What is Pedorthics
Pedorthics
The professional field concerned with the provision of medical grade footwear, orthotic appliances, and appropriate advice to a patient after assessment and analysis of the patient’s problem(s). Including the provision of prefabricated footwear, modification of prefabricated footwear, custom designed and manufactured footwear and/or orthotic appliances, and advice on the need and application of medical grade footwear and orthotic appliances.
Pedorthist
Pedorthists are skilled in the provision of:
- Advice on the need and application of medical grade footwear and orthotic appliances
- Prefabricated footwear
- Alteration of prefabricated footwear
- Custom designed and manufactured footwear
- Custom designed and manufactured orthotic appliances
The 3 levels of Certified Pedorthic Practitioners in Australia
CPedCM Au
Certified Pedorthist Custom Maker
Individuals that provide a full service to the client including advice on the possibilities of prefabricated footwear, and where these products are not suitable, custom-made pedorthic footwear.
CPed Au
Certified Pedorthist
Individuals that provide advice on the provision of medical grade footwear and modify a prefabricated product to match the requirements of the patient.
Please note that this career pathway is no longer available for new entrants.
CRetPed Au
Certified Pedorthic Retailer
Individuals that provide advice and prefabricated footwear for patients.
Pedorthics in Australian Healthcare
Pedorthists play an important role in foot and lower limb healthcare in Australia, including areas relating to diabetes, disability, human movement science and more.
Diabetic Foot Australia’s 2018 guideline on footwear for people with diabetes highlights how pedorthists can assist with prescribing and supplying the appropriate prefabricated and/or custom-made footwear and/or orthoses for the diabetic foot.
The National Association of Diabetes Centres released the NADC Collaborative Interdisciplinary Diabetes High Risk Foot Services Standards in 2019, outlining clinical indicators for High Risk Foot Services sites aspiring to achieve a standard at the Core Standard level and Standard of Excellence described by the NADC. The purpose of the standards is to improve diabetes high risk foot care and treatment, minimising rates of re-ulceration and amputation in Australia.
The standards specifically highlight pedorthists numerous times in its indicators, requiring HRFS sites to have access to a pedorthist for regular consultation, timely prescriptions of footwear and footwear modifications from a pedorthist, and timely access to a pedorthist for referral of patients.