Q After repeatedly suffering from injuries, I was prescribed some rigid orthoses. The good news is that none of my old injuries has returned, but the bad news is that I can’t run more than 20 miles a week because of a tender heel. It’s worse

require a three-year BSc in podiatry. Injuries treated All foot injuries. These include plantar fasciitis (heel pain), bone spurs, hammer toes, bunions and severe toenail and blister pain. Also, leg problems caused by improper foot plant. When to go When

to the effect of the orthoses, and to improved rehabilitation.”Many people are surprised to discover that knee and lower-leg injuries frequently originate from the abdomen, hips and pelvis, rather than stemming from the feet and ankles. They shouldn

, but the orthoses they prescribed don’t seem to help. Will I need surgery to straighten my toe if I’m to run without pain? A The chances of your needing surgery to straighten the toe are very low indeed. Most of these problems can be solved non-surgically by a

by your doctor may cause you to overreact! Your injured leg probably looks no different to the other, although running through long-term injury may cause muscle-wasting and alter its appearance.Medical investigations As above, although x-rays are generally

is by no means uncommon, and usually responds well to prescription orthoses, so consider having a podiatrist carry out a full biomechanical assessment.—David Holland, consulting podiatrist

appropriate running shoes by visiting a specialist retailer. You could also try shoe inserts, best recommended by a podiatrist or physiotherapist. There are some good non-prescription orthoses available – try calling Medisport for advice on AOL orthotics (0161

Q I’ve been running for five years with very few injuries, but recently I’ve been experiencing pain in both shins. The pain is on the inside of my legs, just off-centre. I tried resting for three weeks as suggested by my GP, but the problem

, then ice it some more. Also, check that you are not wearing old shoes, and try running on the other side of the road if the pain is one-sided. Lower your mileage.Medical treatmentIf your footwear or gait is causing ITBS, you may need orthoses or build

chiropractors can treat many other running injuries, too; some can mould or prescribe orthoses. They also can carry out pre-season checks to identify, treat and strengthen areas with potential for injury. When to go At the first sign of pain or extended soreness