Podiatry

A Podiatrist is a medical professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating foot disorders.

The word podiatrist is based on the two Greek root words ‘pod’ meaning foot and ‘iatreia’ meaning healing.  A podiatrist uses mechanical, surgical or other means to care for the feet.  Services can include basic foot care, dealing with infections, nail and skin conditions, fractures and deformities, analysis of gait, and specific problems that result from diabetes, arthritis, circulation or imbalances of spinal structure.

In Canada there are podiatrists and chiropodists.   Chiropodiatry is based on a British system of educational training which was replaced in the 1950’s in the U.S. with podiatry, a more rigorous and longer program of study.  Only some provinces adopted this standard.   In BC and some other provinces, podiatrists are generally speaking professionals who hold a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree.  

A typical visit to a podiatrist will last anywhere from 30-45 minutes, depending on the foot issue being presented.  Personal and health history of the client will usually be completed at an initial session.

There are a number of issues that podiatrists can assist with:  arthritis, circulation, blisters, bunions, calluses, warts, nail problems, foot injuries, flat feet, pain of heel or arch, foot odour, athlete’s foot.