Welcome to our BSc (Hons) Podiatry Course Page
Our BSc (Hons) Podiatry programme develops the skills and knowledge necessary to support patients from all walks of life, from those who require assistance with general care, sporting and biomechanical concerns to individuals with complex medical conditions.
Whether you’re passionate about clinical care, research, or preventative health strategies, a career in podiatry offers endless opportunities to make a real difference to quality of life, mobility and overall wellbeing.
What is Podiatry?
Podiatry is a specialised healthcare profession dedicated to diagnosing, treating and preventing conditions affecting the feet, ankles and lower limbs. Podiatrists are highly skilled healthcare professionals who provide medical and surgical interventions to maintain and improve foot health, ensuring people can continue to move, walk and live comfortably.
The Scope of Podiatry
Podiatry covers a wide range of specialist areas, from common foot problems such as nail and skin pathologies, to biomechanical related issues such as soft tissue injuries and complex high risk care for patient populations such as those who are diabetic or immunocompromised.
Some of the key areas within Podiatry include:
- General/Routine Podiatry: Treatment for involuted nails, fungal infections, nail trauma, removing or managing callus and corns, verrucae and wart management, maintenance of foot pathologies, assisting with foot care and maintaining lower limb health.
- Minor Surgical Procedures: Nail surgery with/or without phenolisation for involuted or ingrowing nails, trauma, or dermatological concerns, dry needling for verrucae. Extended scope podiatrists may be able to perform further excisional surgical techniques or basic biomechanical surgical interventions depending upon their further qualifications.
- Sports and Musculoskeletal (MSK) Podiatry: Assessing and treating orthopaedic, sports and injury related foot injuries. These may be pathologies related to injuries, pathologies related to movement or deformities, posture and biomechanics. Gait and biomechanical analysis, use of specialist equipment to encourage healing e.g. Electrocorporal Shockwave Therapy (ECSWT), acute injury treatment and offloading (e.g. Ankle foot orthosis, casting, taping etc.), rehabilitation and exercise programs, performance related care.
- Orthotic Manufacture and Design: Goes hand in hand with sports and MSK podiatry, following detailed biomechanical and gait analysis. Creation and prescription of tailored orthotics and insoles which may aim to redistribute pressure, prevent further injury and/or enhance stability etc.
- Paediatic Podiatry: Treatment of children and adolescents, assessing conditions related to gait abnormalities, growth related concerns, congenital lower limb conditions. Often has a strong link to MSK podiatry, however may also address concerns related to general and routine podiatry, minor surgical procedures and more.
- Geriatric Podiatry: Focuses on the foot care needs for older adults, managing age-related concerns. Often crosses over within the reals of general and routine care and MSK to encourage mobility, aid quality of life, empowering and educating patients.
- At Risk: Focuses on foot and lower limb care needs for those at higher risk of developing foot complications due to underlying health conditions, age or lifestyle factors. May include foot inspections to detect and prevent concerns before severe complications arise. Wound care, infection management and limb salvage techniques. Patient education is also involved as so is MSK and biomechanics.
- Podiatric Surgery: A specialised role in the podiatry field which requires additional training and extended scope. Podiatric surgeons perform surgical procedures to correct foot deformities, address injuries and perform more invasive surgical techniques to aid mobility and improve quality of life.