This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Inspection

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The first part of the foot examination involves inspection:

  • examine weight-bearing posture:
    • the pattern of weight distribution can be gauged by coating the soles in ink and asking the patient to stand on a sheet of paper
  • examine gait
  • ankles, legs and back must also be examined
  • inspect sole and between toes
  • note:
    • colouration
    • condition of the skin: colour, callus formation, ulceration, infection, trophic changes along legs
    • nails: deformed, ingrowing, elevated, rough texture
    • swelling
    • masses: calcaneal prominence, ganglia, exostoses, fibrous tissue on sole - Dupuytren's contracture
    • bunions, especially over metatarsophalngeal joint

  • deformity:
    • compare both sides
    • specifically look for pes cavus and planus, hammer toes, mallet toes, intoeing, eversion and inversion, genu valgum and varum, splaying - broadening - of the foot

  • inspect the patient's shoe: wear is normally medially at the ball of the foot and posterolateral at the heel

Create an account to add page annotations

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.