 Working as a podiatrist can be exciting and rewarding because it involves working in a variety of environments with a number of other health care professionals and many different groups of patients who have a wide range of podiatric problems. The scope of practice of a podiatrist is often much wider than many people realise. The work falls in to four
key categories:
General ClinicsPodiatrists all start off their careers working in general clinics. This involves providing essential assessment, evaluation and foot care for a wide range of patients. Many of the patients have long-standing problems for which there is no cure. Podiatrists therefore play a big part in keeping these people mobile and make a real difference to their lives.
This work uses many of the clinical and assessment skills they were taught in training but very quickly they develop their own techniques and certainly speed. Some podiatrists work with foot care assistants who provide basic foot care and patient advice whilst they treat the more complex problems. This work is very varied and rewarding, each clinic presents you with different pathologies to treat. It is an excellent place to start straight after graduation.
Most podiatrists have some general practice work in their weekly rotas, but as time goes on they find areas of clinical practice they want to focus upon. The opportunity may arise for you to develop your skills in an area of clinical specialisation e.g. sports, children, diabetes etc.
Biomechanics
Biomechanics is concerned with preservation, restoration and development of the function of the foot and its associated structure. Biomechanics refers to the use of mechanical methods in the diagnosis and treatment of the function of the foot and the lower limb.
This is a subject that interests a lot of practitioners and covers a number of areas of practice. 
Another area of clinical practice that focuses on biomechanics is sports injuries there is currently a big demand for treatment of sports injuries and it is an area of clinical practice that some podiatrists work in. Most podiatrists working in this area are
self-employed private practitioners. The work can involve working with individual athletes or working for sports
teams e.g. rugby or football clubs.
There are many biomechanical investigations podiatrists use to help them assess and evaluate the patients they treat.
A lot of biomechanical problems are treated with orthotics. These are insoles made specifically for each patient to try to reduce their symptoms. Podiatrists have the skills needed to produce these devices. Some podiatrists specialise in making orthotics, working in professional orthotics labs. Many children present with developmental biomechanical problems Some podiatrists use biomechanics in more specialist fields.
Working with children is called Podopaediatrics. Many lower limb problems children have are biomechanically related. Podiatrists who specialise in working with children have to have an in-depth understanding of this area of practice.
Some podiatrists work using biomechanics in general clinics. Many people visit a clinic with functional related problems. A biomechanical assessment can often help a podiatrist pinpoint the problem and develop a diagnosis which enables them to treat it
appropriately. Other groups of patients are prone to developing biomechanical problems as a result of a disease they have. An example of this is Rheumatology patients. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that deforms joints including those in the legs and feet. Podiatrists get involved in biomechanical assessments of these patients to enable them to reduce the amount of discomfort they have as well as increasing their stability and ultimately keep them as mobile as possible. High Risk Patient Management
 Testing vibration perception is part of the neurological assessment podiatrists carry out on some high risk patients.
Many podiatrists specialise in working with patients who are classed as being high risk. All of them have an underlying illness or condition that puts their legs and feet at increased risk of injury and disability. Many have very poor circulation which means their skin is very fragile and can be injured easily. Once an injury occurs it can take a long time to heal. Some patients have no sensation in their feet. They can injure themselves without knowing, for example, walking with a stone in their shoe for 30 minutes can result in ulceration. Patients in this category include those with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cerebral palsy, peripheral arterial disease and peripheral nerve damage. Podiatrists have a vitally important role to play in the care of these people. They assess and treat them and give them advice in order to reduce the long term and sometimes very serious problems that can result including amputation. Podiatry intervention in the care of these patients can reduce amputation rates by 40%. Surgery
 This is an area of clinical practice that many podiatrists are involved with at some time or other. There are two levels of surgical practice. As a HPC Registered Practitioner a podiatrist is qualified to administer local anaesthetics and is trained in a number of surgical procedures.
As part of general podiatric care podiatrists are involved with nail and minor soft tissue surgery. Some podiatrists go on to develop this interest and train as a podiatric surgeons, who surgically manage bone and joint disorders within the foot. Podiatrists can only do this after graduation and have to undergo rigorous surgical training taking a number of years.
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