Question 1

What should I bring to my appointment?

Accepted Answer

1.  A list of any symptoms, all medications and any previous surgeries.
2.  Important medical records, laboratory tests and imaging reports.
3.  If your problem involves walking or exercise, bring a selection of shoes that you wear for       work, casual and exercise with you to the appointment.

Question 2

Is my Podiatrist fully vaccinated?

Accepted Answer

Yes, your Podiatrist and all administration staff are fully vaccinated.

Question 3

Do I need a referral?

Accepted Answer

No. You can simply call us to make an appointment, although your GP can also refer you. If a health provider does refer you, please remember to bring your referral letter to your appointment.

Question 4

What happens at my first appointment?

Accepted Answer

Following booking your appointment, we firstly require a medical history form to be completed. This can be completed prior to the appointment, though if you have any questions do save them for the practitioner. Much like visiting the dentist, your consultation will be with a practitioner where you will sit in a podiatrists chair. The podiatrist will ask questions prior to any treatment being given, and if applicable, discuss the treatment options available. Treatment will not be undertaken until you have given consent. Dependent on your individual needs, a variety of different pieces of diagnostic equipment and tests may be used.
 
Treatment can often commence during your initial assessment, however, this depends on the problem at hand and is not always the case.

Question 5

Do you have infection control policies and procedures?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We use aseptic techniques. Each patient is treated using a separate set of sealed sterilized tools (opened in front of you). All tools goes through a three tiered tracked sterilisation process in the same way that dentists equipment is cleansed. They are individually packed before sterilisation.
 
 All surfaces of the clinic are wiped down with medical grade disinfectant prior to your appointment. These techniques, coupled with our clean clinical environment prevent the spread of infection. We are regulated by both the Podiatrists Board and Podiatry NZ and adhere to their high standards.

Question 6

Can I bring a support person?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I welcome support people and/or whanau.

Question 7

Do I need to soak my feet to soften my nails before an appointment?

Accepted Answer

No you do not need to soak your feet. I ask that you wash your feet before/day of appointments, a shower will suffice. Please remove any nail polish and do not apply emollient or moisturiser the day of your appointment.

Question 8

How often should I see a Podiatrist for general foot care?

Accepted Answer

This really depends on the individual, their podiatric concerns and how quickly they develop. On average I see most patients on a 6-8 weekly basis for general nail and skin care. For some, this is every 4 weeks due to quickly growing nails and callous or corns which develop in a short period of time. For others, I may only see them once or twice a year for a ‘clean up’ which allows them to care for their feet at home in between.

Question 9

Are appointments confidential?

Accepted Answer

Consultations are confidential; anything that is said during an appointment cannot be shared with anyone else unless non-disclosure may risk your own or someone else’s health. Information can be shared with other professionals with your consent.

Question 10

What is the best type of running shoe?

Accepted Answer

There is no simple answer to this question. It depends on your activities, your foot posture, the alignment of your lower limb, the shape of your foot, your body weight and any past or current injuries you may have. The best way to choose an appropriate running shoe and get value for money is to, first of all, find out what foot type you have and how your foot moves during both walking and running gait. This is important as you may have a stable foot when walking which then becomes very unstable as you increase your pace. Either have a foot assessment with a Podiatrist or go to a specialist footwear store that has staff professionally trained to determine the most appropriate shoe. If you plan on running in the shoes, make sure you are assessed at this pace. Any good running shoe store will have a treadmill in store to do this.

Question 11

What is a Biomechanical Assessment?

Accepted Answer

A biomechanical assessment is a series of examinations undertaken to diagnose the causative factors relating to your foot/ankle/knee/hip or back pain. This is achieved by assessing the way in which you walk (Gait Analysis), muscle/tendon function and the range of motion at specific joints. It is also crucial to assess your footwear and any life style factors that may be contributing to your symptoms.
 
The outcome of a biomechanical assessment will impact your treatment, which may include: stretching/strengthening prescription, joint mobilisation/manipulation, orthotic prescription, footwear changes, lifestyle modification or referral for further treatment i.e. steroid injection, shockwave therapy or surgical consultation.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions