Foot Health Treatment
What is a Foot Health Practitioner?
Until the 1990s the title Chiropodist was used for anyone trained in foot healthcare. With the introduction of a Podiatry degree, newly qualified graduates were called Podiatrists. At the same time Chiropodists could take an additional qualification to reach the same level and title. The old Chiropody training continued but with graduates of this course now qualifying as Foot Health Professionals/Practitioners.
A Podiatrist can work within the NHS or Private Practice and can treat all aspects of the foot and lower limb, including performing surgery under local anaesthetic and prescribing drugs if licensed to do so.
A Foot Health Practitioner (FHP) is qualified and insured to work in the private sector providing routine foot care and maintenance of your feet either within a clinical setting or in the comfort of your home. Foot Health Practitioners have a sound and up-to-date knowledge of foot conditions, treatments and techniques with health and safety being at the core of their practice.
Why use a Foot Health Practitioner?
An FHP may be used for many reasons. Foot problems are very common and can affect people of all ages and levels of health and fitness.
Conditions such as arthritis can lead to restricted mobility/flexibility and insufficient hand strength to operate nail clippers. For people with diabetes, foot related complications are more common. Nerve damage and peripheral vascular disease caused by high glucose levels make people with diabetes at higher risk of ulceration if foot problems are left untreated. Therefore, personal foot care and regular checks are extremely important. An FHP can perform regular neurovascular checks and offer advice for those with diabetes together with providing the routine maintenance to keep feet as healthy as possible.
From corns and calluses to hammertoes and fungal infections, what may often appear as something small and insignificant, can later cause embarrassment, pain, discomfort or difficulty with footwear, mobility or daily activities like work and exercise. FHPs provide a service for people who require short term help and advice or for those with conditions that require regular foot maintenance.
Services include:
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routine nail cutting
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corn and callus removal
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thickened nails
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verruca and fungal advice and treatments
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mildly ingrown nail treatment
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diabetic foot assessments and monitoring together
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general foot care and footwear advice.
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A Foot Health Practitioner should be fully insured, be a member of a professional body such as The British Association of Foot Health Professionals and will use instruments that are sterilised to clinical standards. They are trained to work within their remit and when necessary FHPs can refer clients on to other professionals within the healthcare service.
Therapists: