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Pedorthics in the UK

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by CEM, Dec 16, 2005.

  1. CEM

    CEM Active Member


    Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
    How many people out there (in the UK) have heard of the field of Pedorthics, there are only six of us in the uk and i am interested in finding out who knows about us and what we do.... I will leave this one open to comments before i explain any more to those who do not know :) :)
     
  2. Ian Linane

    Ian Linane Well-Known Member

    Hi CEM

    I have heard of pedorthics but mainly because I know one. Good guy with some good knowlege to share.

    Ian
     
  3. Charlesworth

    Charlesworth Member

    Pedorthics

    Dear CEM,

    I am at present involved in writing the introduction to a textbook, and in the introduction I touch upon the historical development of pedorthics in the U.S.A.

    I would be very interested to learn how long the pedorthic profession has existed in the U.K. and what its history is here.

    Yours in anticipation,

    Eric Lee.
     
  4. DAVOhorn

    DAVOhorn Well-Known Member

    Sounding dumb

    Dear All,

    I do not want to sound dumb .

    BUT.

    What is Pedorthics?

    Only 6 of you?

    I am interested to know who and or what this is?

    regards David
     
  5. admin

    admin Administrator Staff Member

  6. CEM

    CEM Active Member

    Hi guys,

    well then Pedorthics, not wanting to bore the world with a dictionary definition but a certified Pedorthist (C.Ped) is trained to use footwear footwear modifications and orthotics as a conservative method of treatment for foot problems caused by injury , overuse, disease, truama, etc. etc. originally started in the US to help people with diabetic foot problems by dispensing shoes and inserts under the theraputic shoe bill

    training invoves a course in the US and a cerification exam (requirements have just changed to a longer period of training and more exams and hands on training)

    for more information see www.cpeds.org this is the Board for certification in Pedorthics (accrediting body) or www.pedorthics.org membership body.

    pedorthics in the Uk is new there are 6 C.Peds at present in the UK I was the first certifying in 2002, two others passed in 2003 and one in 2004 all 3are podiatrists and two more just passed in 2005 both work in the outdoor and ski industry

    basically what we do is biomechanical assessment, orthotics and footwear modifications working with either retail style clients or with a prescription form a doctor. the main reason for the post is that most podiatrists do not do footwear modifications or sell shoes, there is a school of thought that says that we are out to rob business from the podiatrists, this is not the case a pedorthist does not diagnose or perscribe, we work as part of the team approach to foot care
     
  7. davidh

    davidh Podiatry Arena Veteran

    Hi CEM,
    I've heard of Pedorthics. IMO an interesting and useful concept, and a great adjunct to podiatry.
    Cheers,
    davidh
     
  8. A cobbler by any other name...

    Hopefully not sounding too disparaging here, but many clinicians have made good use of their local cobbler and/or orthopaedic shoe manufacturer over the years for a range of footwear modifications such as balloon stretches, balloon patches, buttress heels, medial flanges, to name but a few.

    Obviously footwear is central to many case managements and a competent clinician will certainly avail themselves to local suppliers and manufacturers. Soft-walker in Cumbria is one of the latest smaller shoe manufacturers who are developing a niche market, but it could be argued that Hotter and Ecco – with their removable insoles and variable uppers – incorporated shoe modifications into the volume market some years ago. Custom footwear like Simple Way Shoes have adopted a component build system for years since Dave Price first bought the lasts from Clarks in the late 1970s.

    Interesting that pedorthists are moving into prescriptive biomechanics – perhaps seeking to develop their own niche market a little further. Of course the orthopedic shoe manufacturer has done similar for many years with both external modifications and casted insoles, and this has never troubled corn-cutters greatly in the past. I note that there has been some hostility to this ‘new’ emerging profession and I can’t help wonder if it is the re-branding that causes so much hostility and suspicion of territorial encroachment.

    Podiatrists (or chiropodists) have short memories it seems.
     
  9. CEM

    CEM Active Member

    Why did I ask!


    certainly is not a cobbler by another name!!!! how many cobblers do you know that are trained in biomechanics, pathology of disease and orthotic manufacture. seems to me that you need to come into the 21st century
     
  10. Quite a few. I am not referring to the High Street repairers like Timpsons et al. but specialist shoe manufacturers who are very well acquainted with gait, biomechanics and the pathology of certain conditions such as polio, rheumatoid arthritis, TEV, and many more besides.

    Some years ago, shortly after I graduated, I was - like most youth - very sceptical of the abilities of others in the field of lower limb abnormalities - especially those who were, in comparison, in their senior years. It is a common mistake that we all usually make - remember the maxim, "the confidence of youth, the confusion of middle age, and the wisdom of the elders"? Our local orthopaedic shoe manufacturer was an Italian who was well respected by the local orthopaedic community, but I couldn't understand how someone with little or no formal training in biomechanics or medicine, could achieve that status - until I sat in with him during an afternoon.

    Modern clinical biomechanics, if you haven't realised it already, is pure professional sophistry and has little or no evidence base to it whatsoever. Most of the time it's trial and error and a great deal of luck that gets you to the point where you can relieve symptoms - if you're fortunate enough to stumble upon the correct 'prescription'. Certainly some OSMs will not have much background in medicine or biomech, but they do have experience - which counts for a great deal - as you'll probably find out over time if you're lucky.

    I wasn't being insulting by suggesting 'cobblers', merely pointing out that many old professions try and re-brand themselves from time to time and in doing so lose part of their identity they need not feel any shame for, but invariably they do. And usually at great cost.
     
  11. CEM

    CEM Active Member

    I understand fully that you did not mean high street cobblers and you were refferring to orthopeadic shoe manufacturers and old school cobblers (unfortunately there aren't too many around)
    I can assure you that most pedorthists are not cobblers trying to rebrand, infact many DPM's in the US are pedorthists and took the course to round their knowledge. personally i spent some 13 years working with footwear modifications and orthotics before i took the course.
    Prehaps if you take a look at the link below you may understand what the training and exam involves instead of making disparaging remarks about myself and my qualification, I am not questioning your training Should I Be!!! : http://www.cpeds.org/associations/2571/files/BCPCiriculm.pdf where some of the items are clearly not relevent to practice outwith the USA it is their qualification so it is all part and parcel
     
  12. Good to hear that DPMs have finally seen the light. Won't do them any harm.

    No dispararging remarks intended - perhaps I should have said 'orthotists with a special interest in feet' rather than 'cobblers'. Any formailsation of training can only be a good thing after all. Best of luck.

    MR
     
  13. paulm

    paulm Member

    well i can say that pedorthics is a very useful adjunct to my practice here in the UK and providing good footwear for patients is also very lucrative.

    regards
    Paul

    ohhh Colin there's 6 of us now ????
     
  14. Lawrence Bevan

    Lawrence Bevan Active Member

    Cardiff School of Podiatry is now offering a Post Grad Certificate in Footwear. I have nothing to do with this except I hope to do it.

    It covers measuring and prescribing stock, modular and fully custom made therapeutic footwear.

    I think this has evolved partly out of dissatifaction with the current system - reliant on Orthotists. In the NHS orthotists are not employed by the NHS directly but rather they work for the footwear company, unsurprisingly there is little accountability... ( In my area Orthotists have only just recently starting writing patient notes!)

    It has also evolved out of the fact that Orthotists have been steadily dwindling in numbers and this will be even more so in the next 10 years (retirement) such their numbers could be half. All this as diabetes doubles.

    Clearly in light of this manpower problem people will be looking to fill the gap. Podiatry should definately look to fill it as it would be a skill that will near guarantee our future.
     
  15. Peter

    Peter Well-Known Member

    I think this is a potentially good idea, however the finer issues need to be discussed.
    Being able to take and prescribe measurements is one thing, troubleshooting problems is another. Most patients needing stock/bespoke footwear have complicated pathologies, hence they don't often get "regular" problems with their shoes.
    You might also find that to save money, the PCTs/Hospital Trusts do not purchase insurance/guarantees when allowing non-Orthotists to arrange footwear.
    In our Dept, the Orthotists take the measurements, and make the order. Their company pays a premium on top of the purchase cost, that allows them to return the shoes if they are fitting incorrectly, wrong fastening, pt changes their mind etc., without induction of a penalty. In essence, we pay more for the shoes from the company, but if they are wrong, THEY foot the bill for replacement.

    Just one final note, I think this idea is great for the Private Practitioner, both from a lucrative and pt satisfaction standpoint.
    I would also point out that I know of one PCT, that has a cupboard full of unworn shoes, which do not fit, prescribed and measured by a Pod.
    Thats not to say it won't work for the NHS, its just that the finer points need to be addressed, such as who pays the bill for those shoes that don't suit the patient, and haven't we all seen those! :eek:
     
  16. Lawrence Bevan

    Lawrence Bevan Active Member

    In our area, if the shoes dont fit when prescribed by an Orthotist either the patient doesnt wear them or the NHS pays for a new set. This happens quite often such that if they were kept it would also fill a cupboard pretty quickly.


    You said in your posting "their company pays a premium" do you mean the NHS is charged for and pays a premium? Is this not the footwear company saying "we will supply you with shoes and an employee of ours will come along on certain days to collect orders. He will get this wrong and to cover the mistakes of our employee we must charge you more and this charge has been calculated so that it covers cost of replacement and whatever happens we dont lose money". In our area we pay for replacement, in yours the cost of replacement is spread out over the longer run. Great deal. The NHS pays either way do you mean the problem would be deciding whose budget it would come out of?

    The only benefit to having a private company employee measuring and fitting footwear would be off-setting the costs of mistakes. It would seem that it does not work that way. The private companies do nicely out of this. The Annual NHS Footwear bill being 20-30 million or more and your average Orthotist paid well over 40K.

    I believe the course in Cardiff covers trouble-shooting, in fact it involves a year-long mentorship working in a footwear clinic seeing patients, prescribing shoes and following them up.

    Clearly nothing will change overnight. However the reality is that Orthotists are disappearing faster then Podiatrists. I think what you are getting at is that its not an easy skill to aquire but why train people to be a "Pedorthist" when it could be an extension of the Podiatrists role. Somebody will fill the gap.
     
  17. Peter

    Peter Well-Known Member

    Hi Lawrence, let me clarify. Our PCT pays a slightly higher fee than directly ordering the shoes from the manufacturer. Thus any alterations to dimensions, fastenings, mismeasurements or change of heart etc are paid for by the Orthotist company. Any mistakes are paid for by themselves. We pay one price for the finished product.
    My recommendation would be to work with a very experienced Orthotist. They also bring skills to the field of MSK medicine with their knowledge of splints, braces and other forms of rehabilitation equipment.
    Good debate, Merry Christmas.
     
  18. CEM

    CEM Active Member

    Sure are, a couple of guys up north, one works for Superfeet the other in a ski shop in Aviemore

    hope business is good for you.

    looks like there is definately a place for the cert.
     
  19. paulm

    paulm Member

    Hi Peter and Lawrence
    not being in the NHS sector i was wondering "is there a common cause of shoe returns, ie miss measurements/dimensions etc or is it simply the fact the patient does not like the look of the finished product ???"
    the process of manufacture seems to me to be slightly different here in the UK to the USA
    All the Pedorthic facilities I’ve visited in the USA (admittedly not that many when you consider the amount within the USA) when dealing with custom footwear always take a plaster cast of the foot and mark the foot accordingly, this is not like a cast for an orthoses but a complete cast of the foot and up above then ankle, materials such as plaster for a bi-valve cast or casting tape or the casting sock…..
    I recently visited an NHS supplier of custom footwear/orthoses etc and asked what their procedure was for custom footwear…more measurements than the cast was the answer, a cast can aid but not essential and then the cast was just the same as one you would do for an orthoses……
    I’m not saying this particular company's way is wrong but when dealing with custom footwear in the USA you don't have much financial margin for error

    regards
    Paul
     
  20. Peter

    Peter Well-Known Member

    Paul,
    Bespoke shoes are plaster casted for, measurements are taken for "stock" footwear.
    Some bespoke footwear needs "tweaking" for heel slippage, and fitting around the ankle and forefoot. This is undertaken by the Orthotist, at his/her cost.
    Once in a while, the stock footwear measurements vary a little, hence those shoes have to returned to be replaced with others, again at the Orthotists cost.

    Happy Christmas!
     
  21. admin

    admin Administrator Staff Member

    There is a report on a comparison between podiatrists, orthotists and pedorthists in the Netherland here.
     
  22. paulm

    paulm Member

    thanks for the info Peter
    Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you
     
  23. robby

    robby Active Member

    Having worked for an Orthotics company I can state that the cost of the return of the shoes will be included in the cost to the NHS. The company does not 'pay for their mistakes'. If that was so a company would rapidly go out of business.they have to at least cover their costs, although most make some profit!

    All of the tweeks are costed into the equation I can assure you. Most footwear even modular (which is what most footwear is nowadays and not bespoke due to cost pressures) is made to order based on standard lasts. and will have fitting appointments as part of the whole. this allows for the tweeks!

    Lawrence is correct when he says that orthotics companies do well out of this. There is an Audit Commission report published in 1999 , which looked at costs and spending and the speding on orthotics (provided by orthotists )in the UK at that time was £85mill per year with 40-45mill on footwear and 12-14 on foot orthoses!

    As long as the orthotist working in the clinic is employed by the company that makes the orthoses/footwear this situation will continue. In NHS trusts where the orthotist is employed directly by the trust they SAVE money when compared to previous spends through service contracts. The orthotist has responsibility with appliance officer and supplies for the budget and suddenly the amount they spend goes down!
    they can purchase orthoses and footwear from any company and can get good deals unlike when the orthotist is employed by the suppling company with all purchasing going through that company with premiums added (to cover paperwork) if the orthotist has the audacity to buy from a differnet manufacturer!
    and yes the average salary for an Orthotist is about 40K plus car mobile phone pension and YES a BONUS for using the company products!!!!! (the ave starting salary for graduates is 25+K) and this will increase due to demographics as numbers of orthotists is falling (there are only about 450 in the UK with total orthotist and Prosthetist number about 750) supply and demand will cause this!

    But back to the original thread, Pedorths have a great part to play in the treatment of patients, the more the better they are well trained and well skilled, and do an excellent job, in the role that they have.
     
  24. Lawrence Bevan

    Lawrence Bevan Active Member

    This is my point.

    Basically Orthotist provision of footwear and orthoses is a PRIVATE service paid for by the NHS. It is an illusion to think that mistakes a paid for by the company - they are costed into the product! And generally there is little to nil scrutiny on spending, as I said only recently did the orthotist have to keep any written information at all in our area and even now it is the bare minimum.

    My recommendation would be to train Podiatrists to fit all manner of footwear and bid for the contracts! Orthotist numbers are shrinking and we could fill this gap. In my area the Podiatry budget for the county is about £1mil with around 40 full time employees, the Orthotist budget (3 admin employees, orthotists paid for separately by private companies) is £1.5 mil the majority spent on footwear and foot braces, need I say more? Where NHS Trusts directly employ Orthotists the costs go down dramatically which shows the blatant misuse of public money. But most trust can't do this as Orthotists wont work for what the NHS will pay! Have you noticed how the Orthotist in your area changes fairly often? This because their numbers are falling and the system allows them to take advantage of this and keep changing jobs for better pay.

    Wigs, wrist braces, neck braces, corsets, cosmetic appliances have all been taken on by others now eg OT, Physio, Oncology etc. I feel that we must wake up to this opportunity and get out acts together. The "Pedorthist" is a new creature adopted for this very reason when we (Podiatry) have virtually all the basic skills requiring only some additional specific training. Moreover footwear provision is central to other departments such as Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Diabetes and if we are the providers we "plug" ourselves into them. In my area every time they employ a new Orthopod they the Orthopods insist a new Physio is employed, think about it....
     
  25. CEM

    CEM Active Member


    Not....... jobs for the boys?????
     
  26. Lawrence Bevan

    Lawrence Bevan Active Member

    and girls.
     
  27. Jamie

    Jamie Active Member

    I have been following this thread with interest and am interested in the timing of C.E.M's posting. For the Group's information Podiatrists and Orthotists from all over the UK have just formed a Clinical Footwear Group with joint support from BAPO and SCP.

    I have been dealing with the UK Orthopaedic footwear industry for 15 years now and know Pedorthics well. I have been to Pedorthics Conferences in the USA and Canada. I also know the German Orthopaedie Schuh market pretty well too. I was in the States before Christmas and hear the "powers that be" in Pedorthics are keen to bring their profession to the UK.

    I don't understand why!

    The C.Ped qualification is not recognised in the UK by the HPC and the Qualification will not be used for Professional Indemnity insurance so a C.Ped can not take the place of an Orthotist or Podiatrist in the NHS. Does C.E.M. really want to work in the NHS?

    There is opportunity in the private sector but anybody can sell or fit shoes. The driving force in the States is Insurance reimbursement or Medicare coding, which we do not have in the UK. Canada and Germany are slightly different but no system is has the dominance of Government-funded Healthcare we have in the UK. Without protection of title anybody can call themselves a Pedorthist, is there a danger that the C.Ped certificate becomes a marketing tool?

    I hope not. Pedorthics, at its best, has a lot to offer for Clinical Footwear Provision in the UK and can be used as a model for requirements for Multidisciplinary training. 3 UK Universities are now offering CPD and Post Graduate Footwear Training for Orthotists and Podiatrists, plus there are the non-clinical Society of Master Shoe Fitters courses.

    Pedorthics could be a good influence but surely it will develop as an add-on to a Podiatrist's daily work or as a specialisation rather than a stand alone Profession. The Orthotist Profession already covers footwear in the NHS although their coverage is limited due to numbers and constraints with the NHS Contracts system.

    Where does C.E.M see the profession of Pedorthics fitting in?

    I for one am watching with interest. :cool:
     
  28. CEM

    CEM Active Member

    Jamie,

    I don't think that anyone in their right mind would consider that Pedorthics is a replacement for the orthotist or a podiatrist for that matter. I can assure you i have no desire to work in any area od the NHS the beurocracy quite frankly frightens the hell out of me.

    Now in the private sector there is very much a market and i think that the C,Peds in the uk will all agree.

    Just look at the number of people walking around in footwear that is not working for them, not fitting them and in many cases causing them harm.

    If you recall my thread on the runners world article it would seam that many of the podiatrists that they visited were either unable to diagnose the problem / condition or at very least had no idea how to solve the probblem using a combination of footwear and orthotics..... In a sports setting I see shoe sales people selling shoes that 'cure pronation' in the podiatry setting i see practitioners dispensing orthtoics that require to user to change every shoe in the wardrobes to get the device to fit.

    on a ring round (outwith my local area)a couple of years back i called 40 podiatrists/ chiropodists... over 50% did not offer any more technical gait analysis than walk up and down and let me whatch you, (maybe it is just me but i always thought and have seen tht pronation happens so quickly that you cannot possibly see the subtle motions at full speed with someone walking away from you....you may see the gross movements but not much more) about the same number did not offer any orthtoic more than a vasyli product and only one said that they worked with the local shoe shop and could recomend a shoe

    Surely there is a desinct gap in the market for something in between, trained to fit and modify footwear, trained to understand biomechanics and trained to produce orthotics. if there was not i guess that i would be out of business by now, we opened our clinic in August 05, by November we are growing month on month slowly but very surely. I am not planning to retire at 45 but prehaps 50!!!

    Now with HPC.... for years people have been calling themselves podiatrists some did a 3 year degree course some did 2 years some did a 6 week Dr Scholl corespondance course.

    No doubt people if they are so inclined will call themselves pedorthists, as the training requirments increase this number will probably increase...does this sound familiar to anyone!!!!

    Ok so lets transport ourselves 20 years into the future... there will be a rveolution of healthcare services and the HPC or whatever they are called at that stage will grandparent everyone who called themselves a pedorthist into the system and they can all be called C.Peds. sound familiar!!!

    I am not having a pop at anyone who has gained a qualification through the system and years of practical experience, but i do feel certainly from my experience that there is a massive gap in services, most of my business comes from the local Physios Chiros and wait for it............


    PODIATRISTS

    As podiatrists how many of you want to carry footwear inventory, have the space for a lab or workshop area or the time to do the modifications to the footwear or the orthotic as and when your patient wants them doing? I would be very interested to know.....
     
  29. davidh

    davidh Podiatry Arena Veteran

    Hi CEM,
    You wrote:

    "As podiatrists how many of you want to carry footwear inventory, have the space for a lab or workshop area or the time to do the modifications to the footwear or the orthotic as and when your patient wants them doing? I would be very interested to know....."
    I don't, for one. Any Pedorthists in the Birmingham and Leicester areas please?
    Cheers,
    davidh
     
  30. CEM

    CEM Active Member

    David H,

    none (certified ones) that i am aware of I am a little further south in Bicester Oxfordshire, what area of work are you looking for the pedorthist for.

    regards

    Colin
     
  31. Jamie

    Jamie Active Member

    CEM, Thanks for your detailed Response, it was very illuminating. I agree there is a place for Private Footwear Fitting Shops. I see from your posts your experience comes from Ski shops, most of which already offer Specialist fitting and "Custom Made" insoles

    I did see your post on the Runners World Article and the discussion it provoked.

    OK "lets transport ourselves 20 years into the future..." Are you suggesting that you start a campaign now so that in 20 years time the C.Ped Qualification will be Grandparented in. Interesting Strategy.

    It is totally different to Podiatry to which I presume you allude. There are 6 C.Peds in the UK at the moment and I have great respect for the two I have met who are also trained Podiatrists, Pedorthics is a great benefit to their practices. Is that number enough to lobby Government and the DofH. Where will the money come from for the campaign for HPC Registration. I would think that without that HPC Registration there will not be a ground swell of recruitment. Chicken and Egg. No Numbers/ No need for Registration. Or is there something we don't know?

    With the existing Society of Shoe Fitter's Courses and the new University Post Grad Footwear Courses, is the separate C.Ped Qualification needed in the UK?

    You are right that the training in the UK for Podiatry has been a mixed bag but where would you put Pedorthics as a Clinical Profession? As I said in my last post Clinical Footwear Fitting is a great potential Specialisation for Podiatry and some Podiatrists do already stock footwear or work with good Shoe shops and they are ethically free to do so. There are also some fantastic Orthopaedic Shoe makers who work with Orthotists and I would hate to see them dismissed so easily as in a previous post on this thread.

    Perhaps you could explain some of the Pedorthics training in terms of Clinical and tutotrial hours before Qualification to give an idea of the comparison to UK training of Podiatry as you describe in your last post. I believe there are differences between training in the States and Canada. Would training for the UK be different too?

    Kind Rgds

    Jamie
     
  32. CEM

    CEM Active Member

    Jamie,

    I think you read me very wrongly,
    you seem to have an opinion very differnt to mine in many ways, whilst i respect that this is your opinion and only that, i find it hard to respond to someone who clearly states they have no respect for any C. Ped who has not previously trained in podiatry. i feel very sorry that you take this view.

    the following may clear up a couple of things

    1)i was not suggesting that pedorthics was an equivent to or a substitute to podiatry
    2) as far as clinical training, a C.Ped is trained to recognise biomechanical issues, assess them and refer to a pod as required, they are trained in materials and manufacture of orthoses, the other major area is fitting and modification of footwear. the link below shows you the new sylibus
    http://www.cpeds.org/associations/2...BCPCiriculm.pdf

    3) training is not available as yet in the UK Training is taken in the US where there is a requirement of 120 hours of lecture time on various subjects, this is being increased, and will become an associates Degree (2 year) course by 2010...... however anyone going into this training without prior knowledge or at least swallowing several books on the subject would firstly struggle with terminology and have very little chance of passing the exam

    4)as far as HPC was concerned i was merely suggesting that the same thing may happenn as did to podiatry, practitioners wih lesser qualifications being gathered under the same umbrella as those with a more academic qualification.

    I don't really want to discuss this anymore as i feel it going away from the original post .....HAS ANYONE HEARD OF PEDORTHICS

    which seemed to had gained some good responses until you decided to malign it.

    can i ask one question, you state you have attended various seminars on the subject but what is your qualification??
     
  33. Jamie

    Jamie Active Member

    Dear CEM,

    I am sorry you feel that I have maligned you, it was not my intention and I do not believe I have denigrated your Profession, I believe you have misrepresented my position and that my points are valid but we must agree to differ and I apologise for upsetting you.

    My main point was that the UK is a much more compact Market than in North America with different commercial drivers and limits on growth. There are already a number of options for Clinical Footwear Provision in the UK and there are new developments within existing structures. Traditional shortfalls in service are being addressed and Clinical Practices are expanding both in the NHS and in the Private Sector, these are interesting times and I will continue to support all Professions involved in Clinical Footwear Fitting including Pedorthics, as Ihave done for the last 15 years.

    You are obviously very passionate about your vocation and the best thing is for me to wish you the best of luck in your career for the future.

    Kind Rgds

    Jamie
     
  34. footman1972

    footman1972 Active Member

    Hello All,

    I have been following this discussion with great interest. For the past couple of years I've been working full-time for a shoe manufacturer, and one of the things it has highlighted is the extremely limited information I recieved on footwear as part of my undergraduate training. Whilst I can now competently evaluate and fit retail footwear, I certainly wouldn't pretend to be an expert on fitting stock and bespoke footwear. I have nothing but praise for those in the profession who have developed specialist skills in this area.

    Regards

    Martin Nunn
    Podiatry Service Manager
    Hotter Comfort Concept
     
  35. zuhal

    zuhal Welcome New Poster

    Hi,

    I was searching about pedorthics and came across with this page. I am scholl tranied, hpc registered chiropodist and i would like to become C.Ped, could you tell me how did you do your training please?
    Many Thanks
    zuhal
     
  36. CEM

    CEM Active Member

    Hi Zuhal,

    the training requirements have just changed, i spent a few weeks in NYC at the eneslow pedorthic institute and the new york college of podiatric medicine, since then the requiements have been split up into thre levels, best thing to do is contact BCP at http://www.cpeds.org
    they are the body responsible for certification and can advise you of the most up to date requirements
    PFA the pedorthic footwear association http://www.pedorthics.org are a membership organisation and can help with locations of courses

    hope this helps a bit

    regards

    Colin
     
  37. Legss

    Legss Welcome New Poster

    H
    Hi.

    So genuinely interested to see where this has progressed in relation to the profession and Pedorthist activity in the UK.... Not quite 20 years later...but almost!
     
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