08/09/2025
What is a podiatrist? 💡
Podiatrists are highly trained healthcare professionals who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions affecting the feet, ankles, and lower limbs. Their scope of practice is broad and can range from basic foot care to advanced surgical procedures.
Here’s a breakdown of what podiatrists can do:
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Clinical Diagnosis & Assessment?
Podiatrists can:
• Diagnose foot and ankle conditions, such as plantar fasciitis, bunions, Morton’s neuroma, heel spurs, verrucas, and fungal infections.
• Assess gait and posture for biomechanical issues.
• Evaluate circulation and nerve function (especially important for people with diabetes or vascular disease).
• Detect systemic health issues (e.g., arthritis, diabetes complications) through foot symptoms.
🦶 Treatments & Procedures?
✅ Routine Care
• Nail trimming and treatment of thickened, fungal, or ingrown nails.
• Removal of corns, calluses, and hard skin.
• Management of verrucas, including advanced techniques like needling or cryotherapy.
✅ Advanced Treatments
• Nail surgery (e.g., partial or total nail removal under local anaesthetic).
• Biomechanical assessments and provision of custom orthotics/insoles for conditions like flat feet, overpronation, or plantar fasciitis.
• Shockwave therapy for chronic pain conditions.
• Steroid injections for conditions like heel pain or arthritis (if appropriately trained).
✅ Wound & Ulcer Care
• Especially important for diabetic patients or those with vascular disease.
• Management of chronic wounds, pressure areas, and prevention of infection.
✅ Prescriptions
• Can prescribe medicines (e.g., antibiotics, antifungals, pain relief) if they hold a prescribing qualification.
• Can use local anaesthetics (all HCPC-registered podiatrists are trained in this).
✅ Minor Surgery
• Some podiatrists are trained to perform minor surgical procedures (e.g. for ingrown toenails or soft tissue masses).
• Podiatric surgeons (a specialist subset) can perform more complex foot and ankle surgeries.
🏃 Sports & Musculoskeletal (MSK) Care
• Diagnosis and treatment of sports injuries (e.g. stress fractures, Achilles tendinopathy).
• Gait analysis and custom orthotic fitting.
• Rehabilitation and prevention strategies.
❤️ High-Risk Foot Care
Podiatrists play a key role in managing feet at risk of serious complications, such as:
• Diabetic foot (ulcers, neuropathy, infection risk).
• Rheumatoid arthritis foot complications.
• Peripheral vascular disease.
• Work within multidisciplinary teams in hospitals and community clinics to prevent amputations.
👶 Paediatric Podiatry
• Assess and treat foot and gait problems in children.
• Common issues: flat feet, toe-walking, intoeing/outtoeing, growing pains.
🏥 Settings Where Podiatrists Work
• Private practice
• NHS hospitals and community clinics
• Multidisciplinary diabetes or orthopaedic teams
• Care homes or domiciliary visits
• Sports clinics
