A chiropodist is a specialist who provides medical assestments and treatment of foot and ankle problems, such as bunions, heel pain, spurs, hammertoes, neuromas, ingrown toenails, warts, corns and calluses. A chiropodist also renders care of sprains, fractures, infections, and injuries of the foot, ankle and heel. In addition to undergraduate medical school training, chiropodists may also attend graduate school for a doctorate degree in chiropody. Chiropodists are required to take province and national exams, as well as be licensed by the province in which they practice.
Typically, chiropodists:
- Consult with patients and other physicians on how to prevent foot problems.
- Assess and treat tumors, ulcers, fractures, skin and nail diseases, and deformities.
- Prescribe therapies and perform diagnostic procedures such as ultrasound and lab tests.
- Prescribe or fits patients with inserts called orthotics that correct walking patterns.
- Treat conditions such as: bone disorders, bunions, corns, calluses, cysts, heel spurs, infections, ingrown nails, and plantar fasciitis.