What is a Chiropodist or a Podiatrist

A chiropodist or podiatrist is a primary care, medical professional practicing podiatric medicine. Chiropodists and podiatrists specialise in the assessment, management and prevention of foot and lower limb disorders.

Chiropodists and podiatrists are the only regulated foot care professionals educated exclusively in the assessment and treatment of disorders of the foot and ankle and undergo extensive training of up to seven or eight years of post secondary school education. Chiropodists and podiatrists are the only foot care providers whose scope of practice includes the provision of custom foot orthotics.

The scope of practice for these practitioners involves the assessment and management of foot and lower limb disorders including the management of a wide variety of disorders, injuries and local manifestations of systemic conditions and treatments such as:

  • Achilles tendinitis
  • Arthritis
  • Arch pain
  • Ankle pain and ankle sprains
  • Athletes foot
  • Biomechanical assessments
  • Bunions
  • Corns and calluses
  • Children’s or paediatric foot problems
  • Custom made foot orthotics
  • Diabetic foot care and wound care
  • Flat feet
  • Forefoot pain/metatarsalgia
  • Fungal toenails
  • Gait analysis
  • Heel pain, heel spurs and plantar fasciitis
  • Hip pain
  • Infections
  • Ingrown toenails
  • Knee pain
  • Laser fungal toenail treatments
  • Lower back pain
  • Morton’s neuroma
  • Nail surgery for ingrown toenails
  • Plantar warts
  • Running injuries
  • Shin splints
  • Sports related injuries
  • Thick toenails
  • Toenail fungus
  • Ultrasound treatments
  • Wound care