This year’s Foot Health Month focuses on the theme of promoting podiatry. The Foot Health Month campaign seeks to remind the public about the significance of good foot health and encourage people to seek more information about the services that podiatrists offer.
Podiatry is a growing profession. In 1999, there were 2,011 podiatrists in practice. By 2016, this number jumped to 4,399. According to Podiatry Board of Australia industry statistics, the rapid growth of podiatry is reflected in the youthfulness of the profession, with close to 40 per cent of practicing podiatrists being under 35 years of age.
One of the most serious foot health issues is lower limb amputation resulting from complications of diabetes. APodC CEO Damian Mitsch says focusing on proper foot care has the potential to reduce the effects of diabetic foot among Australians.
“Unfortunately, Australia performs very poorly against other developed nations in terms of diabetes-related lower-limb amputations. In fact, we have the second-worst rates in the developed world – an avoidable amputation takes place every 2-3 hours in Australia,” says Mitsch.
“In additional to this social cost, the financial burden on the healthcare system is extraordinary, with each lower-limb amputation costing $26,000 plus aftercare costs.”
“Proper podiatric care has the potential to dramatically prevent amputation for a patient with a diabetic foot condition. Foot issues need to be identified and treated quickly and consistently to stop a minor wound becoming infected, ulcerated and, ultimately, resulting in the loss of limb to save someone’s life,” Mitsch added.
If you believe you have foot health needs, book in to see Chloe today.
Atticus Podiatrist Chloe Middlemass
