Chiropody is the treatment of foot problems. Whether they are foot problems caused by sports injuries or something as simple as an ingrown toe nail, you will be able to get the treatment you need. A chiropodist is thus, a foot doctor. The wide variety of foot related procedures that they do include cutting of toe nails, removal of corns as well as arch support where needed. They treat people of all ages and also provide general advice on how to care for your feet.
The word chiropody literally means hands and fee and is a term first coined in 1886. Despite meaning both hands and feet, chiropody now exclusively refers to foot treatments. It is a branch of medicine that is dedicated to the diagnoses, treatment and prevention of foot, ankle and lower leg related ailments. There are a number of specialities that a chiropodist can decide to focus on and these include surgery, sports, biomechanics and even primary care. Chiropody is a high paying profession because it is a rare speciality. If you are lucky, your private medical aid will pay for the treatment and very few national health insurance plans cover it.
There are a number of treatments available and these are determined by the type of problem the patient has. Also determining the treatment to be used is the patient’s age, medical history and current lifestyle. A treatment plan is developed by the chiropodist if the treatment to be used is of a complex nature. Through the treatment plan, the chiropodist can assess the progress being made by the patient. If there is any improvement, then the treatment will be continued. However, if the treatment is not leading to any changes or even making the problem worse, the chiropodist will look for alternative treatments.
You do not need to get a referral from a doctor before you can make an appointment to see a chiropodist. You can simply find out where the nearest chiropodist is in your area through the internet or the phone book and make an appointment. They work privately and have offices where you can have your treatment done.
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