The podiatrist begins with a personal consultation. You will discuss, for example:

What symptoms you are experiencing;
When the symptoms first appeared;
At what times do your symptoms cause you the most distress;
Whether there is any swelling, inflammation or stiffness.

The podiatrist also takes into account your daily activities, the way you move and your shoes.

The consultation is followed by a physical examination. During this examination, the podiatrist will assess the alignment of your feet, toes, ankles and other joints.

The podiatrist will, in any case, examine:

The presence of swelling or inflammation;
Changes in the position of the foot;
Misalignment of the toes;
Pressure sores, calluses or corns;
Sensitive or painful areas.

We also assess how well your joints can still move. The podiatrist also checks how stable your joints are.

Based on the physical examination, the podiatrist will gain a clear understanding of where your symptoms may be coming from.

Rheumatism can cause changes to the alignment of your joints. Changes in joint alignment can affect the way you walk.

That is why the podiatrist also assesses your gait. We look at how your feet roll and how your knees, hips and back move in unison.

By also analysing your gait, we can identify strain and abnormal movements at an early stage.

Rheumatism can cause feet to change shape. As a result, ordinary shoes may sometimes fit less well. The podiatrist will therefore also assess your shoes. In any case, the podiatrist will check whether your shoes:

Has enough space;
Provides sufficient support;
Provides sufficient protection.

We also assess whether the shoe is causing any pressure points. Pressure points can lead to calluses, corns, sores or painful pressure points. And we want to prevent that.

Where necessary, we provide advice on suitable shoes or (semi-)orthopaedic footwear.

The podiatrist makes a pressure measurement of your feet. We do this using a special pressure measurement plate. This allows us to see exactly how the pressure is distributed under your feet whilst standing and walking.

In the case of rheumatism, pressure measurement helps to identify pressure points, overuse and painful areas in good time. This is particularly important when the position of the foot has changed, or when there is swelling.

The pressure measurement shows where extra strain is occurring, and what may be the cause of your symptoms.

Following the examination, the podiatrist will discuss the findings with you. We will explain the likely causes of your symptoms and what the problem is. In doing so, we will not only look at your current symptoms, but also at how we can prevent new or recurring symptoms.

The podiatrist will work with you to draw up a treatment plan tailored to your situation. Possible elements of the treatment include:

Podiatric insoles;
Orthoses;
Footwear advice or advice on adapted footwear;
Advice on nutrition and exercise;
Collaboration with a chiropodist or other healthcare provider.

With rheumatism, good foot care is particularly important. The skin and joints may be more susceptible to inflammation and minor injuries. That is why the podiatrist may also advise you to have your feet treated regularly by a medical pedicurist.

During follow-up appointments, the podiatrist will discuss with you how you are getting on and whether the treatment is helping. If necessary, we will adjust the treatment. In this way, we work together to ensure you can continue to walk comfortably.

Have you been referred by your GP or specialist? If so, we will share the results of the examination with your referrer or other healthcare professionals involved.

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Podiatric assessment for rheumatism

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