Well, this is my first attempt at a blog – so please go easy on me in the comments!
I’m Heather, a Podiatrist at BodiKind in Crawley Down and I thought I would tell you a little bit about what a podiatrist is and what we do…. and answer the question; What is the difference between a podiatrist and chiropodist?
Well, a podiatrist is a specialist in the foot and ankle, so, anything you are concerned about; aches, pains, lumps, bumps, nails or the skin on your feet, your first thought should be a podiatrist. The same way you would see a dentist for your teeth or an optician for your eyes.
Podiatrists work both privately and in the NHS. I have previously been with the NHS and now work privately in Crawley Down, so I will focus on what we do in private practice (I may write another blog on the two roles and how they differ)
What sort of feet do I see? The most common conditions I see and help are;
• hard skin (callus),
• corns,
• problem nails, they can be thick, ridged, discoloured
• fungal infections of the skin and/or nail
• ingrown toenails (my favourite to treat)
• verrucae
• pain in the feet
• foot shape changes, flat feet, falling arches
• diabetics
• walking problems
•
Podiatrists study for at last three years at university to obtain their degree, and are regulated by the HCPC (so if you see a Podiatrist make sure they are registered via the HCPC website). The podiatry degree used to be the chiropody degree, as we used to be known as chiropodists, but only in the UK. If you went abroad you will hear the word pod being linked to feet. So, to bring us up to international standards the name was changed to podiatrist. Therefore, in response to the above question, what’s the difference between a chiropodist and podiatrist? The answer is – nothing! Although the degree itself has evolved over the years, the knowledge base of both of us is pretty much the same. It is compulsory that we keep our knowledge up-to-date and current once we qualify, giving you, our clients the best possible treatment and care.
Until next time – Heather
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