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on Chiropodists
Who are Chiropodists and Exactly What is Chiropody and Podiatry?
The practice of Chiropody is the assessment of the foot and the treatment and prevention of diseases or disorders of the foot by therapeutic, orthotic and palliative means.
One of the most common causes of foot problems and feet and toe infections is poor blood circulation which is often caused by diabetic-neuropathy.
In the course of practicing Chiropody, a Licensed Chiropodist is authorized to perform the following acts on podiatry clients:
- Cutting into subcutaneous tissue to treat disorders of the foot
- Administering substances by injection into feet
- Writing drug prescriptions
Chiropodists undertake a specialized intensive 3-year program of school and study covering topics in anatomy and physiology, pathology, bio mechanics, pharmacology, anesthesiology, dermatology, sports medicine, micro-biology, physical therapy, pediatrics, orthotics, medicine, surgery and operations
Chiropodists can be recognized by the profession initials D.Ch. or D.Pod.M. after their name.
Health Alert Bulletin!
Health Bulletin about human nail dust and negative health effects of toe nail dust on Chiropodists.
The toe-nail dust produced in chiropodial practice causes allergic hypersensitivity and Trichophyton rubrum is the most common fungal cause of nail dystrophy. Use of drills and burrs to reduce the thickness of hyperkeratotic nails generates dust and chiropodists develop precipitins to T. rubrum.
A light application of Botanical Oil to the feet (both before and after chiropody toe-nail work is performed) will tend to reduce the amount of toe-mail dust. Botanical oils will also soothe the skin with skin-healthy beneficial oil.
A survey into the prevalence of these antibodies in 11% of state-registered chiropodists is described and 14% of the profession estimated to have antibodies to t.rubrum. In response to a questionnaire 49% stated that toe-nail dust troubled them; complaints of nasal and eye symptoms were 72 and 41% respectively. In 384 chiropodists ventilatory function was tested with a vitalograph. Restrictive lung disease appears to be more common in chiropodists than other sedentary workers.