What is Chirpody?

Chiropody is the diagnosis and treatment of disorders and diseases of the foot. Between 75 - 80% of the adult population have some sort of foot problem.  Development of foot pathologies may be due to a number of factors e.g. ill-fitting footwear, Biomechanical anomalies, inherited conditions, illness e.g. diabetes mellitus and Rhematoid Arthritus.

Some of the common foot disorders that we are able to treat and offer advice on include:-

Callus - Areas of hard skin, often developing due to mechanical stress.

Corns - Focal areas of hard skin.

Foot/Toe deformities - Bunions, hammer toes, mallet toes, etc.  These can often result in high pressure areas causing callus and corns.

Nail pathologies - there are a number of conditions that can affect toenails,
e.g. ingrowing nails.  A nailcare service is also available for individuals who simply find it difficult to cut their own nails.

Verrucae -  are caused by a virus and will usually persist for months and sometimes years before regressing spontaneously.  Unfortunately due to the viral nature of this common condition, there is no guarantee of cure however we are able to offer treatment which can aid regression of the wart and help prevent further spread of the virus.  The treatment options we offer include cryotherapy (where the verruca is frozen) and chemical cautery (a chemical is applied to break down the tissue and seal the site to prevent further spread).  These treatments will generally require regular follow-up appointments. An individual treatment plan will be discussed at the first appointment.
N.B. Active treatment of verrucae may not be advisable in all cases, particularly young children therefore if you have a child under 10 years with a verruca please contact us prior to arranging an appointment and Sonja will be happy to discuss the individual case and treatment options in greater detail.

Athlete’s Foot / Fungal Infections - Athlete’s foot is caused by either a fungal or yeast infection which can lead to cracked, blistered, peeling skin with areas of redness and intense itching.  We can discuss the various treatment options available and provide information on how to prevent recurrence of the infection.

First Appointment

Your first visit will include an assessment of general foot health to include circulatory and neurological assessment where indicated.  Systemic illnesses such as circulatory disorders, diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis can affect foot health and subsequent treatment, therefore details of your medical history and a list of medication may also be required so please have this information available.  If musculoskeletal malalignment is considered to be a factor then referral to our specialist podiatric biomechanics clinics will be discussed and arranged.