MSK Regulation

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Hi Guys

This may have been discussed before, but I am wondering what the general views are of fellow colleagues as to whether MSK should be regulated as so the practitioner has a fundamental knowledge and understanding before being able to treat patients. The variation in teaching varies from country to country and university to university, but one common ground seems to be that there is no regulation and so anybody can prescribe orthoses etc with little or no knowledge. My question is should there be either a post graduate qualification or should the degree incorporate this and be tested before being allowed to treat at a MSK level or could it be based on experience alone??

regards

Chris

 

Chris,

In my opinion, it isn't so much the Podiatrists with different levels of knowledge/experience that we should be worrying about . At least we have formal training and theoretical expertise in the foot and associated pathology/diseases etc. I would worry more about the other disciplines who do not study the foot in particular detail in their training yet still consider it within their scope of practice to recommend or prescribe orthoses because they think their patient is "over-pronating" :bang:

That said, it is incredibly important for all of us to remain up to date with current theories and to further our knowledge as practitioners throughout our careers, while working safely for the best interests of our patients. How you go about "proving" that is another question

 

Hi Chris,

I can see where you are coming from, but in practical terms it can't work.

You have to consider who prescribes foot orthoses: Pods, FHPs, Orthotists, Physios, Chiropractors, Osteopaths, and Orthopods. Only three in this group are part of the HCPC.

Who, for example, is going to tell FHPs they can't work in MSK until they have a further qual. Who, at the other end of the scale, is going to tell Orthopds that they cannot prescribe orthoses within the NHS until they have a further qual.

I'm sure you can see the problem.

 

Perhaps a single-unified-evidence-based theory of pod biomechanics/Tx would have to come first too?