Podiatry Week

Your feet do more than you think. So do Podiatrists.

That’s the message behind this Podiatry Week 12-18 October, which celebrates the important role podiatrists play in helping people move, work, exercise, recover and take part in everyday life.

While Podiatrists are often associated with treating common foot problems such as corns, calluses and nail conditions, their role extends well beyond this.

Podiatrists are university-qualified, registered health professionals who assess, diagnose and manage a broad range of conditions affecting the feet and lower limbs.

Depending on their qualifications and scope of practice, podiatrists can support patients with:

  • Foot and ankle pain
  • Sports injuries and movement concerns
  • Children’s feet, walking and development
  • Skin and nail conditions
  • Diabetes-related foot problems and complex wounds
  • Footwear and orthotic needs
  • Gait and movement concerns
  • Rehabilitation and recovery

At Bellarine Community Health, our Podiatry team is made up of five Podiatrists and a Foot Care Assistant, with clinics operating every day of the week from one or other of our sites.

In the last financial year, the podiatry team provided more than 5,000 episodes of care and earned almost $190k in revenue across Community Health, Commonwealth Home Support Program, Support at Home and NDIS funding streams

 Did you know?

Our feet are remarkable – and there’s more to them than meets the eye.

  • Each foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 ligaments.
  • The average person takes around 7,500 steps a day.
  • Our feet contain a high concentration of nerve endings, which helps explain why they can be particularly sensitive and ticklish.
  • The skin on the soles of our feet is among the thickest on the body.
  • When running, the forces placed on our feet can reach several times our body weight.
  • For around 20–30 per cent of people, the second toe is longer than the big toe – a foot shape known as Morton’s toe.
  • It can take 12–18 months for a toenail to completely regrow after it has been lost or damaged.

So, this Podiatry Week, we take a moment to appreciate just how much our feet do for us every day, and the podiatrists who help keep them moving.

Thank you to our Podiatry team for the important work you do every day to keep our patients moving, active and independent. If you would like to know more about our Podiatry services, give our intake team a call on 1800 007 224.

 

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