In Australia, Podiatry is a field of allied health focused on the treatment of all conditions of the foot and ankle.

This includes pain and injury to foot and ankle, conditions related to muscles, tendons, joints, ligaments, nerves and bones, skin and nail conditions, biomechanical and gait analysis (analysing how the lower limb moves, walks and runs), dermatological conditions, diabetes, wounds to the foot and ankle and autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Podiatry is also concerned with conditions of the whole lower limb (leg, knee, shin, hip and low back), where gait (walking/running), may be contributing to the condition, or where altering movement of the foot and ankle would help reduce symptoms. For example, knee-cap pain and buttock pain. 

A Podiatrist can assess, diagnose, and treat all conditions of the foot and ankle.

They have a range of assessments/tools they can use to help them diagnose a condition. These include:

• A physical examination of the foot and ankle
• Visual analysis of a patient walking / running
• A biomechanical assessment of the whole lower limb – tests to figure out how the foot, ankle, leg, knee and hip move
• Blood flow (vascular) testing
• Sensation (neurological) testing

A Podiatrist can provide a range of specific services and treatments for the foot and ankle. These include:

• Diagnosis of all foot and ankle conditions
• Foot orthotics, including completely customised devices made by taking a mould of a patient’s foot or premade orthotics
• Modify orthotics to change their function
• Repair of damaged or worn orthotics
• Provide footwear advice and prescription for specific sport/athletic footwear.
• Foot and ankle exercises
• Refer for imaging of the foot and ankle, e.g. x-ray, ultrasound, MRI etc.
• Provide medical nail care for those who have difficulty reaching their feet or have conditions such as diabetes that put them at high risk of infection if done incorrectly
• Non-surgical and surgical management of ingrown toenails
• Injection of local anaesthetics
• Removal of corns and callous (hard dead skin on the feet)
• Wart treatment
• Taking a nail or skin sample for testing
• Fungal nail treatments
• Skin condition treatment and advice
• Diabetic foot assessment
• Treatment of foot and ankle wounds

A Podiatrist can also do further training to provide more services. In addition to all the standard Podiatrist skills Alex can also:

• Test a patient’s strength using specialised strength testing equipment 
• Prescribe exercises for your leg, knee, and whole lower limb
• Prescribe a strength and conditioning program design to improve performance
• Provide a return to sport plan after suffering a foot and ankle injury

A Podiatrist can treat all conditions affecting the foot and ankle using the services they’re trained to perform.

Common conditions a Podiatrist treat are:

• Plantar fasciitis (heel pain)
• Neuroma
• Bursitis e.g. forefoot, achilles
• Achilles tendon pain
• Ankle pain
• Midfoot pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Knee-cap pain
• Stress fractures
• Bunions
• Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome – MTSS)
• Ankle sprains
• Joint pain (synovitis)
• Sesamoid pain
• Stiffness in feet
• Hypermobile (flexible) feet
• Flatfeet
• High arched feet
• Corns
• Callous
• Fungal nail infections
• Warts
• Diabetes

Chiropody is the original name given to the field of treating and foot and ankle conditions.

Originally an unregulated profession in the 60’s and 70’s, it was primarily focused on the medicalised treatment of skin and nail conditions of the foot. Over the years, it became a regulated profession and with the increased skills and experience, became known as the field of Podiatry.

Depending on the country, the term may still be used interchangeably with Podiatry, but in Australia it is generally used to refer to its original focus; the treatment of skin and nail conditions. This is compared with the larger scope the field of Podiatry has, despite the field requiring the same training as Podiatry up until it was completely replaced in the early 90’s with that label. 

In Australia, a Podiatrist or Chiropodist aren’t trained medical practitioners and are not a medical specialty. In other countries like the United States, Podiatry is a medical specialty, requiring more training and affording the title Doctor. They are able to provide more services, such as foot and ankle surgery.

Podiatrists and Chriopodists in Australia can use the title doctor, but it must be made clear when used they aren’t a medical practitioner to avoid confusion. Because of this, most Podiatrists don’t use the title. 

The cost of an appointment depends on the practitioner and the specific service.

At The Rehab Podiatrist, we have three different types of appointments.

1. For diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle pain/injuries (muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, joints etc.)
2. For diagnosis and treatment of nail and skin conditions
3. For diabetic foot assessment, treatment and advice

There are also different costs if this is the first time you’ve seen the clinic for this issue, or a subsequent visit.

For foot and ankle pain/injuries

Initial appointment (1 Hour) – $230

Subsequent appointment (30 min) – $120

For nail and skin conditions

Initial appointment (30 min) – $130

Subsequent appointment (30 min) – $120

For diabetic foot assessment

Initial (30 min) – $150

Subsequent appointment (30 min) – $140

There are also other costs for specific services such as foot orthotics and ingrown toenail surgery.

You can find the fee’s located on our webpage here (https://therehabpodiatrist.com/clinic/#fees)