Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ's
We thought you might like to view the most frequently asked questions of podiatrists (and their answers). Less than one third of the world's population will require foot care. This relates to all ages and all stages of the life cycle. Contrary to popular belief this means the majority of human beings enjoy pain free feet, life long. Those people in need of foot care will range from mild discomfort and need of foot toiletry to severe and 'at risk' limbs. Please note, the information contained within is for information only and does not constitute direct health care advice. In the event of foot problems, we recommend your consult a podiatrist or physician .
What letters of qualifications
should I look for when I want to find a podiatrist?
By far the most asked question about podiatry is "What letters of
qualifications
should I look for when I want to find a podiatrist?
"The profession in New Zealand is closed profession and that means it is
illegal not to be register with a state board. Therefore look for R.
Pod after the practitioner's name. All registered podiatrists can
subscribe to professional associations, and many in NZ belong to the
New Zealand Podiatry Association and will use post nominals, Member
Podiatry NZ. Some practitioners will include their academic qualifications
such as Dip Podiatry, Bachelor or Master of Science, or PhD. In the
latter case they will use the pre nominal "Doctor".
What is the difference between a podiatrist and a chiropodist?
Many lay people are fascinated with names and want to know "What is the difference between a podiatrist and a chiropodist?"
Historically there is no difference between the two terms. In New Zealand both terms are used within state acts which govern registration. Chiropody is less popular now and probably not as good a term as podiatry to describe the work of the foot physician. Podiatry literally means to treat the foot whereas chiropody has a less clear origin. Most people are unsure how to pronounce the word chiropody, which starts with a harsh sounding 'k' , podiatry on the other hand, presents no such problem. Most people attend podiatrists because they have painful feet often related to skin problems, such as corns and acute infections. The practitioner is often required to explain the difference between a corn and a verruca. The former is caused by shearing stress over the skin surface and the latter a viral infection on the skin surface.
Do corns have roots?
The answer to this evergreen question is a categorical no. Corns and callus are Nature's way of protecting skin surfaces subjected to shearing stresses. Over a bony prominence such as a joint, pressure and friction may cause the skin to appear deeper as if something was growing from inside. This gives the impression there is a core or root that needs removing. No such luck however and there is nothing in a bottle or tube that will make a permanent difference so far, The only way to relieve pain is to reduce the excess skin by careful scalpel reduction of the skin. This is almost impossible to do for yourself and so much safer for others to do this on your behalf. Enter the podiatrist. Scalpel reduction will temporarily reduce pain but in the event of an external cause such as tight footwear, then the physical presence of the shoe must be removed from the foot (i.e. a deeper toe box); or in very extreme cases, the foot from the shoe (e.g. surgery).
Are verrucae catching, and can I go swimming if I have one?
The short answer is conditions apply, because at certain stages of the life of the wart it may be more contagious than others may. A verruca is a viral infection and can be picked up by contact with the virus. These thrive outside the body especially in wet conditions such as a changing room floor. Protecting the sole with thongs or rubber socks reduces the risk of cross infection. The latter allows those with verruca to swim safe in the knowledge the wart is covered.
What causes Athlete's Foot and how can I prevent it?
Athlete's foot is a generic term for fungal infections of the foot. Fungi and yeasts thrive outside the body in warm, moist conditions such as showers or changing room floors. Like verrucae these are highly contagious and can present as symptoms such as, irritated patches of skin between the toes, which crack and peel. These may appear soggy and smell unpleasant. Hence the reference to the foot of an athlete. Discoloured nails and or scaling and itching skin are common symptoms. Good foot hygiene improves skin texture and many of the symptoms will disappear. In the event of an identified fungi or yeast then prescribed medicines are usually very effective.
Tell me why my feet hurt after standing on them all day?
I can't wait to kick my shoes off when I get home." If practitioners had a dollar for every time they have had to answer this question then they would be very rich people, indeed. Believe it or not the amount of body energy required to stand still is greater than walking and running. Some people suffer from a lack of circulation moving through the lower extremity and this coupled with gravity, draws body fluids downwards towards the ankles. The resulting oedema at the end of the working day causes the volume of the foot to increase. Symptoms vary but many people complain of burning sensation relieved only by removing shoes and bathing and resting their feet. Often shoes are mistakenly blamed for foot problems but are usually quite innocent by-standards.
My feet tend to get very sweaty in summer, what can I do?
Strange but true, there are more sweat glands per inch of our feet than anywhere else in the body. Sweating is perfectly natural and provided good foot hygiene is maintained then even the wettest foot will present fewer problems. Increased temperatures around the foot either through exercise of environmental causes, increase the rate of perspiration. The absence of aeration and build up of
fluid within the skin tissues may cause deterioration especially in the presence of certain bacteria. It is this, which accounts for foul smells. Going barefoot whenever you can will help, as will wearing open-toed shoes or sports thongs will encourage air and help evaporated accumulated perspiration.
How can I get rid of hard skin?
General callus is the result of skin cells losing water. Man-made fibres found in shoes and tights dry out the surface of the skin and when general friction increases the heat over the skin surface then nature, begins to produce more skin cells. The absence of water in the outer layer of the skin prevents the old cells from separating and old and new stay in contact with the foot surface. The pattern of callus is usually significant and is determined by the biomechanics of the foot. In the case of excessive dehydration, stress over the skin surface caused by walking will determine appearance. For example cracked skin on the heel is very common. All skin cells respond to the application of bland creams, which temporarily increase the amount of water available to the skin cells. Unfortunately skin cells can only improve their water content by a small percentage and hence nothing in a tube will improve the overall situation in the long term. Complicated hard skin types sometimes respond to prescribed medication. Using a pumice stone to scrub the skin surface is often made easier after the foot has been soaked in warm water (46C) for no more than 10 minutes.
Why do women suffer more foot problems than men?
All is not what it appears and whilst more women visit the podiatrists' surgery that does not preclude men from having as many foot problems as their gender counterpart. They just do not go to their podiatrist. The foot police would like to blame the apparent sex difference on inadequate footwear but there is really little scientific evidence to support this premise. Epidemiological studies
have shown that over the age of eighty, men are more likely to seek podiatric care.
Are shoes the source of most foot problems?
The simple answer is no and provided the shoe is selected appropriate to the activity and fits the foot then foot and shoe should be completely compatible. Where people do not comply then there maybe associated problems. In studies women are more likely to wear shoes that are smaller than the physical dimension of their human foot. This is often cited as the cause of foot problems but as shoes are
made to lasts and not feet then most people wear shoes physically smaller than their feet. What appears unmistakable is the fit of the shoe determines the comfort and most people gauge the fit by the feeling across the ball of the foot. Hence a tighter shoe feels more comfortable. Standing on an elevated shoe (heel) broadens the forefoot and makes many higher heel wearers feel a snugger fitting
across the ball of their feet. Consumers also have the perceived benefit of wearing a shorter shoe.
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