My receptionist told me recently that I should definitely write on this one. The first thing is, you are often called a ‘Pediatrist’ not Podiatrist (po-DI-a-trist). And a Chiropodist…what’s that? You are often taken for a Pedicurist… and the two other professions you are mistaken for are a Paediatrician and Dietician, based on pronunciation.

However, there is no such thing as a ‘Pediatrist’. A Chiropodist is the British term used for a Podiatrist, for persons trained many years ago; the latter title has now been adopted. A Pedicurist is someone trained in doing pedicures to care for nails and hard skin from an aesthetic standpoint. While we see children, we are not Paediatricians; and though we speak with patients in general about  proper diet and exercise, we are not Dieticians. Finally, I am not a foot doctor; persons who have studied to the doctorate level in Podiatry are, but it is not a must, as is the case with other allied health professions. Another interesting fact is that a number of health professionals do not know what we do either.

Seems like quite a mouthful…right? It’s an explanation  that I, and I’m sure the other Podiatrists in this country have to go through almost daily. My receptionist, poor soul, is asked every day – “So what does a Podiatrist do? What does the consultation entail? Is the consultation just to talk to me alone? What about treatment? What about medication or a rub? A pedicure is included in that? What about surgery?”  When the patient is seen by me I am often asked the same questions, or told “I really doh know what to expect”, or the other popular line, “I am really scared cause I googled what you might do.”

 What is Podiatry?

It is a medical specialty that focuses on: the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and management of diseases; defects, and injuries of the foot, ankle and lower limb. Apart from ankle and foot injuries, included are problems with gait or walking; complications related to medical conditions such as diabetes and arthritis; diseases of the skin or nail such as cracked heels, ingrown toenails, neuromas, warts, and other fungal conditions. A doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM), is trained to do surgical interventions of the lower limbs, as compared to a Podiatrist who attained a Bachelors or Masters level in the profession. You can choose to undergo further training in highly specialised fields such as diabetes, podiatric surgery, forensic podiatry, and clinical biomechanics.

Nature of the Work

In this role, you would spend most of your workdays attending to patients across all ages, who are experiencing some

sort of foot problem. During the course of one day, you may encounter a toddler with a congenital foot defect, or gait related issue; a teenager with a sports-related foot injury;  a middle-aged adult with an infected ingrown toenail; and an elderly with diabetes, or circulation related foot problems.

The diverse nature of the job requires that you are flexible. You need good analytical and communication skills, for relating to patients of all ages; especially in terms of explaining treatment options and dispensing advice, on how they can improve their mobility, independence, and quality of life. The approach should be a partnership between patient, Podiatrist, and where necessary, a multidisciplinary team, involving other health professionals.

Unfortunately, in Trinidad and Tobago, there is a small Podiatrist population; (none in Tobago), and none in the public health system overall. Given the vast number of persons with foot problems, as well as the large population of persons with diabetes, it is critical that loads of health promotion is done to sensitise persons on the importance of getting their feet assessed professionally. It is alarming, based on statistics quoted by the Minister of Health, that per capita as many as five hundred (500) persons have amputations annually. Basic education, foot checks and reviews, can aid in alleviating the epidemic.

 The Visit to the Podiatrist

As a podiatrist, during your patient’s first visit to the office/clinic, you would conduct a thorough assessment of the foot and lower limb. Depending on the diagnosis, the treatment options would be discussed, and then a personalised treatment plan developed, keeping in mind the patient’s lifestyle, and the specific foot disorder(s).

Other responsibilities in this role involve advising patients on foot health and proper foot care; recommending appropriate footwear; and dispensing advice on how to prevent foot-related problems. Podiatrists are also qualified to carry out treatments and minor surgery using chemicals, scalpels and local anaesthetics. Many podiatrists are also actively involved in educating the public and other health professionals, about the importance of healthy feet, by giving talks to small or large groups of people, in individual organisations, or the community. I trust now, that we would be able to dispel any myths that we may have been harbouring, regarding the podiatry profession.

Your feet mirror your general health . . . cherish them!