Podiatry is a highly specialised area that deals with the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of foot and lower limb problems. A Podiatrist can carry out routine chiropody including nail cutting, callus and corn reduction, perform nail surgery, assess the Diabetic foot, assess the biomechanics of the lower limbs and feet, provide therapeutic stretching and strengthening programmes alongside orthoses if necessary.
The scope of practice of a podiatrist is often much wider than many people realise.
In the UK, podiatrists usually undertake a 3 year undergraduate Bachelor of Science (Podiatry). The scope of practice of a podiatrist falls into five key categories: General clinics, Biomechanics, Podopaediatrics, High risk patient management and Surgery.
More recently some Podiatrist's are beginning to offer more Aesthetic and Cosmetic Podiatry procedures including Toenail reconstruction and medical-pedicure.
