Podiatry

What is Podiatry?

Podiatry (also known as chiropody) is the diagnosis and treatment by podiatrists (chiropodists) of diseases and other disorders of the feet. Podiatrists are highly skilled health professionals who have been trained to prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate abnormal conditions of the feet and lower limbs. They also prevent and correct deformity, keep people mobile and active, relieve pain and treat infections.

A podiatrist will treat or advise on:

  • Ageing feet
  • Athlete’s Foot
  • Biomechanics*
  • Blisters
  • Bunion
  • Callus
  • Chilblains
  • Corns
  • Diabetes (foot-related)
  • Footwear
  • Fungal Infections
  • Gout
  • Heel pain
  • Insoles (orthotics)
  • Ingrowing toenails
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Podopaediatrics (children’s feet)
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Sports Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Sweaty feet
  • Toe deformities
  • Verrucae
  • Working Feet

Basic hygiene and nail cutting may be all that’s needed to keep your feet in good health. But when normal feet turn into problem feet, it’s best to seek professional help. Some problems are inherited, and some develop from illnesses in middle age, or from the pressure of ill-fitting shoes. The stress from some sporting activities may also cause foot problems.

*Biomechanics is concerned with preservation, restoration and development of the function of the foot and its associated structure. Biomechanics refers to the use of mechanical methods in the diagnosis and treatment of the function of the foot and the lower limb. Many people visit a clinic with functional related problems. A biomechanical assessment can often help a podiatrist pinpoint the problem and develop a diagnosis which enables them to treat it appropriately.

There are many biomechanical investigations podiatrists use to help them assess and evaluate the patients they treat. A lot of biomechanical problems are treated with orthotics. These are insoles made specifically for each patient to try to reduce their symptoms. Podiatrists have the skills needed to produce these devices and the podiatrist at LBhealthcare is qualified to do this.

Other groups of patients are prone to developing biomechanical problems as a result of a disease they have. An example of this is Rheumatology patients. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that deforms joints including those in the legs and feet. Podiatrists get involved in biomechanical assessments of these patients to enable them to reduce the amount of discomfort they have as well as increasing their stability and ultimately keep them as mobile as possible.

A word of caution

Only the titles podiatrist and chiropodist are protected by law. There are some people who call themselves other foot related titles, who are unregulated by the Health Professions Council (HPC). Attending a HPC registered chiropodist or podiatrist helps ensure safety and proficiency. All of our podiatrists are registered practitioners with the HPC.