Education

The interdisciplinary seminar for foot treatment is already a tradition in Japan. Every year physicians, pedorthists and physical therapists meet for the joint further education of the treatment of foot problems. Last year the Belgian biomechanic and osteopath Paul Klein was our guest who presented an introduction in biomechanics of human joints.

On 31 January, the Pedorthic Association of Australia (PAA) received the profoundly disappointing news that the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health, has approved Southern Cross University’s (SCU) request to close its Pedorthics and Podiatry programs.

The next issue of foot&shoe will be published on March 16, 2021 with topics and dates from the pedorthic industry.

The profession of pedorthics must and should continue to be developed. To this end, it is necessary to transfer new knowledge, new technologies and new findings from science to the trade as quickly and practically as possible. Since last year, this task has been in the hands of a newly created competence center in Germany.

For 16 years Klaas Postema was a professor for rehabilitation at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) in the Netherlands. One of his main interests, besides amputations and prosthetics, was the treatment of movement disorders, especially the influence of orthotic treatment - including orthotic footwear - on movement and motion control.

The 2nd cohort of students had their exam and graduation in the 2nd week of December at VIETCOT in Hanoi, Vietnam. VIETCOT is the Vietnamese Training Centre for Orthopaedic Technologists (VIETCOT) in the Vietnamese Capital Hanoi. 8 students from different countries successfully completed an 18 month full time educational program. The course was developed and delivered by Fontys University of Allied Health Professions (Fontys Paramedische Hogeschool, Eindhoven the Netherlands) with cooperation and support from VIETCOT in Hanoi. By Karl-Heinz Schott

Fred Holtkamp holds a masters degree in rehabilitation engineering and is associate lector at Fontys University in Eindhoven at the Institute for Allied Health Professions and holds a position as visiting professor at the University of Labour and Social Affairs (ULSA) in Hanoi, Vietnam.
He was involved in a program in Vietnam where students are educated in making and adapting shoes for patients with foot disorders. Now he is researching the possibilities of establishing a similar program also in Africa. In the interview he talks about the difficulties while setting up a program like this and why these programs are so important for spreading the knowledge about professional footcare.

In Southeast Asia in general, there is a lack of skilled staff and (training) facilities to provide essential aid for people with foot related mobility problems, caused by serious foot deformities and diseases such as diabetes and leprosy. In rural areas in Asia, these conditions concerning training and foot care are worst. Two Dutch NGO’s, i.e., Netherlands Leprosy Relief and Liliane Foundation, focus on solving children‘s foot related mobility problems.

Footwear is part of the essentials in life in many cultures. It protects the foot from the environment, is a fashion statement, a status symbol and can be a cultural expression or of religious use. Those factors make footwear at times a very emotional item. Little is understood about the medical application of footwear/pedorthics as an orthotic/therapeutic device and therefore an assistive technology. The best comparison could be made with orthotic devices of the foot but also the foot and ankle.