Richard Blake, DPM

San Francisco, United States

4.2

Closed now

20 reviews

By Appointment Only

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Telephone:
+1 415-353-6400
Website:
www.drblakeshealingsole.com
Address:
St. Francis Hospital 900 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA, 94109
Nob Hill, Lower Nob Hill
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.4 miBig Bus Tours Stop 16, Union Square North
0.5 miBig Bus Tours Stop 6, Hilton Hotel
0.5 miBig Bus Tours Stop 5, Union Square South
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Bussiness info

By Appointment Only
Yes

Today

Today 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (San Francisco) 18:51 Monday, 9 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday –
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

31 year experience at the renowned Center For Sports Medicine at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco

Goals: Keep growing and keep helping my patients and the medical and sports world combined

Patient Care in the Treatment of General Foot/​Ankle Conditions and specialized sports injuries.

Author of 50+ Articles on Sports Medicine and Biomechanical Issues

Lecturer both nationally and internationally in sports medicine and biomechanics

Inventor of numerous foot orthotic modifications

History

Established in 1981.

I am a Podiatrist, with specialized training in sports medicine and bio mechanics. I have worked since 1981 at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital’s Center For Sports Medicine. As a podiatrist, I mainly help foot and ankle problems. But, with my knowledge of bio mechanics, I am asked to help with short leg syndrome in back injuries, and design orthotic devices and rehabilitation programs for shin, knee and hip injuries. Our staff has 4 podiatrists, 3 orthopedic surgeons, 3 physiatrists, and 3 sports medicine specialists. I love helping patients with injuries and various pain syndromes.

Meet the Business Owner

Richard B.

Business Owner

I was born in San Francisco, and graduated from UC Berkeley. I played baseball at Cal, and went to medical school at the California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco. After graduation, I did a 1 year residency in podiatric medicine and surgery, and then a 1 year Fellowship in Bio mechanics. My knowledge of bio mechanics landed me the job at the Center For Sports Medicine, where I have been for 32 years. I have invented various orthotic devices used for flat foot and excessive pronation. I have lectured on sports medicine nationally and internationally and written numerous articles on these subjects. But, my true passion is just in helping my patients. Through these successes and failures is where I have learned my trade and how to think outside the box. Our programs are individualized for each patient, with no pre-​set protocols.

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20 reviews of Richard Blake, DPM

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Houston, TX
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!
Place rating: 5
Menlo Park, CA
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.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
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.
Place rating: 5
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!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
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.
Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA
I saw Dr. Blake due to a tennis-​related ankle injury. He is very good. He diagnosed my problem and gave me short-​term solutions to get me back on the court and long-​term solutions to keep me from getting reinjured. He is a good communicator, spent as much time with me as necessary and answered all my questions. If you have foot problems, I recommend Dr. Blake highly.
Place rating: 2
San Francisco, CA
tons of personality. is that really important when you are trying to get help for your feet.
he was all proud of his unique way making inserts.
he spent a year, i am not kidding, messing with mine and never did get them right.
too much in a hurry to make changes.
gave me a huge boot to use — it was so heavy hurt my ankle and heel — 2 major issues.
didn’t wear it.
the insert was $ 150 and many trips into S.F.
go to Dr. Cheung! she is a no nonsense, right to it Doctor. zero personality, but wonderful doctor; or dr. Todd also excellent podiatrist.
Place rating: 2
San Francisco, CA
The staff here is unresponsive to say the least. I’ve called, I’ve emailed and I have not heard back on several different occasions sometimes for up to two weeks. They left me in pain without a place to turn… literally. Disappointed.
Place rating: 1
Oakland, CA
I called to make an appointment and was informed that there would be 3 charges — my copay, plus an additional bill from the doctor (which I would have to pay my coinsurance) and an additional bill from the hospital (again, 15% coinsurance). So just a regular exam could cost hundreds of dollars? No thanks! WTF, boutique doctors don’t even charge that much!
Place rating: 5
Kalamazoo, MI
A gifted diagnostician and a true healer. The most generous specialist I’ve ever encountered.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
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!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
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.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
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 :)
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
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.
Place rating: 1
Capitola, CA
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…
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
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!!!
Place rating: 5
Washington, DC
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:
— Gel Toe Spreaders (Medium):
— English Ice Bag:
— Berry SuperFeet (yet to try):
Place rating: 2
San Francisco, CA
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.
Place rating: 5
Paris, France
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.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
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.