What is Chiropody?
Chiropody (pronounced chi-rop-o-dy) is the assessment, treatment, and prevention of foot and lower limb disorders using therapeutic, surgical, orthotic or palliative means.
Chiropody is the health care profession that spcializes in the assessesment and treatment of foot conditions. Physicians as well as other health care professionals often refer their patients to a Chiropodist for consultation. A referral to a Chiropody or a Podiatry clinic from a physician is not required.
A Chiropodist is an important member of the health care team.
Chiropodists undergo extensive training to meet these requirements. In Canada, chiropodists and podiatrists are the only regulated Foot Professionals educated exclusively in the assessment and treatment of foot disorders. A Bachelors Degree in Science, plus a 3 year Chiropody program is generally undertaken in Canada. Presently there is 1 Canadian Chiropody school. In Canada, Chiropodist are the only regulated Foot Professionals educated exclusively in the assessment and treatment of foot disorders.
A Chiropodist attends a Chiropody School, where medicine, surgery, immunology, radiology and pathomechanics are among the subjects studied. The modern Podiatrist/Chiropodist is uniquely placed to provide comprehensive footcare.
Chiropody training involves extensive theoretical, practical and clinical aspects of normal and pathological mechanics of the lower limb. Chiropodists are trained in the casting and “dressing” of orthoses and subsequent fabrication of functional and accommodative orthotic devices. Lower limb biomechanics is the domain of Chiropody, who originated the concept of orthoses and continues to lead the way in improving foot function through orthoses
Chiropodists are primary care providers qualified to assess, prescribe and carry out treatments including minor surgical procedures, therapeutic treatments including: laser, ultrasound, iontophoresis, extracorporeal shock wave therapy and electrical treatments.
The scope of practice varies from province to province, but generally practitioners will have several controlled acts. These include the treatment of:
Foot Deformities
Subcutaneous Lesions
Corns / Callus / Warts
Nail Conditions
Biomechanical Dysfunctions
Orthotics / Orthopedic Appliances
Treatments might include:
Foot physical therapy
Soft tissue surgical procedures
Cutting into subcutaneous tissue
Administering by injection into the foot designated substances / drugs
Prescription of designated drugs
At Wilson Foot Care & Orthotics we focus on using therapeutic, surgical, orthotic or palliative means to bring you back to your normal self through exeptional care.
