FAQ’s
So, what is Podiatry?
Podiatry or Podiatric medicine is a branch of medicine devoted to the study of, diagnosis, and medical treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle and lower extremities.
What is the difference between a Podiatrist or a Chiropodist? There is no difference between the two titles. Podiatrist is the more modern term.
The important thing to remember is that to use any of these titles, the foot health professional must be registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) which gives you, as a member of the public, protection, security and piece of mind.
What is the Health & Care Professions Council?
The HCPC (until recently was known as HPC) is the only national independent statutory body which is responsible for regulating all recognised health professionals within the UK including both private practice and NHS (this includes physiotherapists, paramedics and radiographers etc) and they ensure that we are genuine, meet national standards and that you are protected.
To maintain our registration with the HCPC we also have to evidence our continued
professional development (CPD) which we can be audited on at any time. If you are unsure what your practitioners qualifications or experience is, just ask or check if they are
registered at http://www.hcpc-uk.org
Who benefits from podiatry?
The Podiatrists at the Footcare Centre treat patients, from children to seniors, with a variety of different nail, foot and leg conditions.
What conditions can podiatrists treat?
Podiatrists can help with most problems that concern the foot and lower limb. This can range from simple nail cutting to minor surgery for ingrown toenails. Flat feet (over pronation) can be a cause of back, knee, ankle, heel and forefoot pain. Podiatry can resolve these problems by correcting your foot posture with orthotic insoles.
What can I expect when I receive podiatry treatment?
Each appointment at The Footcare Centre involves a thorough assessment, diagnosis and management plan to treat the patients individual needs. Clear explanations regarding conditions will be given and thorough advice will be provided, this gives chance for discussion and for you to ask questions. Most treatment is painless and often instant relief is felt, particularly for superficial skin conditions. Our practitioners can all administer local anaesthetics and cortisone injections for when pain relief is required.
How frequent will I require treatment?
This depends on many factors, including the type of problem and the individual person. Routine care of superficial foot conditions often requires regular care - usually on a 6 weekly cycle. We strongly encourage preventative foot care and give you advice on how to avoid certain problems from returning.
Will I be expected to do anything between podiatry treatments?
Wearing suitable footwear every day plays an important role in keeping feet healthy. It strongly depends on whether your problem is biomechanical or superficial as to what you may or may not be expected to do.
What are orthotics and why do I need them?
Occasionally, people attend for a Biomechanical assessment in an attempt to improve posture or prevent and or reduce the risk of injury or to improve sporting performance.
It is estimated that around 80% of the population suffer from excessive pronation. This condition is common in all types of people from children to the elderly and from top athletes to people with a sedentary lifestyle.
The feet become misaligned and combined with poor posture roll inwards to gain ground contact, the arches become flattened producing the condition known as excessive pronation.
Orthotics are contoured insoles that are designed to alter the Biomechanical function, stabilising and re-aligning the feet into the best possible position. This helps to prevent the feet from rolling inwards, supporting the arches from flattening. In turn, this improves body posture, preventing a variety of conditions that lead to foot, knee and lower back pain.
I have diabetes, why do I need to take extra care of my feet? Diabetes can adversely affect the nerves and the blood supply to the feet. You may not be able to feel things as well as you used to and sores may not heal as quickly. As a result, simple steps can help avoid complications of diabetes. Avoid walking around barefoot and check the feet daily to see that there are no cuts or foreign bodies imbedded in the feet is recommendations to avoid diabetic related foot problems.
At the Footcare Centre we are happy to carry out a Free general foot assessment or Free diabetic foot assessment without or as part of any other treatment.
How much will my treatment cost?
You can see our full price list here.
What are the Footcare Centre opening times?
Troon Clinic Appointments:
Monday to Friday: 9am-5.30pm
Ayr Clinic Appointments:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday to Friday: 9am-5.30pm
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