Chiropody / Podiatry

Podiatry, podiatric medicine or chiropody is a field of healthcare devoted to the study and treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and the "anatomical leg" (i.e. below, and not including, the knee). The range of disorders podiatry can address largely depends on the scope of practice laid down in national, state, and/or provincial jurisdiction. It is practiced by podiatrists, chiropodists and podiatric surgeons. A podiatrist or foot doctor is a medical or allied professional, a person devoted to the study and medical treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle and lower extremity. The term originated in the United States but has now become the accepted term in the English speaking world for all graduates of podiatric medical schools who have earned one of the following degrees: (D.P.M., D.P., B.Pod., Pod.B, or Pod.D. or BSc(Hons)). Other qualifications which allow the use of this term, are those issued by the Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists or the Smae Institute). In other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, New Zealand, and certain provinces of Canada, the title “chiropodist” is often used. The titles “podiatrist” and “chiropodist”, in these countries, are now interchangeable, with the term “podiatrist” becoming more favoured within the profession. In these countries they usually only treat the foot through non-invasive procedures, they can however perform minor surgical procedures such as nail surgery using local anaesthetics. In the UK, individuals may not use the title “podiatrist” or “chiropodist” unless they are registrants of the Health Professions Council (HPC). They are protected titles and their use by non-registrants is unlawful. Such registration is normally only granted to those holding a specialised Bachelors degree or Diploma in Podiatry from one of the 13 recognised schools of podiatry in the UK. The United States is one of the few countries that grants more invasive surgical privileges to podiatrists. This is due to the fact that podiatric medical education in the US trains podiatric physicians to heal the body attached to the feet, as the curriculum of said schools are mirrored after allopathic medical programs. The programs stress nearly the same basic medical science courses in the first two years as their allopathic counterparts, but with more emphasis on lower leg anatomy/pathology than ob/gyn, psychiatry etc. This followed by 3 year surgical residencies enables the podiatric surgeon to sit for surgical board certification thus making them the preeminent authority on foot and ankle surgery. Though the title "chiropodist" was previously used in the United States to designate what is now known as a "podiatrist," the title "chiropodist" is now considered to be an antiquated and etymologically incorrect term.