What is Chiropody/Podiatry?

This is a branch of healthcare devoted to the treatment and disorders of the feet and lower limbs. In the UK podiatry is simply the new name for chiropody. The name was changed to podiatry in 1993 as it is the internationally recognised name for a foot specialist and also as it is slightly more appropriate; 'podiatry' refers just to feet while 'chiropody' refers to both feet and hands.

It's not just the name that has changed though. Podiatry is a constantly evolving profession, the extensive training given to students over the 3 or 4 years of their full time course and the continuing education after graduation enable Podiatrists to treat a vast array of foot and lower limb problems.

What will happen on my first visit?

You should wear the shoes and socks/stockings that you normally wear. The Podiatrist/Chiropodist will take a detailed case history and will ask about your past and present health and the name and amount of any medication that you are taking. Your feet will be gently examined, the pulse in each foot being felt. Any necessary treatment will then be carried out - hard skin and corns are dead skin so treatment is rarely painful. Podiatrists treat people of all ages and from all walks of life. The Podiatrist will:

• assess and treat footcare ailments, ranging from problems such as corns, calluses and verrucae to deformity;
• analyse a persons walk or run and correct the anatomical relationship between the different segments of the foot;
• monitor and manage foot problems and deformities caused by diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis;
• advise and treat patients at high risk of foot problems and amputation such as people who have diabetes;
• cut toenails when this can no longer be done by patients;
• give advice on footcare and footwear;

For more information visit the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, Feet for Life™