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What is a Podiatrist?

A person who for fee or reward treats the lower extremity of the human body. Podiatry is licensed under the Ministry of health. Only people who have passed formal examinations to a satisfactory level are permitted to practice.

What does a Podiatrist do?

Provision of palliative care using tools and techniques to relieve patients of pain which includes treating using;

1. Specialised tools for operations or general palliative care. These include;
    nail nipper, files, burrs, and scalpels.
2. Manufacture of products for example orthoses,
3. Sales of dressings, over the counter products, and accessories.

Palliative Care: involves the use of surgical instruments for the removal of ingrown nails, warts (veruccae,) and callus. Toenails are also trimmed.

Orthoses are a major appliance used in Podiatry: These are inserts worn under foot which can be custom made or sold off the shelf.

An Orthotic (= singular, Orthoses for a pair - plural) is an appliance or apparatus designed to support, align, prevent or correct deformity or to modify position or motion and improve function of the foot.

A Podiatrist diagnoses the problem (usually causing pain somewhere in the lower limb then goes through the protocols required culminating in the issue of an orthotic. Orthoses are always made in pairs even if the problem is only in one lower limb.

Several types of orthotics are available, each with differing benefits. Usually longevity, and the ability to transfer them between varying shoe types are what dictate the purchase decision. Woman for example who wear high heel shoes require the handmade device The objectives of this product include but are not limited to:

• Reducing painful problems in recreational runners and sports people
• Aiding mobility and independence
• Decreasing ‘social’ pain for example reducing the frequency of
   foot tripping in a child and the direction their feet are angled during gait.

Features: They are durable and can last as long as eight years. They easily transfer between different types of footwear. People find them very comfortable.

They are unique and it is generally accepted that podiatrists are experts in making these devices.

After Sales Service: Orthoses issued from the clinic incorporate follow up appointments at no extra cost. It is the seeing that they’re right that counts. If there are problems I will generally see patients for as many appointments as required until the problem is fixed. It must be noted that most problems arise when patients do too much to soon and haven’t given themselves an opportunity to wear them in.

Palliative Care: A fancy term meaning relief from pain this will be the bread and butter of the clinic and is what I would term a normal consultation. This type of care involves trimming of toenails, removal of corns and calluses and chemical treatment of Verrucae.

Future Podiatry Trends

More people will visit podiatrists because of increases in consumerism. With the increasing developments in technology people are becoming more discerning and discovering new services which they had no knowledge of previously. Podiatry is certainly in this ‘new service’ area as it is a profession that is only 35 years old in this country. I also see many new patients that have never visited let alone heard of a Podiatrist previous to their visit. I am keen to be ‘caught up in this wave.’

Heightened public awareness of the problems diabetes causes in the Feet

The incidence of diabetes will double within the next 20 years.

History of Podiatry in Auckland City

There used to be five podiatrists who had rooms in the city. There were two on Karangahape Road and three in the city. Several had been in the area for many years - Smith & Caughey Building (mid-town) and Queen’s Arcade (down town).