When you need a doctor

Exercise and doctors are not in conflict

Working with the body and medical care solve different problems. A doctor rules out injuries, inflammation and conditions in which exercise could be dangerous. Exercise restores function when there are no dangerous causes. So with warning signs, see a doctor first; you can come back to exercise afterwards.

See a doctor urgently

Do not delay seeing a doctor or calling for help if:

• after a fall, blow or twist you cannot put weight on your foot;
• the foot is deformed, badly swollen or bruised after an injury;
• there is redness, swelling and skin that is hot to the touch, especially with a fever;
• the foot has become cold, pale or bluish, or has gone numb;
• your calf suddenly swells and hurts, especially on one side;
• there is a wound or ulcer on the foot that does not heal, especially if you have diabetes.

Book an appointment

A routine consultation is needed if:

• pain lasts more than two weeks despite rest;
• pain appears at night or at rest;
• there is numbness, tingling or burning in the foot;
• a flat foot is rigid, appeared on one side only or is getting worse quickly;
• a child complains of pain or quick tiredness in the legs, or limps;
• your legs swell regularly by evening;
• a toe deformity (bunion) is growing quickly and makes walking hard.

When to postpone home practice

Do not start exercising without your doctor’s approval if you have a fresh injury or suspected fracture, acute inflammation, a fever, or recent surgery on your leg. With diabetes and reduced sensation in the feet, serious vascular or heart disease and other chronic conditions, exercise should also be agreed with your doctor.

If you feel sharp pain, dizziness or numbness during exercise, stop the session.

How to prepare for the appointment

To get the most out of the consultation, prepare in advance. Your doctor needs to understand what bothers you and when.

• Write down where and when it hurts, how long ago it started and what helps.
• Recall any injuries to your feet, ankles and knees, even old ones.
• Bring the shoes you wear most: the wear on the sole shows how you place your foot.
• Bring results of previous tests and a list of medicines you take.
• For a child, describe when they complain, whether they tire on walks and how they wear down their shoes.

What a doctor may suggest

A doctor usually starts with an examination: watching how you stand and walk, checking joint mobility and sensation. If needed, they order tests such as an X-ray or ultrasound. Depending on the results, they may give advice on shoes and insoles, treat inflammation, or suggest physiotherapy or therapeutic exercise.

Tell your doctor that you want to do foot exercises and ask when it will be safe. Once you have the go-ahead, start with the simplest exercises and increase the load gradually.

Children: when to have their feet checked

Children rarely complain directly, so it is important to notice indirect signs. Take your child to a doctor if they often ask to be carried or refuse walks, tire quickly, complain of leg pain in the evenings, walk with their feet noticeably rolling inwards or on tiptoe, wear down their shoes unevenly, or if no arch has appeared after the age of 5–6.

Children can start preventive foot exercises without any complaints; if there are problems, start after seeing a doctor.

If pain appears during the course

Mild muscle fatigue after sessions is a normal reaction to a new load. But if you get sharp pain, swelling, or pain that does not pass by the next day or grows from session to session, stop. Go back to simpler exercises or take a break, and if the pain persists, see a doctor.

Which doctor to see

You can start with a general practitioner or, for a child, a paediatrician: they will examine you and refer you on. Support problems, flat feet and foot injuries are handled by an orthopaedic and trauma specialist. Numbness and burning may need a neurologist, and blood vessel problems a vascular surgeon.

After the consultation and with your doctor’s approval, you can return to exercise. The Feet course is educational and does not replace treatment.