The best foot doctor! Not just your regular podiatry issues... This doctor is knowledgeable about all relevant aspects of feet and leg health, and knows how to listen. He understands psychology and is attentive to the emotional issues that always accompany a patient with medical concerns. We were respected and cared for in all ways expected. I highly recommend him and his services... although his available hours are not many! He has served this community for many years... and now works fewer hours than full-time. Thank you Dr. Blake for your exquisite attention and care. read more

So totally stoked on Dr. Blake as a podiatrist! He's smart, innovative, intuitive, and pragmatic. I came here and discovered one of my toes is Egyptian (yes, it's true!) and Dr. Blake helped me co-create a solution to mitigate the issue that occurred from a combination of genetics & high-heels. Major props and Gratitude. New fun feet goodies include: - Kinesio Tape: http://www.shopkinesio.com/Kinesio-Tex-Gold-2-Beige-Water-Resistant-_p_13.html - Gel Toe Spreaders (Medium): http://www.amazon.com/Gel-Toe-Spreaders-set-Medium/dp/B001ANTRSW - English Ice Bag: http://www.amazon.com/English-Ice-Cap-Reusable-Bag/dp/B003QT4Y36 - Berry SuperFeet (yet to try): http://www.superfeet.com/products/Berry.aspx read more

Dr. Blake, when he saw me, had a lot to deal with. A foot surgeon named Dr. Remy Ardizzone had failed (in retrospect) to diagnose properly an existing foot fracture and blamed me for not "cooperating" with her treatment. (See my Yelp review.) Another podiatrist from California Pacific was also unhelpful. I came to Dr. Blake with a bad medical history as a consequence. When I saw Dr. Blake, he not only identified the existing foot fracture as such, a fracture Dr. Ardizzone claimed had healed, but he as well found I had a second foot fracture! No wonder I had trouble walking!!! Both fractures were at the lis franc area, which is the top of the foot, an area that is full of tiny bones which, if truly broken, require steel pins be inserted in order to hold them together. And to complicate matters, both feet were riddled with severe arthritis. All my former podiatrists, including the foot surgeon, told me I couldn't walk and shouldn't walk. Ever again? No one would say -- except Dr. Blake, who told me flat out, "I have hope you will walk and enjoy walking." It took more than a year of treatment to gain my mobility, but he guided me every step of the way and remained confident I would be back on my feet. Dr. Blake is a very pleasant guy, kind, empathic and yet practical, too. If you want a podiatrist who answers your questions, has an excellent bedside manner, and is willing to experiment and think outside the box when anatomy and biology demand it in order to heal you, then this is your guy. I've never met a doctor more helpful and kind in all my life than he. Catch him now -- before he retires! read more

Made my orthotics and they really help. Great person, very knowledgeable and nice to talk to. Took his take to do the biomechanical evaluation and I appreciate it. read more

Saw Rich this morning and already feel better! Called yesterday and was seen 24 hours later. He is one of the warmest physicians I've ever seen, and I'm one myself! Also, clearly knowledgeable in his field, he was a professor of Podiatry for 11 years. So if you are looking for a podiatrist who will take his time listening, understanding and diagnosing a problem, and then give you as detailed recommendations/feedback as you'd like, this is the doc for you. I had some running boo-boos, now know why, and now know how not to have them in the future. Based on my experience, if you're looking for a good podiatrist, "run" to Dr. Blake. read more

My daughter has been complaining of intermittent heel pain in both feet for the past several months. The pain got worse and became more consistent after playing sports, so I had to find a podiatrist to help her. Even though we live close to the south bay, I wanted to find an experienced doctor who believes in conventional treatment instead of offering surgery or giving cortisone shots. I found Dr. Richard Blake and did research on him. He had excellent reviews and I was able to read his blog. He gave excellent recommendations on icing and getting orthotics,which helped in interim before seeing him. Dr. Blake spent about 45 minutes with us. He is very down to earth, patient, and extremely knowledgeable. He measured her Achilles tendons, examined her feet, watched how she walked and ran down the hall. Found out that her Achilles were a little too tight, causing pain in her heels. He filed down her orthotics and put additional cushion on them. He gave us a treatment plan and his email address in case we had any more questions. Excellent podiatrist!!! We totally recommend him. read more

Dr. Blake, and the rest of the staff at the Sports Medicine clinic at St. Francis, are committed to helping you. I've been pleased with everyone I've come into contact with here. Office workers have been polite and accommodating, and other clinical staff are well-regarded. I think of him as the Mr. Rogers type--pleasant, with conversations done in a real easy going manner. Highly knowledgeable, he laid out a treatment plan, and was willing to spend any amount of time needed to get you back, literally, on your feet. As a means to alleviating my foot problem without directly going the more expensive option of the custom route quite yet, he modified (read: ghetto rigged) a pair of over-the-counter orthotics. After a few test runs, I let him know I wasn't having much luck with them; he not only returned my call to apologize and give me suggestions on how to modify it to suit my needs, but followed up the next day to see how it was working out--something I wasn't expecting, but solidified that he genuinely cared about his patients. Granted, my sore foot has been nothing serious *knock on wood*, and I've decided to self-treat in the meantime, but I have a feeling I will, and wouldn't hesitate to see him again should problems escalate. Besides, the view from atop Nob Hill rocks. read more

So after finishing the SF Marathon last week-end, I realized I needed some "help" in the foot department as I was in pain. Badly. So I pull up Yelp and make a call at 8:30 am. The person on the phone is friendly and I told her I would like to come in asap. I swing by the same day at noon and find out that Dr. Blake will see me during what should have been his lunch break. He is very personable, knows his stuff and got me back on my feet quickly. That's 5 stars right here. He even called me that same evening to see how I was doing. Need I say more? Make that a 6-star experience. read more

Dr Blake is very caring and knowledgeable. He takes the time to listen and observe how you move while walking. He primarily focuses on making custom orthotics for his patients. His truly custom-made orthotics are made from materials that provide cushioning and support - different from the standard hard orthotics that most podiatrists create. The motion control and shock absorption provided by the orthotics have helped tremendously with the knee and hip pain that originally lead me to seek out Dr. Blake's help on the recommendation of my physical therapist. read more

This guys cracks me up. He's a great doctor with an awesome personality. I saw him recently for my janky big toe that has been abused and damaged from years of running. He was able to fix my toe without any injections and used that cold spray instead. Now I'm all healed and wearing cute shoes again without any pain. He also offered to take a look at my toe via email. Yep, he said, "just snap a photo with your phone and send it to me." Thanks, Doc! read more

I went to Dr. Blake for the first time today, on the recommendation of my podiatrist from my former city. Once Dr. Blake walked in, he completely put me at ease. He addressed my running injuries and immediately prescribed some things that have already helped tremendously. He even got me scheduled for next week when he is already very booked. read more

The good friendly listens nice The Bad sometimes wait an hour to see DR. sol orthotics made feet worse superfeet made feet better black dpm model office staff absolutely the worst. do not listen to them when they say they are preferred and $25 copay and parking is easy in the garage which is always full:))))))lol billing a nightmare be careful WARNING PHCS is not $25 co pay lilke office and insurance tell u because of funky hospital billing get ready to pay big:) also now i am hearing hospital is not preferred and yes even though its a Dr. visit like every other clinic u get dinged by st. Francis:))) gotta luv it... read more

Dr. Blake is the best of the best. He is a master craftsman. He can correct any problem you may have and is a delight to work with. Custom orthotics are part science, part an art form. Dr. Blake brings multi-faceted talents to work with him, where he patiently watches how you walk, listens to your complaints, and carefully molds your feet, but that is just the beginning. He then custom makes orthotics to solve your specific problems. And he continues to work with you until you feel comfortable and have happy feet. Most podiatrists just send out molds of your feet to a lab. Dr. Blake makes the orthotics by hand by himself. His orthotics are designed specifically for you, and they are far better than lab made orthotics. Dr. Blake put the spring back into my step, made hiking trails possible again, and I highly recommend him to friends and family. read more

I consulted Dr. Blake after another podiatrist, Dr. Jenny Sanders, recommended surgery. Not only did Dr. Blake fix my foot problem without surgery with an expert combination of PT exercises and orthotics, he is incredibly caring and dedicated to helping his patients. Because of Dr. Blake, I am able to walk without pain. His orthotics (and creative use of adhesive felt) enabled me to wear proper shoes to exercise again. A most inspiring doctor and person! http://www.drblakeshealingsole.com/2012/07/how-to-conservatively-treat-bunions.html read more

Dr. Blake gets a mixed review from me. When I saw him several years ago he gave me good advice about insoles and stretching. Unfortunately he also recommended surgery problems and even showed me x-rays to support his recommendation. Another doctor who I've been seeing since then recommended a course of physical therapy that has done wonders for my condition. My new doctor's exams and x-ray results did not show any of the problems Dr. Blake was recommending surgery to correct. His blog and demeanor are great, but even Dr. Blake makes mistakes. Always get a second opinion before any serious or invasive procedure. read more

i wish i could give 10 stars. i had a horrible pain diagnosis in my left foot from an ankle sprain called CRPS. dr. blake helped with orthotics and an individualized approach to my foot pain, in conjunction with my pain management dr. (who is also amazing), dr. lee wolfer. dr. blake is compassionate, caring, and very, very responsive on email and his blog! he explained my MRI images in an individualized way on his blog so readers could learn at the same time. dr. blake treats ballerinas, athletes, and those with chronic conditions. no matter what your foot issue is, dr. blake will do his best to address - from orthotics, to recommendations, education, and prescribing PT. the hospital-based PT at san francis is wonderful too. the PTs can actually communicate with dr. blake. imagine that- multi-disciplinary coordination and communication! a rarity in today's medicine. if your foot hurts, go see dr. blake. skip the orthopods and see dr. blake first. the ortho docs don't get the CRPS pain syndrome thing. they don't even know what it is. dr. blake does. read more

Dr. Blake is very impressive. I went nuts with running after an long break, and ended up with Plantar Fasciitis (which causes horrible heel pain). He correctly diagnosed the problem, spent a lot of time with me, and was able to get me well enough within a week to take a hiking trip. He is a great doctor. (Although not an MD, as indicated above. Rather, he like most podiatrists, he is a D.P.M.) read more

Amazing podiatrist! I had a complex foot injuries on both feet and saw 4 podiatrist prior to seeing Dr. Blake. The other podiatrist spent very time with me and eluded to surgery as being the only option if things did not heal properly. I actually believe that my feet condition worsened because the other podiatrist were not treating me properly. Dr. Blake believes in conservative treatment (i.e. no surgical) and he is a master at making orthotics. We tried several different rounds of various orthotics and finally discovered that Hannaford orthotics were the best choice for me. I have been working with him for over a year now and I am almost back to my old activity level (I say almost because I was very active prior to my foot injuries). Also need to mention that he is the nicest most personable provider I have had the pleasure to see. He is very generous with his time and never rushes through appts. He is not covered by my insurance so I pay out of pocket for our visits. Best money I have every spent! read more

UPDATE: I have been pain-free going on 2 months. I've even started running on pavement without a toe separator. I'm in awe and am so grateful to have my fitness back!!! As if Dr. Blake needs any more positive reviews! I was going to a different doctor for several months after I possibly fractured my sesamoid in April 2018. That doc put me in the boot, eventually gave me a cortisone shot and began pushing surgery. Fearing for my mental and physical health, because I could barely exercise at that point and knew that this doc was pushing an agenda, I got an appt with Dr. Blake in late August 2018. It's only been 6 weeks of conservative treatment (and I still have some cortisone in me), but I am mostly pain-free except for a few complications which he clearly and confidently explained would dissipate, and they have. I've tried to incorporate every single conservative treatment he suggested (vitamins, contrast baths, rest, taping, bone stim, better sh). His personality also helps make for as much of an enjoyable experience as possible in the office, even if you're sobbing, heh. If you're committed to recovery, he'll make you believe it's possible without surgery. Thank you Dr. Blake for saving my workout routine and ultimately my mental health and happiness. It's been a long road, but (knock on wood) it finally seems to be clearing. read more

What a great doc!! Many years ago I had a stress fracture and, when it healed, was prescribed orthotics. Somehow, they were never really right, despite repeated modifications, but in the process I saw some five or six podiatrists, one more disappointing than the next. I stopped wearing the orthotics, and several years later went to see Dr. Blake, who was recommended by a couple of my clients ( I do gentle hands on work with the nervous and musculoskeletal systems, so I have a somewhat professional perspective on his work as well.) I thought he was fabulous then (in 1999), and I still do. The other podiatrists seemed to have only two choices to offer: orthotics or surgery. Dr. Blake thinks outside the box, and has all kinds of exercise, padding, yoga toes, etc. solutions that are much more effective for me. He really considers the mechanics of my foot and my gait, he's happy to explain things, and he takes whatever time is necessary in a visit. What's more, he's one of the nicest people around : ) He has a blog, and you might want to get acquainted with him first by browsing it (it's pretty long by now.) But it's not really necessary: I saw him last week after not having seen him for a while, and I left so stoked (as another poster said) that I can't imagine why anyone would be disappointed. He's great!!! read more

Dr. Blake is great!! I first found him when I was google-ing my condition and stumbled upon his blog. http://www.drblakeshealingsole.com/ I read a very informative post on my condition and thought "Wow, this doctor is great! Too bad he probably is in a different state." It turns out he's right here in San Francisco! Every time I came in, he spent a lot of time explaining things to me and even making make shift custom orthotics for me. I can see that he truly cares about his patients and helping them to get better. I've seen 8 podiatrists in San Francisco and he is among the best! It's too bad I switched insurance companies and can't come here anymore. But if you are having issues, go see Dr. Blake! read more

I found Dr Blake on yelp and went to see him to correct issues I was having with my running shoes / feet after I visited a different podiatrist who gave me running shoe orthotics that were hurting my feet and ankles. Dr Blake spent ample time learning about my health history, previous injuries I've had, and what my new symptoms were. He looked at my orthotics and instead of saying they were all wrong and that i needed to order new ones, he kind of jerry-rigged what i had and cut out some areas that were causing me problems and built up areas of the orthotic that he thought were inadequate, all without charging anything additional! He told me to take my "new" orthotics home, run on them and try them out, and come back so he could fine tune everything. He had to make a couple additional tweaks but after 6 months of problems with these new orthotics, he finally fixed everything and i have not had any problems since i saw him 3 months ago. So in addition to solving a problem that another podiatrist aggravated, he also let me come see him after his regularly scheduled appointments one friday evening! I had to make a last minute reschedule to an appointment for earlier that day but instead of rescheduling for a later date he just let me come in later that evening at about 5.45 pm to meet with him!! He is a great doctor, extremely accommodative with his scheduling, really cares about his patients, easy to talk to, but most importantly he figured out the problem i was having, addressed it, and solved it!! Which is what i look for most in a doctor. If i ever need another podiatrist he is the guy i will definitely go back to. read more

dr. blake is an artist. he managed to fix my damaged feet more than once, including adjusting special insoles in his magical workshop. he's a charming person, a true professional and an attentive doctor. read more

Dr Blake is the best doctor I've ever had of any kind. He helped me recover from a crippling tear in my plantar fascia in 2009. He shows legitimate concern for helping people and he spent a lot of time working with me on tests, diagnoses, physical therapy prescriptions, disability paperwork, and custom orthotics. Over the course of my recovery (nearly a year), he followed my progress and the treatments prescribed constantly evolved to be the most appropriate therapy for my stage of recovery. I now compete in triathlons and jiu jitsu tournaments. read more

Dr. Blake is an amazing foot doctor! I saw four doctors prior to finding Dr. Blake. I struggled with pain in my foot for almost a year. Every doctor told me it was something different. One even told me I needed surgery. Once I saw Dr. Blake I found out I was dealing with a neuroma and all I needed was the correct padding in my shoe. He is very responsive. You can email him anytime for questions. He will always make you laugh! read more

Dr. Blake is wonderful! He is patient and kind and a pleasure to visit with. He also successfully diagnosed and treated my chronic for pain (torn plantar fascia). He has also been helping my daughter, who has flat feet, work on exercises to strengthen her arches, as well as correcting the rotation of her feet through orthotics. read more

After a botched bunionectomy, my physical therapists said I better chat with Dr. Blake. "Don't worry, they get new patients in quickly." True. That was the best medical decision ever. Turns out the first doc left a screw in the joint space. A simple CT scan uncovered that - which I viewed with Dr. Blake on the office computer. Dr. Blake initiated a call with his colleague Dr. Ardizzone, and a third doc at another hospital (my 4th second opinion) to determine the best action. Making that call on my behalf sealed the deal for me - I went with Dr's Blake and Ardizzone, and St. Francis Memorial Hospital. I had another surgery, and 6 more months of healing, regaining balance, and strengthening in order to walk again. I can't say enough about the staff at St Francis, and the Center for Sports medicine - caring, patient, expert at their science and craft, up to date technology available onsite - mri, ct, xray, etc. Dr. Blake will continue to be my podiatrist, though I travel from the East Bay. He works with me on refitting my orthotics - which he custom makes. He tells me I'm one of his favorite patients, but I think he must tell all of us that. Isn't that what we want? Someone to care when we are in pain and need help to repair our bodies? Someone to understand the discomfort is real, and annoying, and keeping us from our best. Dr. Blake will do that for you. read more

Dr. Blake is wonderful! I have incredibly high arches along with a slew of other foot problems. I love to run and am incredibly active, but my lifestyle had become greatly handicapped by my increasing foot pain. After having custom orthotics made by another podiatrist who I was not happy with, I found Dr. Blake here on Yelp. He is so pleasant and friendly he immediately put me at ease. He made me new orthotics (two different kinds) and told me he was determined to get this right. I emailed him with a question and he got right back to me. I ended up needing to back for a minor adjustment to my orthotics and the following week he called me at home to see how they were working out. He listens to you, is very knowledgeable, and really seems to care about his patients. It has been so refreshing and such a relief! My feet are no longer in pain and I feel like I can finally resume my life doing activities that I love. I can't say enough about Dr. Blake. He is just the bees knees! read more

Dr. Blake deserves highest regard! As a physician myself, I am discerning about my health care, and Dr. Blake has all the characteristics of a top-notch health care professional - he is competent and caring. I had a stress fracture in my foot that was mistreated by 4 podiatrists I consulted before I traveled to SF to see Dr. Blake, resulting in a 2-3 month injury turning into a 7+month ordeal. Dr, Blake clearly knows how to treat a stress fracture, and I'm finally healing. read more

Dr. Blake's advice and orthotics have been invaluable to help me move pain-free. He listens, he teaches, and he cares.

Dr. Blake is the 4th podiatrist I've seen. The others wanted to operate and misdiagnosed the problem, and sent me on my way. He spent an hour with me, read my diagnosis, looked at the mri's, xrays, and correctly diagnosed the problem. He told me what my options are and asked me what my running goals are so we can work towards it and put together a plan. He's personable, he cares, he dedicates enough time. He exemplifies what doctors should be like! Their clinic only suggests surgery if it's really needed. I'm so thankful that I finally found him. It took one year and 4 doctors but it was worth it! read more

Dr. Blake is truly god's gift to podiatric medicine. I don't think I've ever met a more caring individual. Worth every penny if he's not on your insurance plan. If every physician had his combination of technical expertise and great bedside manner our health care delivery system wouldn't be so f***ked up. He's one of the best, hands down. read more

Dr. Blake has helped me out for over 20 years! I would have never been able to continue playing basketball without his help. He is the ultimate professional in his specialty, and a great communicator. My orthotics have always been made to perfection, which have resulted in not having "ANY" foot problems. With time and age our arches need support, and Dr. Blake the best of the best. I refer him to all my fellow athletes. After over 50 years of basketball, I highly recommend Dr. Blake, if you want to continue to have fun! read more

Truly a gem amongst men. Honestly I had an amazing sports medicine doc in Burbank who referred me to Dr. Blake after slicing my achilles (are you grey-faced yet?) and I just thank my lucky stars he did. Have you ever had a doctor that takes his time and willingly answers any questions you might have on his blog every single day? Even if you're not a patient? And gives you the mold for your toots after an orthopedics order? Me neither. Also he has a remarkable view. Try and ignore that one one incredibly rude (and so, out of place) receptionist. read more

Dr. Blake is a wonderful doctor, I would say he is a rare doctor. I posted on his website and got a very useful information related to my health concerns. He listens, understands and on top of all he has a compassion. I am a grandmother but I can only remember this type of a doctor from my childhood. He is not a busnessman type of a doctor (which is a tragic standard nowdays, alas!) but a REAL doctor, a highly professional, knowledgeable and in love with his medical profession. I strongly recommend this doctor to anyone and I honestly envy any patient who has a chance to make an appointment with him. I live in another state but may fly to California next year to see Dr. Blake. He is the best so far. Whatever problem you have with your foot go to see this remarkable doctor. He is a star. read more

I had a complicated problem with my foot and had seen a bunch of podiatrists. Most just wanted to get me in and get me out. They were not very thoughtful and didn't take the time to thoroughly diagnose my problem. So I asked around to find a GREAT podiatrist, who would stop and think hard about what was going on with my foot. All signs pointed to Dr. Blake. I wasn't excited about seeing him because he is in SF and I live in the south Bay, but boy am I glad I did. He conducted a very thorough exam and patient history and came up with what turned out to be the right diagnosis, one that a series of other podiatrists had missed. And that put me on the road to treatment that has been very helpful. In addition to being extremely knowledgable and thoughtful, Dr. Blake is one of the nicest and kindest people you will ever be lucky enough to meet. I can't recommend Dr. Blake enough. He is a real gem. read more

I can't believe that he gets so many 5 stars. My visit with him was a complete bust. He was very friendly and nice, but not only did he completely miss diagnose my problem but gave he some padding for my insoles that made my problem worse. i went to another podiatrist that explained my problem and helped me tremendously with inserts and cushioning. read more

Dr. Blake is an amazing podiatrist! He listens and adjusts to meet the needs of my ever sensitive foot. He spends the time necessary to make the most subtle adjustments, which have helped my foot (and back) tremendously. He is amazing (and I am sensitive, not so easy patient). He is the best! read more

Dr. Blake is an awesome podiatrist! After almost a year of a nagging heal injury, Dr. Blake has me on the road to recovery! He takes time to explain everything in a way that is easily understandable, and even gave me his personal email to correspond if I had questions. When I had to have an emergency MRI, his assistant was able to get it cleared and scheduled within 24 hours! I've also never had to wait more than 10 minutes of my appointment time to see the doc. I wish more docs were this awesome :) read more

Dr. Blake is a great doctor, practicing the way medicine was meant to be practiced. He will take the time needed to be thorough, and his manner is care-driven and as an advocate for the patient. Can't recommend more highly. read more