Podiatrists: They don't just cut toenails...
"You studied for 4 years just to cut nails?!"
A common misconception among the public is that a Podiatrists job is to solely (pun not intended) cut toenails and shave away dead skin. If this is what you think, that’s ok! After all, the podiatry profession evolved from “chiropody”, an occupation that did not require a university degree, and only dealt with nail and skin issues. However, in 1977, the term “chiropody” was retired and podiatry took over.
Fast-forward to now, Australian podiatrists complete their bachelor degree over four years of full time study to be considered lower limb experts. Essentially, we are trained to manage issues that arise anywhere in the foot and lower limb i.e. from foot to hip.
So what do you treat then?
When starting Keen Podiatry, I made the decision to deal exclusively with musculoskeletal issues. A podiatrist’s specialised knowledge on lower limb biomechanics is vital in not only understanding the intricacies of walking & running, but identifying what could be going wrong for someone in pain.
This is what I am most passionate about, and believe where I can offer the best service possible to my patients. Such issues a podiatrist may commonly come across are as follows:
- Ball of the foot pain/forefoot pain
- Arch pain
- Heel pain
- Ankle pain
- Shin splints
- Calf tightness
- Knee pain
- Hip pain
How do you manage musculoskeletal issues?
The key component of improving ones pain is the ability to identify the mechanism of injury, and understand it’s effect on the body.
As a clinician, I have to understand that the human body is a complex machine. Most patients present to me with pain that has been present for at least a few months, gradually worsening over time. In these cases, it’s VERY important to understand that the reason for your pain is multi-faceted, and therefore, you shouldn’t expect the magical “quick fix”.
In your appointment, my goal is to firstly gain an understanding of you, how your pain presents, how you function, and consider all possible variables. You can expect the following:
- Thorough history taking
- In-depth biomechanical assessment
- Visual gait assessment
- Strength testing
- Range of motion testing
- Footwear assessment
The most appropriate and effective treatment plan will be offered depending on your findings. This could include padding and strapping techniques, gait coaching, strengthening exercises, footwear recommendations, or orthotic intervention (to name a few).
Time to take action with your Podiatry care!
Learn more about Keen Podiatry or make a booking by following the links below.
Alternatively, if you have any questions, give us a call on (07) 3544 6896 or flick over an email via [email protected]