Questions about podiatry, our clinics, and care

A podiatrist is a healthcare professional specialising in the diagnosis and non-surgical management of conditions of the foot, ankle, and lower limb. Common conditions managed include heel pain, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, flat feet, ingrown toenails, bunions, sports injuries, diabetic foot complications, and paediatric walking concerns.

An orthopaedic surgeon focuses on surgical management of bone and joint conditions across the body. A physiotherapist focuses on rehabilitation and movement across the whole body. A podiatrist is a lower limb specialist who addresses the mechanical and structural factors contributing to pain non-surgically.

Seek a podiatric assessment if your foot, ankle, or lower limb pain has persisted for more than two weeks, keeps coming back after rest, or affects your ability to walk, exercise, or carry out daily activities. Also consider it if you notice changes in toenail appearance, recurring corns or calluses, or unusual walking patterns in your child.

Yes. Podiatrists are trained to assess and manage foot and lower limb conditions in children from infants through to teenagers. Common paediatric presentations include flat feet, in-toeing, toe walking, knock knees, and growth-related pain (Sever’s disease).

The terms historically referred to similar roles. In Singapore and most modern healthcare systems, “podiatrist” is the current and broader title, covering the assessment, biomechanical analysis, and non-surgical management of foot, ankle, and lower limb conditions. “Chiropodist” is an older term, more often associated with skin and nail care alone.

A first-visit consultation at private clinics in Singapore typically ranges from $150 to $250. At Straits Podiatry, our fees are published transparently on our prices page. Additional treatments such as custom orthoses, shockwave therapy, or nail procedures are explained and priced individually before any procedure begins.

No. A referral letter is not required to see a podiatrist at a private clinic in Singapore. If you have one from a doctor, bring it along, as it helps us understand your medical history and may support insurance reimbursement claims.

Coverage depends on your policy. Many private insurance plans cover podiatry consultations and treatments under outpatient specialist benefits, often with a GP referral. We can issue itemised invoices for your claim. As members of Healthway Medical Group, our patients can also visit a Healthway GP for a referral letter where their policy requires one.

We keep first visits unhurried. Expect a focused history, a full clinical assessment, a discussion of your treatment plan, and same-day treatment where your case is clear and you consent.

Where your case is clear and you consent, yes. Custom orthotic moulding, a shockwave session, a nail procedure, taping, and rehabilitation prescription can all begin in the same visit. Some procedures (for example, partial nail avulsion in a clearly infected nail) may be scheduled separately for clinical reasons.

Any imaging or specialist reports from previous appointments, the shoes you wear most often, loose clothing for knee-up examination, a list of current medications, and your insurance card. For children: parents’ observations on walking, and any school PE comments.

We have three clinics:

• Buona Vista at 31 Rochester Drive, #02-01, near Buona Vista MRT (CC22/EW21).
• Orchard at The Centrepoint, 176 Orchard Road, #06-05, near Somerset MRT (NS23). Closed on Wednesdays.
• Paya Lebar at Paya Lebar Square, 60 Paya Lebar Road, #02-01, near Paya Lebar MRT (CC9/EW8). Closed on Thursdays.

We are a team of four internationally trained podiatrists, members of the Healthway Medical Group network. Our podiatrists delivering focused shockwave therapy are ISMST-certified, and we are early adopters of magnetotransduction therapy (EMTT) in Singapore. Where your case is clear, treatment can begin in the same visit as your assessment.

Yes. Straits Physiotherapy is the rehabilitation arm of our practice, available at our Buona Vista clinic. Our physiotherapist works closely with the podiatry team for integrated care. Learn more about Straits Physiotherapy.

Yes. Our podiatrists assess and treat children regularly. Common reasons parents bring children to us include flat feet, in-toe walking, toe walking, knock knees, leg-length differences, recurring complaints of tiredness during activity, and growth-related heel or knee pain.

Yes. All three clinics are within a short walk from an MRT station: Buona Vista MRT (CC22/EW21), Somerset MRT for Orchard (NS23), and Paya Lebar MRT for Paya Lebar (CC9/EW8).

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a non-invasive treatment that delivers acoustic energy pulses to a target tissue to promote healing in chronic tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, and bone-related conditions. Most patients experience pressure rather than sharp pain during treatment. A typical course is 3 to 5 sessions, one per week.

Magnetotransduction therapy (EMTT) uses pulsed electromagnetic fields to stimulate cellular healing. It is particularly useful for bone-related conditions, joint inflammation, and deep tendinopathies. Unlike shockwave, EMTT is entirely sensation-free during treatment. It is often used alongside shockwave for cases that have plateaued on standard care.

A typical pair of custom foot orthotics lasts 2 to 5 years depending on body weight, activity level, and how often they are worn. Sports orthoses used for high-impact activities wear faster. We review fit and condition during follow-up visits.

Partial nail avulsion with chemical matrixectomy (typically with phenol) has a high long-term success rate for definitive resolution of recurrent ingrown toenails. The procedure removes the offending nail edge and treats the matrix so it does not regrow in the same pattern. Recurrence is uncommon when the procedure is performed properly.