7 Roles in Foot Care
Pedorthist
- Focus: Foot and lower limb
- Areas of Practice: Foot orthotics and orthopaedic footwear. Pedorthists are specifically trained in the assessment of the foot and lower limb, the design, manufacture and fitting of custom foot orthoses, and footwear modifications, such as shoe lifts.
- Services Provided: Comprehensive foot assessments, Custom foot orthotics, modifications to orthotics, footwear modifications, orthopaedic footwear fitting, Off the shelf orthotics (non-custom), custom toe spacers, Bunion splints, Plantar Fasciitis Splints
- Training: 4 year Undergraduate degree in Kinesiology (or related field such as Human Kinetics) plus a Diploma in Pedorthics (12 month post-graduate program) OR a 3 year Apprenticeship.
- Certification/Credentials: Canadian Certified Pedorthist (C Ped (C) )
https://www.pedorthic.ca/about/
Chiropodist
- Focus: Foot
- Areas of practice: The assessment of the foot and the treatment and prevention of diseases, disorders or dysfunctions of the foot by therapeutic, orthotic or palliative means (Chiropody act, 1991).
- Services Provided: Comprehensive foot assessments, Skin and nail care, surgical procedures on the subcutaneous tissues of the foot, and assess for/design custom foot orthotics.
- Training: 4 year Undergraduate degree (BSc or BA Kin.), plus 3 year diploma program in Chiropody
- Certification/Credentials: Diploma of Health Sciences – Chiropody (DCh)
Podiatrist
- Focus: Foot
- Areas of Practice: In Ontario, Podiatrists are a class of members of the College of Chiropodists. They are able to provide all of the same services as Chiropodists. Podiatrists may also communicate a diagnosis to their patient and perform surgical procedures on the bones of the foot. Chiropodists may do neither.
- Services Provided: Comprehensive foot assessments, Skin and nail care, surgical procedures on the subcutaneous and bony tissues of the foot, and assess for/design custom foot orthotics.
- Training: 4 year Undergraduate degree (BSc/BA) and Doctor of Podiatry Medicine degree (DPM)
- Certification/Credentials: Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)
Foot Care Nurse
- Focus: Whole body scope of practice, can provide foot care
- Area of Practice: Nurses can provide skin and nail care for patients with foot deformities, mobility issues, diabetes and other complications or conditions.
- Services Provided: Basic/ advanced foot care including assessment of the condition of the feet, pedicures, treatment of basic foot conditions, skin care advice and sensitivity testing for diabetes.
- Training: 4 year Undergraduate Nursing degree (BScN), 2 years college (Practical Nurse)
- Certification/Credentials: Registered Nurse (RN), RPN, NP
Orthotist
- Focus: Whole body scope of practice, can provide basic foot assessments
- Area of Practice: Orthotists are trained to assess for, design, manufacture and fit orthotics for all parts of the body, including the feet.
- Services Provided: Basic foot assessment, Custom foot orthotics, Ankle-foot orthotics.
- Training: 4 year Undergraduate degree (BSc/BA), Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics (2 years) and an Internship (minimum 1 year).
- Certification/Credentials: Certified Orthotist (C.O.)
