Chiropodists or Podiatrists specialize in assessing, diagnosing and treating abnormalities and diseases of the lower limb. They are trained to alleviate, prevent and correct these disorders and provide professional advice on proper foot care to patients of all ages and walks of life.
Typical work activities and services provided by Chiropodists include (but are not limited to):
- Treatment of dermatological and other foot related problems such as corns, callouses, verrucas, in-growing toenails, and fungal infections.
- Long-term management of chronic disorders.
- Therapeutic techniques, such as minor surgery using local anesthesia.
- Monitoring and managing foot problems and deformities caused by diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and advising and treating patients at high risk of foot problems and amputations such as sufferers of diabetes.
- Analyzing a person’s walk or run and correcting anatomical relationships between different segments of the foot by prescribing, producing and fitting orthotics and other aids and appliances.
- Delivering foot healthcare education, particularly to the more vulnerable groups in society such as the homeless, elderly and children.
- Working closely with other medical practitioners, for example, orthopedic specialists, GPs and health visitors in providing health care.
