A lot of adults have grown up with a foot/ walking related problem. They may have worn corrective shoe inserts as a child but not as a teenager and often they still need inserts (orthoses) as an adult.

How do I know if I need orthoses?

Corns and callous (hard skin) that repeatedly form in the same part of the foot (e.g. on the top of the little toe) indicate excessive shoe pressure on this part of the foot. This excessive shoe pressure normally results from the foot functioning badly within the shoe. If you can never find comfortable shoes it might be because your feet are the problem and not the shoes.

Recurrent ingrowing toenails indicate a walking problem (unless you always wear tight-fitting pointed-toe shoes). Lower back pain, knee pain and ankle instability or pain can result from malfunctioning feet.

Adults can catch verrucae by walking barefoot where other people with verrucae have walked. Small verracae can be treated using an over-the-counter preparation but large, painful or obstinate verrucae should be treated by a podiatrist.

Fungal infections (athlete’s foot) are common in adults.