What is a Podiatrist?

Podiatrists are healthcare professionals who undergo rigorous University training to diagnose and treat abnormalities of the lower limb and foot.

Regarding biomechanics, this includes but is not limited to:

“It doesn’t matter who you are, the goal is to keep you active!”

Podiatry does not stop there, Podiatrists are also trained experts at diagnosing and treating foot and skin conditions such as:

Podiatrist treat people of all ages and are great people to speak with when seeking advice for best foot care, footwear advice and concerns about walking or running. They also play a major role in diabetic foot care.

What does a Podiatrist do?

During your initial consultation, a podiatrist will go through a thorough medical history to ensure they understand your complete health and highlight anything that could be contributing to your presenting issue. They carry out multiple tests to assess the sensation and blood flow going to your feet as well as checking your muscle health.

Depending on what you are there for, the podiatrist may also watch you walk and go through range of motion exercises to rule out any abnormalities.

One of the most important roles of a podiatrist is education. After discussing your concerns, goals and condition in detail, your podiatrist will work with you to create a treatment plan to move forward.

The majority of the time, a trained and experienced podiatrist can treat any minor issues on the spot. Meaning if your concerns are about corns or callus (hard skin), you can rest assured that you should walkout pain free with your feet feeling soft, fresh and clean.

“An experienced podiatrist can remove corns and callus completely pain free.”

Do I need a referral to see a Podiatrist?

You do not usually need a referral from you GP to see a podiatrist. Most private practices are as simple a making a phone call or booking in online. However, there are instances where your GP can prepare a care plan for you that will entitle you to Medicare rebates on some of your podiatry visits. These care plans are known as Chronic Disease Management plans, or previously referred to as Enhanced Primary Care plans (EPC).

A Chronic Disease Management plan is constructed by your GP and is a Team Care Agreement (TCA), in which your GP will allocate you up to five visits in total with an array of different healthcare professionals annually.

Alternatively, depending on your cover most health funds will absorb some of your treatment costs. However, this varies between patients with the many different types of coverage.

Who is your Podiatrist?

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Richard Ching is our Podiatrist with comprehensive knowledge of disorders and abnormalities of the foot, ankle and lower extremities.

Their focus is on getting you out of pain and back to what you love doing safely and quickly, along with reducing the risk of future issues arising.

They work alongside the broad range of health professionals we have here at Quay Health, to ensure you get the best treatment possible in complex cases. As part of a multidisciplinary team, Richard’s clinical experience has enabled them to provide a diversified range of services, with an in-depth understanding of how the body works and what may be required to get you functioning properly and out of pain.

Richard Ching apples a patient-centred approach to treatment and are recognised as a BUPA preferred healthcare provider.

Services offered include:

– Biomechanical assessment:

– General treatment

– Extracorporeal shockwave and soft tissue therapy

– Neurovascular and Diabetic Assessment

– Diabetic footcare

– Gait analysis

– Running technique advise

– Balance issues

If you or someone you know is suffering an ailment from the lower back down, click the ‘Book Online’ button below or call (02) 9252 2825 to book an appointment with Richard.

“Getting you out of pain and back to what you love!”