In 1993 the name ‘Chiropodist’ was changed to Podiatrist with the learning programme advanced to that of Degree level. with a course spanning at least 3 years. This encompassed the entirety of the foot and lower limb and medical conditions affecting the entire body, orthopaedics, pharmacy and mechanics. The titles of Podiatrist and Chiropodist are protected by law and regulated by the Health Professions Council.
Although now Chiropody and Podiatry are actually the same, they can sometimes be thought of separately as follows:
‘Chiropody’
Chiropody focuses on the diagnosis, advice and treatment of foot problems. Concerns can involve the skin on the foot (corns, hard skin, verruca and rashes) toe nails (in growing toenails, fungal nails, thickening of the nails) and also general foot pain and foot health.
This includes nail cutting and shaping, the removal of the hard skin from corns and callouses, the management and treatment of ingrown nails, and various verrucae treatment options… and even foot massage. Podiatry and Chiropodist services include: also
- Ingrown Nail Surgery,
- Bio-Mechanical Gait Analysis.
- Orthotic or basic insoles,
- Cosmetic Toenail Reconstruction
- and Fungal Nail Laser Treatment. – a new approach to treating fungal nails.
- Nail surgery (being permanent solution to recurring nail pain and infections) carried out with very little discomfort and with aesthetically pleasing results.
What is Podiatry?
With Podiatry, attention is could be thought to be directed towards walking and sporting injuries involving the foot, ankle, knees, hip and back. ‘Biomechanics and gait analysis’ observe the dynamics of walking (also running, cycling, skiing etc.,) to recognise areas which may be causing problems, then how to then treat and alleviating pain.
