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There are only two Nouns in Chiropody protected by the Health Professional Council, (HPC.), to date,
1. Chiropodist.
2. Podiatrist.
These Protected Titles are defined by the HPC. as follows,
"A chiropodist/podiatrist diagnosis and treats disorders, diseases and deformities of the feet." (Someone must have had a dreaded attack of the dddd?).
Podologist doesn't seem to appear in the Oxford Dictionary or Collin's Medical Dictionary. I have seen it used I believe by Cameron one of our Moderators in relation to the subject of shoes?
Where have you got this Noun from? Does it if it has a definition fit the above def. for Podiatrist? If it does bear a similarity with Podiatrist the HPC. would likely take steps to protect it through the Courts possibly,
1. How do you define Podologist?
2. Where do you get the definition for Podologist from?
3. If it only relates to shoes, is there a part of it's definition to be found in podiatry?
Have no doubt if the HPC. thinks that the podiatrist/podologist are the same and used to circumvent the Protected Titles they will prosecute if it is brought to their attention!
Regards,
Colin.
P.S. A curious question? Is there a underlying motive in asking it?
There certainly was no motive, but on reading this the uk's New Foot health Practioners may indeed consider Podologist. I have noticed it in Italy and in spain along with northen Europe. Just wondered what the classification was.
I am no etymologist, but I believe that in the word Podologist, the suffix -ologist would denote someone (or something - aliens are not excluded here) who studies (originally from th greek logos meaning 'word') the foot.
The suffix -iatrist comes from the greek iatrikos 'of healing', (from iasthai 'to heal' ), therefore a podiatrist is one who heals the foot.
You can stop anyone studying feet, regulations or not, 'cause there is no accounting for taste. But the healing thereof - well that's another matter.
cheers, Felicity
and thanks to the trust Collins English Dictionary, published in Sydney in 1979 and edited by the sturdy and dependable (hmmm - perhaps even multigrain) Patrick Hanks (no relation to Tom)
I know the feeling well! It sounds like some of our continental friends use Podology as a substitute for FHP.? There is no accounting for taste?
David,
Nothing meant by that comment at the bottom of my post! I just wondered whether the alternative title was on the go again with a fresh twist in the tail??? No harm in that either if it is!!!
I shall now go and assault a diabetic ingrowing toe nail again! (I must remember to ask it if it is on insulin this time!).
I am a podologist and it is a recognised sub branch of anthropology/sociology. A podologist studies the foot in health and disease. I happen to concentrate on the psycho-social, psycho-sexual aspects of shoes and shoe design ,but others may be anatomists, anthropologists, or biomechanists and human moverment researchers. I eek out a megre living as a instructonal designer in clinical programs and have worked in podiatry departments for thirty years but I do not practice as a podiatrist. In fact I get quite resentful I need as a condition of service to register as a practitioner. I am an educationalist with a background in podiatry, and not a podiatrist that teaches.
Podology is the science which supports the clinical application of foot treatment i.e. podiatry. This is similar to psychology and psychiatrist. In an ideal work students should study podology first, then specialise in podiatry. After all you cannot get PhD or Master Degree in treating feet but you can on the theoretical constructs of pathodgenisis of disease or determining clinical outcomes using RCTs.
I would think the term foot health professional will far outstrip podology, chiropody and podiatry or even podologues with the general public, because it is exactly what we all are.
Protection of a title may seem a good idea and has become a Holy Grail in the UK, but time and the Agenda for Change will tell and I think takes its toll on the podiatry profession (within the commonwealth) . Foot Health Professions can and probably will apply for recognition as registrants with the HPC in the near future. Similalr developments will certainly follow in Australia, Canada South Africa and NZ given time.
By 2010 if you were looking for someone to care for your feet , who are you going to call ?... a FHP (not a quaint chiropodist/podiatrist).
It's hotting up! As the good mensch Cameron points out - what does it matter what we call ourselves, people will choose their practitioner by what they offer (not only service, by value for time and money).
I get a bit worried about our 'put the wagons in a circle' mentality when it comes to protection of our professional territory. I believe that quality succeeds, and if we want to survive, we would be better to look to our selves as practitioners, and our profession as a body of practice. If we put enough effort into excellence, then we will become the alpha animals.
Having said that, I think I prefer sex. Hey Cameron do you remember that great article in JAPMA in the early eighties entitled "Pain in the foot during orgasm" or some such. If I recall, the patient suffered pain in his foot whenever he achieved orgasm. Turned out he had a nasty neuroma, and as his muscular response to orgasm included scrunching his toes in wild delight, the neuroma was compressed and pain elicited. Why don't we see more articles of this calibre!
Any other clinical anecdotes for Felicity's Filth File?
cheers
Felicity
Last edited by Felicity Prentice : 15th June 2005 at 01:24 AM.
Reason: speling mistake
>Hey Cameron do you remember that great article in JAPMA in the early eighties entitled "Pain in the foot during orgasm" or some such.
I certainly do. Transpires the association is not that unusual for as we know the sensory supply to the foot and genitalia lie adjacent to each other in the brain. There are reported cases of neural crossover and for some people tickling their feet is like tickling their fancy.
>Why don't we see more articles of this calibre!
I had a paper in the UK journal last month on Foot binding in the Song Dynasty. The physical creation of a second vagina (soles of the feet) was the purpose of the barbaric custom. One criticism of the paper was sex and podiatry were not appropriate. I certainly was not advocating anything untoward in the clinic but being better informed was the quest.
>Any other clinical anecdotes for Felicity's Filth File?
Have another pending on the bioethics of toe cutting and treating people with psychological preoccupations including apotemnophilia, unending desire to loose a limb (or part off), and all for sexual satisfaction.
I bet you did not expect the above when you started this Thread???
You must be prepared for the unpredictable on this Forum, and I'm sure you do!
Boring it is not! But you must be prepared to throw the odd brick in the pool and not worry if you get splashed afterwards when something comes back out!
Podologist Podiatrist-Potatoe Potartoe?
Ahh
Linear Mode
