We know that these terms can be confusing – we are here to make sense of it all!
In Ontario, the terms “Chiropodist” (pronounced: ‘ker-ro-po-dist’) and “Podiatrist” are often used interchangeably to refer to professionals who specialize in the treatment of the feet and lower legs. “Chiropodist” is the original term to describe these practitioners, dating from the 1700s, while “Podiatrist” is a more recent term that originated in the USA. There are only a few remaining podiatrists in Ontario as all podiatrists who started practicing after 1993 are registered as chiropodists. There have been no new podiatrists registered in Ontario since 1993. Both professions are trained in the foot and ankle but some podiatrists may have additional surgical training that allows them to perform bony surgeries such as bunion correction.
Around the world, the use of the two titles differs from country to country. In Australia, the title “Chiropodist” was formally replaced with “Podiatrist” in 1977, while other countries such as the UK use both titles interchangeably. In many non-English-speaking countries in Europe, the title “podologist” or “Podólogo/Podóloga” may be used. The level and scope of the practice of podiatry varies among countries.
Chiropodists and Podiatrists in Ontario must be registered with the College of Chiropodists of Ontario (COCOO). They are the regulatory body responsible for ensuring that practitioners meet the necessary standards of education and training, as well as practice guidelines to keep them competent and up to date.
At our practice, most of the practitioners are registered Chiropodists. All practitioners have undergone hands-on training during the 3 to 4 year post-graduate program duration. You should book with a Chiropodist for general foot concerns, skin and nail care, foot pain, custom orthotics, physical therapy modalities like shockwave therapy and more.
For surgical consultations only such as bunion surgery, hammertoe correction or permanent removal of a Morton’s neuroma, please book with our podiatrist Jeffrey Liebman. He is available at our Forest Hill location only.
