What is follow up?
During follow up for therapeutic footwear, check that the footwear:
- Is safe to use and not causing injury
- Fits well or needs adjustment
- Meets the person’s needs to prevent foot wounds
- Needs repairs or replacing.
Also check:
- If the person needs referral to another service
- When the next follow up should be completed.
When to do a follow up
After fitting therapeutic footwear, follow up should happen after both:
- One week
- One month.
Follow up should be done more often if any concerns are identified by you or the person.
After the two follow up sessions, the person should then attend a follow up at least once every 12 months. If they have any concerns, they should contact the service sooner.
Question
Remember Jensen?
Jensen has problems with feeling (sensation) and a history of a foot wound. Jensen has been wearing therapeutic footwear for three weeks. He has noticed redness on the top of his smallest toe.
1. What could this be?
Select all that apply.
All answers are correct.
Toes are a common area for injury, particularly with claw toes.
This area of redness may develop into callus and is a correct answer.
Shoe rub can often early be seen as an area of redness and this is correct.
If the shoe rub continues to damage the skin this is likely to become a foot wound.
2. What may have caused the redness?
Select all that apply.
If you selected a and b, you are correct. The shoe may be putting pressure on Jensen’s toe, or Jensen may be wearing socks that are rubbing against his toe.
3. What should you do?
Select all that apply.
If you selected a, you are correct.
If Jensen’s footwear does not fit, advise him to stop wearing them and assess him for a different size.
Jensen should also be referred to a foot clinic or wound clinic to make sure his injury does not get worse.