PODIATRIC MEDICAL SKILLS 1 Credit Hour

Catalog description

Podiatric Medical Skills is a practical course, which includes strapping and padding, instrument dexterity, local anesthetic injection, nail avulsion technique, blood glucose finger stick, handheld Doppler exam, fitting for diabetic shoes, arthrometric examination and casting for orthoses. Students are taught the indications and proper application of adhesive bandages and splints for the prevention of injury, control of foot function and treatment of injuries to the foot and lower extremity. Padding is the treatment of foot pathology by redistribution of weight, stress and friction. Students are taught how to relieve acute and chronic pathologies of the foot through the use of various padding materials, or prefabricated pads. Students also gain an understanding of the theory of pad placement. Students are taught the proper techniques for performing toenail avulsions, blood glucose finger sticks, and using the handheld Doppler. Students are taught the proper methods of fitting for diabetic shoes, performing a foot and ankle arthrometric examination and casting methods for foot orthoses.