To mark Foot Health Week, Foot Solutions is offering a free service to seniors living in the Richmond borough.

Borough residents aged 60 plus can claim a FREE footwear assessment by appointment by calling 020 8940 1814 and mentioning 'Foot Health Week offer' with appointments to be made for next week - April 24-29.

Poorly made and ill-fitting footwear can have major negative impact on older people in a number of ways:

* Poorly made shoes which provide little support can directly cause foot pain

* That pain can, in turn, affect gait causing people to walk in an 'unnatural' way, which throws out other joints and tendons leading to knee, hip, back and neck pain

* Badly constructed shoes provide insufficient support for joints affected by conditions like arthritis and rheumatism which tend to be more prevalent in older people

* Footwear with poor heel stability and little sole grip can cause falls and serious fractures

* For diabetic feet, poor quality shoes can even lead to amputation

The Foot Solutions store manager, Edgar Carvalho said: "Every day we see the serious problems caused by poor quality footwear, particularly among older people. Foot Health Week provides a good opportunity to highlight the issue."

Foot Solutions already offers a free, comprehensive foot assessment which includes:

* Accurate measurement of width and length of both feet

* Hi-tech 3D scan of both feet to identify pressure points

* Gait analysis

*Lifestyle requirements

Following the above assessment, the highly experienced team at Foot Solutions can recommend an appropriate combination of custom arch supports and quality, stylish footwear that will promote pain-free mobility and help customers achieve a full and active lifestyle.

Foot Solutions, 4 Red Lion Street, Richmond TW9 1RW

www.footsolutionsrichmond.co.uk