As a branch of health science, podiatry is involved in the treatment of all kinds of foot-related problems with the aim of improving quality of life. Plantar fasciitis is a condition of the foot where the band of tissue on the bottom of the foot, known as the plantar fascia, becomes inflamed. The condition can cause people a great deal of pain and discomfort making everyday activities such as walking and exercise more difficult. In fact, foot problems can affect quality of life, physical health and mental health. For example, the study by Keenan and Redmond (2002) found that people who suffer from foot pain are unable to participate in physical activities such as running or sports and therefore are restricted from doing things that they normally would do which can have a negative effect on their lives.
Diabetes also requires the podiatrist’s skill in preventing and treating serious complications to the feet. People with diabetes have increased risk of foot ulcers and infections which, if not properly treated, can have serious outcomes. Hawke, Burns and Landorf’s (2009) systematic review found that regular foot care and early intervention can prevent amputations. For people with diabetes, seeing a podiatrist on a regular basis is vital for good foot health.
Isolated biomechanical issues such as flat feet or high arches require treatment. These issues can cause people a world of pain not just in their feet but in other areas of the body including the ankles, knees, hips and lower back. But relief can come when we treat these issues with a plan that targets these problems and gets our patients back to living life. Using custom orthotics or doing some specialized exercises the patient can be pain free in no time.
Another significant change in podiatry has been the uptake of evidence-based practice. Podiatry treatment and care is now informed by the most up-to-date research, with podiatrists referring to systematic reviews and clinical guidelines to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients (Tower, 2020). These guidelines provide the latest evidence-based information enabling informed management of common and more unusual foot pathology.
Putting research into practice is key to providing high quality patient care for podiatry patients. Incorporating new knowledge and methods into practice is important to all health care and in podiatry in particular which is a growing health care discipline with enhanced outcomes and patient satisfaction.
The scientific evidence supports the importance of podiatry for the treatment and management of foot-related health issues. By addressing these common problems, podiatrists enhance the quality of life and help to prevent injury to patients. Podiatrists are important health professionals whose roles go beyond alleviating pain in the feet. They identify the cause of foot disorders which can result in their patients feeling better and improving their overall health. Many studies demonstrate the potential to decrease the risk of foot injuries when appropriate podiatry care is provided. This is especially important for those who are at greater risk of foot injuries such as athletes and the older adult population. The older adult population could benefit from foot health care due to physical limitations that affect their mobility (Harrison-Blount, Nester, & Williams, 2019).
To enhance the quality of care podiatrists can document treatment plans that are individualised to suit the needs of the patient. These plans will be based upon the patient’s lifestyle, medical history and ability and research has demonstrated that by providing such tailored care the outcomes and patient satisfaction can be optimised (Bishop, 2019). Individualised patient centred care will help the patient to feel valued and enable them to actively participate in their planned treatment; therefore they are more likely to comply with the prescribed regime and express satisfaction with the standard of care afforded.
Treatment is not just limited to correcting a current problem. Podiatrists can educate patients on proper foot care techniques and suggest footwear which is both appropriate and suitable for the individual. Patients, whether they be athletes or the elderly, can also undertake exercises to strengthen their feet and lower legs in order to help prevent future problems. These exercises may include stability exercises to help prevent falls in older patients, or strength training and appropriate warm-up exercises to prevent injuries in athletes.
While it is easy to think of podiatrists solely in relation to individual patients, they also have a broader role in improving public health through advocacy for foot health in communities. Podiatrists can educate a variety of community groups about various aspects of foot health. Raising awareness of the importance of foot health can in turn influence people to adopt healthy behaviours that benefit foot health and overall health, such as maintaining a healthy weight.
Podiatrists have the skills to assess and treat a wide variety of foot problems. However, most foot problems prevent people from being active. Physical inactivity is associated with increased risk of obesity and heart disease. By fixing foot pain and preventing future foot problems, podiatrists help people to be more active, which results in better health and well-being.
podiatry plays a vital role in injury and illness prevention and treatment. By providing on individualised care and patient education, as well as conducting foot health promotion within communities, podiatrists play a significant role as healthcare providers in relation to foot health and overall health. Consistently evolving, podiatry today involves continued research and education that has a positive impact on healthcare of patients with foot related conditions. New research into podiatry highlights the need for evidence-based practice within the field, suggesting that healthcare professionals currently training as podiatrists must utilise the latest research in order to deliver appropriate evidence-based medicine for patients (Turlik, 2009).
Attention has also been drawn to how practitioners can manage musculoskeletal problems (previously considered the remit of other health professionals) and how recent research has aided podiatrists to treat a variety of conditions within this field. The way in which research is influencing podiatry practice and how treatment of foot disorders is viewed from a holistic perspective is increasingly important in enabling podiatrists to provide the best quality of care and to help patients achieve faster and longer-lasting recovery from foot-related disorders.
A greater incorporation of technology in recent years has provided new techniques for delivery of podiatry treatment. Incorporating 3D images or a pressure mapping device in a podiatry consultation enables practitioners to observe the gait of the individual and gain greater insight in the way their feet function. In the past the creation of orthotics would have been made based upon a number of questions posed to the patient as well as physical examination of the feet. This new technology, studies have shown, can produce a more-effective orthotic (Miller & Smith, 2021).
Podiatry is not only concerned with the treatment of existing conditions that affect the feet; it also prevents foot injuries by providing patients with an appropriate understanding of how to look after their feet, especially if they participate in sports. Podiatrists educate their patients on exercises and strategies that help enhance their athletic performance while at the same time decreasing the likelihood of foot injuries. By utilising customised footwear and the prescription of custom orthotics, patients are less likely to suffer from serious injuries, such as ankle sprains. This enables athletes to sustain longer careers and perform at their highest standard (Johnson et al. 2020, p. 43).
Research has consistently demonstrated a link between the health of the feet and overall well-being. People with foot pain or a foot disorder are more likely to have a lower quality of life and find activities such as exercise, sports or even walking, painful. As a result, they are less likely to be able to engage in functions of daily life, spend time with family and friends, or participate in activities they enjoy. However, by addressing these problems, patients of podiatrists can quickly become mobile again and begin to take up new exercise activities which are vital to their overall health and well-being. As research continues to advance and more is learnt about the foot and lower limb, podiatrists are continually looking at new ways in which they can improve the quality of life of their patients.
In addition to the care of adult feet, the podiatrist can provide advice and treatment for children’s feet. Many conditions that affect children can be prevented if identified early. Research has shown that the early detection of abnormalities of the developing foot can prevent long-term problems (Baker, 2020). By instilling good foot health habits in children, the podiatrist can help them enter adulthood with healthy feet.
With advances in the scope of the podiatry profession and our understanding of the foot, the impact of treatment on quality of life and injury prevention has never been greater. As the profession continues to evolve with ongoing research and technological advancements, podiatrists are better equipped to care for patients through ongoing education.
Citations:
Keenan, A.M. and Redmond, A.C., 2002. Integrating research into the clinic: what evidence based practice means to the practising podiatrist. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 92(2), pp.115-122. https://japmaonline.org/view/journals/apms/92/2/87507315-92-2-115.xml
Hawke, F., Burns, J. and Landorf, K.B., 2009. Evidence-based podiatric medicine: importance of systematic reviews in clinical practice. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 99(3), pp.260-266. https://japmaonline.org/view/journals/apms/99/3/0980260.xml
Tower, D.E., 2020. Evidence-Based podiatry. Springer. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-030-50853-1.pdf
Bristow, I.R. and Dean, T., 2003. Evidence based practice: Its origins and future in the podiatry profession. British Journal of Podiatry, 6(2), pp.43-47. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/58870/1/Evidence-based-practice-origins-and-future-in-podiatry-profession.pdf
Harrison-Blount, M., Nester, C. and Williams, A., 2019. The changing landscape of professional practice in podiatry, lessons to be learned from other professions about the barriers to change–a narrative review. Journal of foot and ankle research, 12(1), p.23. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13047-019-0333-2
Lazzarini, P.A., Geraghty, J., Kinnear, E.M., Butterworth, M. and Ward, D., 2013. Research capacity and culture in podiatry: early observations within Queensland Health. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 6(1), p.1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1186/1757-1146-6-1
Bishop, E.T., 2019. Narrative reasoning in practice: A case study in podiatry. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 109(1), pp.64-69. https://japmaonline.org/view/journals/apms/109/1/17-099.xml
Williams, C.M. and Lazzarini, P.A., 2015. The research capacity and culture of Australian podiatrists. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 8(1), p.11. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1186/s13047-015-0066-9
Bridgen, A., 2016, October. Podiatrists interpretation and use of evidence in MSK practice. In The College of Podiatry Annual Conference 2015. https://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/29792/
Turlik, M., 2009. Introduction to evidence-based medicine. Podiatry Management, 28(5). https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&profile=ehost&scope=site&authtype=crawler&jrnl=07443528&AN=105415345&h=mu4ilWruF3sRfQ%2B%2FSo0Qoy576KT3Mw%2BIr3use319I8WSH7cI1slA6WoSyN398gxRnmmce4i4D7g74brMLjihTg%3D%3D&crl=c
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