Take care of your feet and they will take care of you! A podiatrist is a health professional who deals with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of medical and surgical conditions of the feet and lower limbs. The conditions podiatrists treat include those resulting from bone and joint disorders such as arthritis and soft-tissue and muscular pathologies as well as neurological and circulatory diseases.

Podiatrists are also able to diagnose and treat any complications of the above which affect the lower limb, including skin and nail disorders, corns , calluses and ingrowing toenails. Foot injuries and infections gained through sport or other activities are also diagnosed and treated by podiatrists

To become a podiatrists a practitioner must complete a Bachelor’s Degree and be registered with state podiatry registration boards. Podiatrists diagnose and treat both common and more rare skin and nail pathologies of the feet. Podiatrists play an important role in maintaining the mobility of many elderly and disabled people, and others. This achieved through the ongoing monitoring of foot health, in particular of those with circulation problems and diabetes. Podiatrists are recognised as important members of the health care team in preventing and managing lower limb complications for those living with diabetes. A basic area of foot care undertaken by podiatrists is the treatment of various acute and chronic nail conditions, the treatment of which depends on the pathology.

WHAT CAN YOUR PODIATRIST DO FOR YOU?

Podiatrist, Pieter Roos, qualified at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1989. Over the past 30 years, he has completed a multitude of additional courses and kept up to date with medical advances. These skills enable him to deal with any podiatry requirement of the patients referred to his practice in Centurion, South Africa.

Having successfully operated and managed a private practice within South Africa for almost a decade. During that time, Pieter also worked in conjunction with the Western Cape Provincial Government Health Department, servicing out patients thus empowering him with an understanding of the ever pressing need for effective health care.

This understanding led him to work in the Middle East, where his passion for patients with life changing illness diabetes has culminated in the opening of his practice in Centurion upon returning to the country of his birth.  Although foot conditions relating to life changing illness are his passion, Pieter feels that one needs to continue with the everyday patient treatment, so as not to lose touch with the workings of one’s field.

Future plans include a research study involving the affects of combination of the HIV and Diabetes medication on the feet.

Listed below are all treatments you can and may refer your patients for:

General Foot Treatment

• Toe Nail abnormalities and fungal infections.
• In-grown toenails
• Corns and Calluses
• Fungal infections of the feet
• Plantar wards
• Fore foot Pain and Foot Sprains

Foot Deformities – (Muscular & Skeletal)

• Flat Feet
• Bunions
• Claw Toes
• Hammer toes

Children Foot Problems

• Pigeon toes
• Bow Legs
• Knock Knees
• Flat Feet (Pes Plans)
• High Arch Feet (Pes Cavus)

Podiatry Sports Medicine

• Foot, Knee, e.g.: Hip, or lower back pain
• Arch and heel pain
• Achilles tendonitis
• Cyclists
• Biomechanical correcting inserts for shoes (Orthotics)

Diabetes and Arthritis:

• Assessments and foot evaluations
• Patient Education on foot health
• Wound Care management

Chronic Wound Care Management

• Wound Dressing and Management.