with Professor Chris Nester

Why am I blogging?

P1020143I have spent the last 20 years contributing to the advancement of foot health science and clinical practice. This blog is about bringing to life the continuing journey so that academic researchers, clinicians and the public can make sense of foot health science and help improve foot health for everyone.

Whilst publishing research in academic journals is important, this often restricts the conversation to fellow academics. Actually, like any discipline, academics can be too narrow in our thinking and we need to find ways to communicate with different (often more important) audiences. This can accelerate the adoption of research outcomes and improve the quality of future research. “It is at the interface of different disciplines and perspectives where the most exciting ideas are often created”.

Communicating with the widest possible audience also maximises the impact of research and ensures best value to those who fund research. Outstanding research that no one hears about is a waste of money, public money usually, and contrary to the ethos that we do research to create new knowledge and improve people’s lives.

So this blog is a platform for me to share my thoughts on current foot heath research (my own and that of others), foot health practice (podiatry and other professions too), and the policy issues that relate to foot health. I will talk about biomechanics, but lots of other topics too.

Why now? Talking about the value of foot health has never been more important.  Increasing numbers of people have their lives blighted by poor foot health on a daily basis.  Our aging populations and the increasing number of people with diabetes is fueling an increased demand for foot health care globally.  So, we need to be “talking feet” from all perspectives – understanding foot  health and its value in the lives of people, the determinants of poor foot health and how health professionals and patients can work together to improve foot health.

Happy feet make happy people.