Indispensable in practice: Top 5 instruments in podiatry

Instruments are an indispensable part of the basic equipment for anyone working in medical podiatry. In this article, we present the five most important instruments* that can be used during a podiatry treatment.

*Of course, such a top 5 list can vary individually, depending on the entirely personal preferences and requirements of the individual.

Application area: shortening the nails

The top nipper is one of the most important instruments in podiatry practice and should be part of every basic podiatry kit. The nail is shortened in several small cuts. With you, the index finger is located at the front to support the top nipper and enable controlled and safe working. The slightly curved shape of the cutting edge makes it easy to follow the natural shape of the nail when cutting.

The top nipper is especially robust and scores with optimum power transmission. Thicker nails can then also be shortened easily as less force is required.

Application area: Cutting out deep nail corners or nail corners of ingrown nails

Corner nippers are available in many different versions. The fine and pointed shape of the cutting edge makes it possible to trim deep-set or ingrown nail corners in the nail fold. With you, the corner nipper should be located firmly and securely in your hand so that you can work in a targeted and precise manner.

Important! Corner nippers should never be used to cut nails. The reasons for this are obvious: it is much more difficult to follow the shape of the nail when cutting and more force has to be used than with a top nipper. The practitioner often has to adopt a less ergonomic posture, which puts unnecessary strain on the wrist. In the long term, this can have serious problems such as tension pain, carpal tunnel syndrome or tennis elbow.

Application: Removal of corns, filing of calluses and callus, removal of skin or cuticles

Cuticle nippers are often also available with a scissor handle and enable especially precise filing and cutting of the skin. There should be a choice of different blade shapes for the different areas of application (straight, curved or bevelled blade). Controlled working is guaranteed thanks to the support of a finger on the foot.

Scissors or nippers? It is not the shape of the handles that is crucial, but the design of the cutting surface. With scissors, the two cutting surfaces glide mildly past each other, whereas with nippers they collide.

Application range: Variable depending on blade shape

Depending on the selected blade shape, the gouge can be used for different areas of application. These range from filing callus over large areas to removing corns, calluses and warts to cleaning the nail fold. Working in hard-to-reach areas or between the toes is made easier thanks to the medical scalpel shape of the holder.

Application area: probing and cleaning the nail and nail fold, tamponading

Nail instruments are multipurpose and can be used for all work around the nail and in the nail fold. This includes probing and cleaning the nail and nail fold, inserting tamponades or, for example, spreading nail compound.

It pays to choose instruments that are of good quality. Professional and high-quality instruments are provided with the following features, among others:

• Quality ‘Made in Germany’
• Made from stainless steel
• Replaceable springs for consistent clamping force
• Increased corrosion resistance along with a smooth and clean surface thanks to electropolishing

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