Thursday, May 17, 2012

How do Physiotherapists and Chiropodists Work Together? Like Two Peas in a Pod.

Marathon

 

MAY is National Physiotherapy Month AND National Foot Health Month, which is awesome because that's what we do at We-Fix-U. Say it with me…”WHOOT, WHOOT!”

A match made in heaven…cut from the same cloth…like peas and carrots… soul mates (or is it SOLE mates?  Ha! I’m so funny!).  Anyway, you catch my drift.  Our two core professions at We-Fix-U are reflected in our clinics’ name:  “Your Physiotherapy and Foot Health Centres”. Utilizing experts in these two fields whose skills so strongly complement each other, helps to return you to your maximum function and a pain free lifestyle.

After reading my last two blogs (and if you haven’t, you should), you now know what a physiotherapist is, and you also know what a chiropodist is.  But, you probably don’t know how these two amazing professions work together.

Well, they work together beautifully. Think about it…you know the song.  The foot bone’s connected to the - ankle bone, the ankle bone’s connected to the – knee bone, the knee bone’s connected to the – thigh bone, and the thigh bone’s connected to the-hip bone….  I’ll stop myself here.  I like to sing, but I can’t sing well.

 Pain and problems that occur in one part of your body may actually be caused because your feet are not working properly.  And if you have pain in your feet you may not actually have a foot problem at all.  That pain may be caused because you a compensating for a much larger problem somewhere else in your body.  Our goal at We-Fix-U is to get to the root of your problem, so we can get you better, fast and so we can prevent new problems from developing.  So, if you have back pain, pelvic pain, hip pain, leg pain, knee pain, ankle pain or foot pain, you can be assured that at some point during your escape from your world of pain and dysfunction as you experience We-Fix-U’s team approach, that your practitioner has consulted with another team member about you.  Or, perhaps a chiropodist and physiotherapist assess you together.  Or, perhaps one assesses but brings the other in to consult with you.  Or, perhaps you all sit together and discuss what your problems are and what needs to be done for you to get better. 

We are all one big happy “let’s get you better” team over here and that is why we have over 13,000 loyal patients who keep returning to us.  It’s because we have two guru professions under the same roof. It’s because of our team approach.   It’s because our staff in these two professions know how to get results. 

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

A Chirop-o-WHAT?

Happy_feet

That's what we hear. EVERY. DAY.  Some people think we are chiropractors who treat feet.  Others think we are technicians who just cut toenails, and when we do cut toenails, they think they are going to get a pedicure (which is in itself another misunderstood term).  We are also constantly asked “what’s the difference between a chiropodist and a podiatrist?”  My response is, “Exactly”.  So, let me clear this confusion for you.

Chiropodists (ker-o-po-dists) are foot specialists.  Foot experts.  Gurus of foot health.  We are the ONLY practitioners in Ontario who are trained and regulated (this means that we have a governing body who can revoke our license to practice if we do something bad) exclusively to provide foot health care and orthotics.

So, what is the difference between a chiropodist and podiatrist?  Well, here it is:

Members of the College of Chiropodists of Ontario include chiropodists and podiatrists. However, the term "podiatrist" is more commonly known around the world today. In fact, Ontario is the last jurisdiction anywhere to use the word "chiropodist" to indicate a foot specialist.

A few practitioners in Ontario are classified as "podiatrists". This is because they were educated outside the province and opened their practices before the Chiropody Act came into existence in Ontario. Graduates of the Chiropody Program and podiatrists new to the province from other areas must call themselves chiropodists.”  It is rather dry reading, I know.  But, I think it clears the confusion nicely =).

Ok, so now that you know who we are, guess what question we are asked far too often?  Here it is… “Did you have you go to school for this?”  Umm, yes.  We didn’t just take a weekend course.  In fact, we go to university for 7-8 years!  We do surgery.  We give prescriptions for medications.  We can give you a needle. I think you will agree that these skills cannot and should not be taught in a fly-by-night course. 

So, knowing this, what kind of foot problems do you think we treat?  Well, shadowing my last blog about physiotherapists, “Chiropodists DO THAT”.

Do you have yucky, thick fungal nails that need to be resolved?  Our chiropodists do that.

Do you have pain in your feet and you need help to walk pain-free again?  Our chiropodists do that.

Do you have painful ingrown toenails?  Our chiropodists do that.

Do you have diabetes and need someone to help you keep your feet?  Our chiropodists do that.

Do wear orthotics and want to make sure they are the highest quality, and the highest skill level has gone into prescribing and making them?  Our chiropodists do that.

Does it look like your child isn’t walking properly?  Our chiropodists do that.

Can’t reach your feet to cut your toenails?  Our chiropodists do that.

Do you have knarled and curly toes?  Our chiropodists do that.

Do you have rough and calloused feet?  Our chiropodists do that.

In essence, chiropodists treat everything and anything to do with feet.  Isn’t it awesome that there is ONE single profession who does that?  I think it is.

I copied this next paragraph from my last blog, because the information is exactly the same for chiropodists, and well, I liked the way I wrote it:

Getting your problem assessed by a physiotherapist isn't difficult at all. Want to know why? Chiropodists are primary health care practitioners, just like your doctor, which allows you direct access to care. We do NOT need a doctor's referral for you to see us. Isn't that great?! Some insurance companies do require a doctor's referral, but if you don't have one that isn't a problem either, because we can help you with that! So now you may be thinking "that's great, but I don't have time to be treated. I have work, kids in sports and dinner to make". No worries! We can help you with that too! We are open early mornings, evenings and even Saturdays...so there are no excuses. We have what you need, and what you need is to get better. Get back to being active. Get back to the person you want to be.

So, all biasness aside, chiropodists are the be-all and end-all of foot health. We are the only profession who can make your feet happy.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

MAY is About Helping YOU!

MAY is National Physiotherapy Month AND National Foot Health Month, which is awesome because that's what we do at We-Fix-U.  Utilizing experts in these two fields whose skills so strongly compliment each other, helps to return you to your maximum function and a pain free lifestyle.

You may not know though what a physiotherapist does.  Heck, you probably don't even know what a chiropodist is, let alone know what they do.  And even worse, you surely don't know how these two amazing professions work together.  So let me help you with that =).  The following is Part1 of a 3 part series to help you learn what we do...  This first part has a focus on Physiotherapists.

Physiotherapists are specialists who have extensive education and skills in physical medicine.  With 6-7 years of University, they sure do know their stuff!  They help to get you back on your feet again, restoring you to the lifestyle you live.  Our clinics treat so many problems on a daily basis, and when posed with the question "What do physiotherapists treat?", our answer is "EVERYTHING", because "Physiotherapists Do That!".  These experts work in so many areas including heart and lung rehabilitation, bone and joint problems, motor-vehicle and work-related accidents, mucles and tendon injuries, conditions and disorders affecting nerves, children's health, women's health, senior's health and sports-related injuries and performance enhancement.  So, are you looking for:

Shoulder pain relief?  Our physiotherapists do that!

Back pain relief?  Our physiotherapists do that!

Knee pain relief?  Our physiotherapists do that!

Hip pain relief?  Our physiotherapists do that!

Neck pain relief?  Our physiotherapists do that!

Foot pain relief?  Our team of chiropodists and physiotherapists do that!

See...I told you so...Physiotherapists DO THAT.

And guess what?  Getting your problem assessed by a physiotherapist isn't difficult at all.  Want to know why?  Physiotherapists are primary health care practitioners, just like your doctor, which allows you direct access to care.  We do NOT need a doctor's referral for you to see us.  Isn't that great?!  Some insurance companies do require a doctor's referral, but if you don't have one that isn't a problem either, because we can help you with that!  So now you may be thinking "that's great, but I don't have time to be treated.  I have work, kids in sports and dinner to make".  No worries!  We can help you with that too! We are open early mornings, evenings and even Saturdays...so there are no excuses.  We have what you need, and what you need is to get better.  Get back to being active.  Get back to the person you want to be. 

Cristol Smyth, D.Ch.

Stay tuned for Part 2..."A Chirop-o-WHAT?"

 

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