning or after sitting for a while. Putting sudden pressure on the foot by standing up after being inactive can create a sharp pain to the sole of the foot under the heel.

When the plantar flascia band engages it pulls on the swollen heel bone creating a lot of pain. However, after 20-30 steps the pain subsides as the inflammation in the body begins to disperse.

Although, the process of the plantar flascia engaging and pulling on the heel bone will create trauma again, so that when you sit down for a long time or sleep then go to stand up, the inflammatory process will start again in the heel bone.

Measures must be taken to assess the plantar flascia to stop it pulling on the heel bone. These measures include blocking the pain signal using an electro-muscle stimulator which will also help to tighten the arch muscle helping the plantar flascia, and easing the stress onto it. The electro-muscle stimulator should be used for 10 minutes at a time and can be used up to 3 times a day.

Another helpful device is something called ‘plantar fasciitis taping method.’ The plantar fascia tape used by the Footerella company makes this procedure much more simple. For example, instead of using lots of pieces of tape, it is only one strong piece of very thin felt that is applied. Using this non-stretchy material means that it holds the arch up efficiently. The tape can be worn during the day and at night time. It can be removed for showering, then a fresh piece should applied again on to the foot. It should be worn daily for up to a week to ease the tension on the plantar fascia.

Additionally, an insole is very helpful for easing plantar fascia. Insoles placed in shoes supports the arch and controls the movement of the foot. Most cases of plantar fasciitis happens on one foot where the foot or the pelvis leans in slightly. This puts intense stress on the plantar fascia band where it attaches on to the heel bone. By lifting this arch and aligning the ankle and foot, the plantar fascia can go back to its resting state.

For plantar fasciitis home treatment we recommend using the ‘mini pad electro-muscle stimulator’, the ‘plantar fascia tape’ on to the foot and an insole to help lift the arch.

For appointments and other queries:
Call: +971 4 3435390
WhatsApp: +971 50 355 3024

Dubai Podiatry Centre

27/May/2026

Are you ever wondering why your flat feet causes back pain? Or how long it will take to gain foot arches and align your ankles?

And one of our most frequently asked questions… can you still wear stylish shoes whilst wearing orthotics?

Read this blog post for professional Podiatric advise for all your queries about flat feet for men, women and children.

Can I still wear sandals with flat feet?

We ask you to limit the use of sandals during your flatfoot treatment. The reason for this is because we measure the angle that your flat foot is leaning in and then we counter-tilt you. So, if you wear a sandal with insoles during this time you are likely to have an ankle sprain. Therefore, supportive shoes that are strong soled with strong edges are the best during your treatment, however, times that you do want to wear a sandal if you are going to the mosque or you are going to the beach, those instances are absolutely fine to wear sandals without your insoles.

How long does it take for my flat feet to become straight and aligned?

Initially, we would take a gyps cast of the feet and measure how many degrees your foot is leaning in which is the underlying cause of flat feet. Once we know this angle we then counter tilt you so that the foot is aligned. We usually tilt the foot by 5° increments because any more than this will make the ankle twist. So, if you are 45° leaned in and you are an adult male, we would change the orthotic every 5° from 45° to 0°, which would be 9 pairs of orthotics at six week increments that would take approximately a year to complete this treatment.

Could my flat feet be affecting my sports performance – golf, football, etc?

Some types of flat feet are very useful for particular sports such as ice hockey but most sport involves having a stable and straight ankle. Your arch needs to engage as a spring for sports such as running and jumping so that is why some people at a certain age (usually teenagers) are not able to pursue their sporting career because there is swelling of the knees or many ankle sprains. So, if the sports person of any age starts to develop injuries from running (even if they are not in the foot) we always advise to come and have a biomechanical assessment with the Podiatrist to see if there is any underlying issue such as a leg length discrepancy or pelvic tilt that can be made better with corrective orthotics.

How can my flat feet cause back pain?

Flat feet are mostly due to the ankle leaning inwards, this causes internal rotation of the legs which in turn affects the hips, and the pelvis tilts forward. When this happens (particularly in men) it will put pressure on the lower part of the back and cause back pain. By tilting the ankles back to straight and lifting the arches, the legs externally rotate in to their neutral posture and the pelvis tilts back to normal alignment.

Do I need to have surgery to fix my flat feet?

It is extremely rare to need surgery to correct flat feet. The majority of flat feet actually occurs from the ankle leaning inwards and the arch of the foot then collapses. So, by tilting the heel bone straight to align the ankle and lifting the arch back up again, the flat foot should be cured. Of course, there needs to be hyperpronation in the ankle and subtalar joint present for the arch to be lifted for it to be cured, if the ankle is straight and the foot is still flat it may be due to a number of reasons such as excess of ‘fatty packaging’ on the foot that is seen in some areas of the world. It is normal or it can be a boney fusion in the foot from some various diseases so the Podiatrist needs to assess the foot to make sure that the foot can corrected.

I still want to wear high heels/stylish shoes… can I do this while wearing orthotics? Do I have to wait until my treatment is over?

Whilst orthotic therapy is occurring, the foot must be held at 90° to the leg which means flat shoes must be worn during the orthotic treatment. However, if you want to wear high heels for a special occasion or for an important meeting that is absolutely fine to wear high heels without your insoles, but most activities and daily life we need you in flat shoes to get the ankle back to a neutral position.

Is it too late for me to fix my flat feet?

It is NEVER too late to correct flat feet! In fact it is actually faster with adults (especially adult males) as children take longer to correct because they have human growth hormones that make the ligaments very stretchy. It is these ligaments that we need to contract and tighten in to a straight position when we are aligning and lifting the arch and ankle joints. So, adults (especially males) have the fastest results because every 5° that we tilt the foot takes six weeks, and with children the equivalent time takes 3-6 months.

Are my flat feet the cause of my bunions/corns?

Flat feet are usually caused from the ankle leaning inwards. The arch of the foot is actually made up of quite a number of bones and when the arch collapses the first metatarsal can end up falling out of the foot and away from the big toe joint which is what is commonly known as a bunion. Usually, if we are going to correct a bunion non surgically, or make it better, we will align the ankle straight again using an orthotic to lift the arch. Also, if we have to align the big toe we will use an electro muscle stimulator designed for the foot and some sports tape to keep the big toe straight for a number of weeks.

How long does my child have to wear orthotics? Will they still be able to participate in school sports?

The child’s ankles and flat foot will be measured to see how many degrees the feet are leaning in. With the child we can get 5° every six months and with every six months it depends on the ankle alignments. So if the child is 25° leaning in we would tilt the child’s orthotic 5° every six months, so in a 25° child it would take 2 1/2 years. The maximum time is 4 1/2 years if we see the child regularly every six months.

What is the best school shoe/PE shoe for my child? Which brand?

For school shoes and PE shoes rather than the brand being important it is more about the structure of the shoe. We always want a strong soled shoe with strong support. Sometimes the better known brands are more expensive because there are more components and reinforcements inside the shoes, instead of very soft soled shoes. So, shoes from well-known brands that keep children’s health for their feet are the most desirable.

My child has ‘knock knees’ when they walk and stand. Will orthotics help fix this?

Knock knees are where the knees come together and this is what happens when both legs lean inward. If it just happens on one leg we call it a ‘K’ leg because one leg is straight and the other one leans in at the knee. There are two main reasons why the knees can knock together, it is either from the hip and pelvis, or it is coming from the ankle and feet. So, the podiatrist will assess the feet to see if the ankle can be straightened and if this sorts out the alignment of the leg then it is only coming from the foot. If the foot and ankle is normal and the knees are still knocking together then the problem is coming from the hip and the pelvis. It is easy to assess this, the podiatrist will align the feet and if the legs go straight it is only coming from the feet. Orthotics will align the ankle and are worn at six months increments. We change the angle of the orthotic 5° every six months but the whole time the child’s ankle, feet and knees is held in a straight position with an orthotic that goes inside the school shoe and sports shoe and is to be worn the majority of the time.

For appointments and other queries:
Call: +971 4 3435390
WhatsApp: +971 50 355 3024

Dubai Podiatry Centre

27/May/2026

Subtitles:

Welcome to Foot Talk Fridays!

Pain in the ball of the foot and sometimes the toe area, if you google it, most of the time it comes up saying ‘Morton’s Neuroma.’ Now, Morton’s Neuroma is very, very rare and it can happen in between any of the inter metatarsal spaces where the heads of the bones are. Morton’s Neuroma is a tumor of the nerve so it’s very, very rare but it’s commonly used to describe pain in this area.

What’s very common is to have Morton’s Neuritis which is inflammation of the nerves that feed the space in between the bones, and a dropped metatarsal. If any of these metatarsals drop down, pressure on the head of the bone will send pain signals to the inter metatarsals nerve space as that’s where the nerves are. Most commonly, all we need to do is lift the second, third, and fourth metatarsal heads so that it is the same as your hand. As you see with the hand the third metacarpal is the highest. So, in the foot we also want the third metatarsal to be the highest. That’s why by lifting the metatarsals back up again (the second, third and fourth) it can make the pain underneath the foot go away almost overnight.

If it is Morton’s Neuritis sometimes the nerve can be so inflamed that it may take many months for the inflammation of the nerve to stop giving you pain or numbness even if we lift the ball of the foot.

Now, also if there is a cyst which is kind of common also in between any of the metatarsals, so if the bones are rubbing together too much the toes will begin to separate. So, if there is a cyst the toes will show that cyst up by beginning to part. Therefore, the toes show up what the metatarsals are doing.

If you have pain in the ball of the foot we call it ‘Metatarsalgia’ – it means pain in this area. But, there are lots of different reasons, we would need to investigate what was giving the Metatarsalgia which just is a general name for pain in this area of your foot.

So, we don’t know if it’s a drop metatarsal, a pinched nerve, a cyst, a neuroma tumor. That’s why we need to find out by looking and assessing your foot, finding out what the issue is and what are the best options to correct it.

Happy Friday!

For appointments and other queries:
Call: +971 4 3435390
WhatsApp: +971 50 355 3024

Dubai Podiatry Centre

27/May/2026

Subtitles:

Welcome to Foot Talk Fridays!

Today we’re going to talk about warts to the feet.

A lot of the time warts can be misdiagnosed as corns but they both look quite similar and under a microscope they look very different. For a corn, you really get under one of the heads of the bones or on one of the fifth, fourth, third to second toes. You get them from high pressure areas.

But, a wart can be anywhere on the foot. On the heel, on the outer edge of the foot, under the arch, under the ball of the foot, on the toes, tip of the toes and other places of the body. What we do for warts is something completely different to what we do for corns.

So, for corns we would redistribute the pressure from the corn area or you would wear wider shoes. For warts, we would do something called ‘Dermojet’ which is what we’re really known for at Dubai Podiatry Centre. Dermojet is a micro jet of liquid that goes into the skin. With warts, they grow really deep into the tissue area of the body. For the rest of the body, they grow outwards on top of the skin. But, on the sole of the foot they get drawn into the skin so they go very deep and that’s why traditional methods of cryotherapy, of salicylic acid and superficial treatments are quite difficult to get rid of a wart. Sometimes, these traditional methods can anger the virus and make it spread, so Dermojet penetrates the skin and subdermal tissue layer to rectify the situation and get rid of your wart for you.

Enjoy the rest of your Fiday!

For appointments and other queries:
Call: +971 4 3435390
WhatsApp: +971 50 355 3024

Dubai Podiatry Centre

27/May/2026

Subtitles:

Welcome to Foot Talk Fridays!

Today we’re going to be talking about ankle pain.

So, there are some ligaments on the outside of the ankle and most people know about these when they’re walking and they suddenly go over on the ankle and the ankle ligaments can hurt a lot. There can be bruising, blood and swelling. There’s also ligaments on the inside of the ankle but it’s more difficult to roll your foot this way, so this is the easiest way to roll your ankle instead of this way. In any event, when you have a bad ankle sprain it is always advisable to wear a very supportive ankle brace and normally ankle braces have a stirrup that comes here made of something hard, and another stirrup of something here, and then something underneath the foot here so it helps to keep the ankle straight. In severe cases, a plaster cast may be put on the ankle to keep the ankle straight, or ‘moon boots’, or an air cast and that’s something that keeps the ankle straight – maybe for two weeks and sometimes even up to six weeks when the ligament is sprained.

Now, if you have had a bad ankle sprain on the outside of your foot, sometimes after a few months or even a couple of years the ankle can start to drift inwards because if you over stretch these ligaments (it is like a piece of elastic that has been stretched out too much) and the anchors of the ankle begin to drift allowing the foot to lean in. Then, the plantar fascia begins to hurt as well as the muscle belly here. So, ankle sprains should be taken seriously! Either a very supportive ankle boot, an air cast or strong reinforcements at the side can normally be bought from the pharmacy and should be worn for about two to six weeks to make sure the integrity of the ankle stays straight.

For example, if you have had a problem with the ankle a few years ago and are noticing that your ankles are beginning to lean in and the arch is beginning to hurt, and the fascia on the heel is beginning to pull. We can always make an insole underneath your foot that lift the arches but more importantly tilt the ankle back to straight again. So, if you have had a previous ankle injury that you think is giving yourself a problem, then come and see us and we will align the ankle back to straight again.

I hope that helps and enjoy the rest of your Friday!

For appointments and other queries:
Call: +971 4 3435390
WhatsApp: +971 50 355 3024

Newer Posts

Older Posts

Padding, Strapping & Taping

‘Heel Buzz’ products which ease heel pain

Questions for your surgeon before ankle surgery

At Home Foot Care for Children during Quarantine

Dubai Podiatry Centre precautions during Covid-19

Plantar Fasciitis

Chief Podiatrist Michelle Champlin discusses common queries about flat feet

Foot Talk Fridays : Metatarsalgia

Foot Talk Fridays : Warts

Foot Talk Fridays : Ankle Pain