Foundation in Podiatry for Massage and Manual Therapists

11 Hours CE/CPD | Online Course with Steven Thomas MRCPod

The foot is far more than a structure at the end of the leg. It is the body’s first point of contact with the ground, constantly adapting to movement, balance, terrain, footwear, loading, and daily activity.

Foundation in Podiatry for Massage and Manual Therapists introduces therapists to the foundations of podiatry in a practical, accessible, and clinically relevant way.

Presented by Steven Thomas MRCPod, this course helps massage and manual therapists better understand foot and ankle mechanics, gait, loading, footwear, lower limb function, and the wider kinetic chain.

Course Overview

This course is not designed to turn massage therapists into podiatrists. Instead, it helps therapists develop better observation skills, stronger movement reasoning, greater referral awareness, and a clearer understanding of how the foot and ankle may influence whole-body function.

Participants will explore how foot and ankle mechanics may affect walking, standing, compensation, recovery, balance, and load tolerance throughout the lower limb and wider body.

The course provides a practical clinical lens for understanding common foot presentations, gait observation, footwear considerations, orthotics, red flags, referral awareness, and whole-body clinical reasoning.

Supported by professionally produced video tutorials, a comprehensive companion course, downloadable workbook and study materials, lesson quizzes, final assessment, certificate of completion, and lifetime access, this course provides a structured introduction to podiatric awareness for manual therapy practice.

What You Will Learn

Topic Focus Foot & Ankle Function Understanding balance, gait, stability, shock absorption, and force transfer Gait & Movement Observation Developing confidence observing gait, compensation, loading patterns, and movement behaviour Common Foot Presentations Exploring heel pain, Achilles overload, bunions, hammer toes, and structural adaptation Footwear & Orthotics Understanding how footwear and support strategies may influence comfort, loading, and movement tolerance Red Flags & Referral Recognising when symptoms may require podiatric, medical, or interdisciplinary assessment Clinical Reasoning Strengthening whole-body thinking, client education, communication, and reflective practice

Course Content

The course combines practical podiatric education, gait observation, lower limb function, foot and ankle mechanics, footwear awareness, referral considerations, and clinical reasoning for manual therapy practice.

Module Focus Foundations of Podiatric Awareness Understanding the relevance of foot and ankle function for manual therapists Foot, Ankle & Lower Limb Function Exploring movement, loading, stability, gait, and kinetic chain relationships Gait Observation & Movement Reasoning Developing practical observation skills for compensation, loading, and movement behaviour Common Foot & Ankle Presentations Heel pain, Achilles discomfort, bunions, hammer toes, calf tightness, and related concerns Footwear, Orthotics & Load Management Understanding footwear contribution, support strategies, and loading considerations Referral Awareness & Professional Scope Recognising red flags and knowing when podiatric or medical referral may be appropriate

Who This Course Is For

This course is ideal for massage therapists, manual therapists, bodyworkers, physiotherapists, rehabilitation professionals, sports therapists, movement practitioners, and other hands-on professionals who want to better understand the foot, ankle, gait, and lower limb function.

It is especially useful for therapists working with clients experiencing heel pain, calf tightness, Achilles discomfort, lower limb overload, balance concerns, footwear-related issues, or recurring movement-related symptoms.

About Steven Thomas

Steven Thomas MRCPod is a podiatrist and foot and ankle specialist based in Harley Street, Central London.

His clinical work includes podiatry, biomechanics, gait assessment, lower limb care, and specialist foot and ankle presentations.

In this course, Steven brings podiatric knowledge into a practical learning format designed specifically for massage and manual therapists, helping students understand the foot and ankle more clearly while remaining safely within professional scope.

Included With This Course

Included Details Video Tutorials Professionally produced video tutorials presented by Steven Thomas MRCPod Companion Course Comprehensive companion course designed to reinforce and deepen learning Workbook & Study Materials Downloadable workbook and supporting study materials Lesson Quizzes Knowledge checks designed to reinforce learning throughout the course Final Assessment 11 Hours CE/CPD following successful completion Certificate Certificate of completion included Lifetime Access Study at your own pace and revisit the material whenever required

CE Finder

This course has been approved for continuing education by numerous professional boards and associations worldwide. Scroll sideways to find your board or association.

Course: Foundation in Podiatry
Approvals Listed: 62
CE Broker Provider: #20-944719 Scroll right to view all approvals in alphabetical order → Alabama Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
11 Alabama Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
11 Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy *General* Approved Hours
11 Alaska Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours
11 Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy *General* Approved Hours
11 Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
11 Arkansas Board of Massage Approved Hours
11 Association of Massage Therapists (AMT) Approved Hours
11 Australian Traditional Medicine Society Approved Hours
11 Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC) Approved Hours
11 Canadian Athletic Trainers Association (CATA) Approved Hours
4.4 Canadian Massage & Manual Osteopathic Therapists Association (CMMOTA) Approved Hours
2 CEU/CPD Self-Cert Approved Hours
11 Chiropractic Board of Australia Approved Hours
11 College of Complementary Health Professionals of British Columbia (CCHPBC) Approved Hours
11 College of Massage Therapists of New Brunswick (CMTNB) Approved Hours
11 College of Massage Therapists of Newfoundland and Labrador (CMTNL) Approved Hours
5.5 College of Massage Therapists Ontario (CMTO) Approved Hours
11 College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia (CNPBC) Approved Hours
11 Connecticut Board of Chiropractors Approved Hours
11 Connecticut Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
11 Deleware Board of Massage and Bodywork Approved Hours
11 Distrcit of Columbia Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
11 Florida Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
11 Georgia Board of Massage Therapy *General* Approved Hours
11 Georgia Board of Nursing *General* Approved Hours
11 Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy *General* Approved Hours
11 Indiana Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
11 Iowa Board of Chiropractic Approved Hours
11 Iowa Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours
11 Kansas Chiropractic Association Approved Hours
11 Maine Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
11 Maryland Board of Massage Therapy Examiners Approved Hours
11 Massage Therapists' Association of Nova Scotia (MTANS) Approved Hours
11 Massage Therapy Assc of Manitoba (MTAM) Approved Hours
11 Massage Therapy Assc of Saskatchewan (MTAS) Approved Hours
11 Missouri Board of Therapeutic Massage Approved Hours
11 Missouri State Board of Chiropractic Examiners Approved Hours
11 Montana Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
11 National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Approved Hours
11 National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) Approved Hours
11 Natural Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC) Approved Hours
11 Nebraska Massage Licensure Board Approved Hours
11 Nevada Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours
11 New Hampshire Advisory Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours
11 New Jersey Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy Approved Hours
11 North Carolina Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy Approved Hours
11 North Dakota Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
11 Ohio Chiropractic Board Approved Hours
11 Oklahoma Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
11 Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners Approved Hours
11 Oregon Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours
11 Pennsylvania State Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
11 Prince Edward Island Massage Therapy Association (PEIMTA) Approved Hours
11 Registered Massage Therapists' Association of Ontario (RMTAO) Approved Hours
11 South Carolina Massage/Bodywork Panel Approved Hours
11 South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
11 Tennessee Board of Massage Licensure Approved Hours
11 Virginia Department of Health Professions (Massage Therapy) Approved Hours
11 Washington Board of Massage Approved Hours
11 Washington Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
11 West Virginia Massage Licensure Board Approved Hours
11

Approval requirements can change. Please confirm acceptance with your own board, association, employer, or regulatory authority before registration.

Foundation in Podiatry

Professional Reviews & Feedback

The reviews below represent feedback provided by students and practitioners through Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and Judge.me.

★★★★★ 4.6 average rating across reviews collected via Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and Judge.me

“Steven Thomas explains podiatry concepts in a way that makes sense for manual therapists. The course was practical from the start.”

Isabelle M., LMT

“The course helped me understand foot mechanics, gait, and lower limb function with much more confidence.”

Marek R., PT

“A very useful foundation for therapists who want to better understand the feet without becoming overwhelmed by terminology.”

Sandra V., RMT

“The explanations around foot posture and load transfer were especially helpful for clinical reasoning.”

Dylan J., Sports Therapist

“I appreciated how the course connected podiatry principles to everyday treatment room presentations.”

Meira K., Massage Therapist

“Steven presents with clarity and experience. The material felt relevant to both assessment and treatment planning.”

Henry E., Manual Therapist

“The course gave me a better understanding of how foot mechanics influence knees, hips, and the rest of the body.”

Philip P., LMT

“A strong introductory course for rehabilitation professionals who want to understand podiatry more clearly.”

Oskar S., ATC

“The information on common foot conditions was clear, practical, and immediately useful.”

Nadia T., RMT

“The course helped me ask better questions during intake when clients present with foot or lower limb pain.”

Rafael C., DC

“I found the gait and footwear discussions particularly valuable. They added a practical layer to my assessments.”

Amara L., Massage Therapist

“Steven makes the subject approachable. I finished the course with a clearer framework for foot-related complaints.”

Luca H., PTA

“The course gave me more confidence recognising when foot mechanics may be contributing to wider movement issues.”

Yelena B., LMT

“A very helpful course for understanding plantar fascia issues, arches, and functional loading.”

Paul F., Sports Therapist

“The teaching was clear and professional. I appreciated the focus on what manual therapists can realistically observe.”

Leila D., RMT

“This course has changed how I look at lower limb presentations. The foot often tells more of the story than I realised.”

Michael W., OT

“The podiatry foundation was exactly what I needed to better understand client complaints around the heel, arch, and forefoot.”

Soraya A., Manual Therapist

“The course linked anatomy, gait, and common conditions in a way that was easy to follow.”

Renne B., LMT

“A well-structured course that gave me practical insight into foot assessment and referral considerations.”

Marta G., Massage Therapist

“Steven Thomas made podiatry feel accessible and relevant for manual therapy and rehabilitation practice.”

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