Michael Podiatrist "I work for myself and see a wide range of patients; these include quite a large number of sports injuries. As a podiatrist I specialise in people's feet and ankles."

Michael is a self-employed private practitioner working with, among others, children, athletes and older people.

What's one of your normal days like?

I treat patients who've been referred by other members of a multi-disciplinary healthcare team. So they might have been referred by physiotherapists, sports rehabilitation therapists, GPs or orthopaedic consultants.

First of all I assess their problem; I need to come to a diagnosis. I use various assessment techniques including biomechanical, vascular and neurological. After that I develop a management plan with them; this may involve special techniques to do with they way they use or treat their feet, but it might include other specialists as well.

My work means I come into contact with many people of all ages and from all walks of life; this is something I really enjoy. Working with patients is very rewarding and working alongside other healthcare professionals means you never feel isolated. Each new patient is a new challenge in a way, and you're always learning new things - especially from other health professionals.

Treating sports injuries sounds interesting.

I work mainly with runners, golfers and cricketers; they all present with many different pathologies. First I work to establish the cause of their problem and confirm any diagnosis that's been reached. I put in place a management programme that promotes healing and limits future problems; this is essential if we're to reduce the risk of a chronic injury developing.

Chronic?

A chronic injury is one that continues permanently or for a long period as opposed to an injury we can solve or cure.

Sports rehabilitation treatment often includes manipulation and massage, electrotherapies, functional control using orthoses (insoles) as well as discussing their training methods. I have to liaise with coaches on many occasions.

Do you work long hours?

Because I work for myself it's all about personal motivation and discipline; I can put in and take out as much as I like. The time I work though is, to an extent, decided by the clinical needs of my patients. However, though I always keep their needs in mind, my hours can be flexible to suit me too. I like this!

Why did you become a podiatrist?

I was working as a community mental health worker in a multidisciplinary team and was influenced by a podiatrist I met. He was so enthusiastic about his profession that I felt I'd like to be a podiatrist, too. It took four years for me to re-train because I didn't have any formal qualifications. I took a year to do my A levels and then three years for my podiatry degree.

After qualifying I spent six months working in the NHS while I developed my private practice.

I'm extremely happy with my current patient contact. But I'm also considering other options within the profession. I want to broaden my personal interests and business opportunities, so I might do this, for example, by extending into surgery and lecturing.

Is there anything in your job you don't like doing or you find really challenging?

Every patient has their own set of individual circumstances which might in some way obstruct their rehabilitation or management of their symptom – that's a challenge I face every day. On the other hand, when you help the patient overcome these circumstances, it's very rewarding so that makes being a podiatrist a good job to do.

What things do you specially enjoy?

The contact with people. And the reward of being able to help people towards rehabilitation or reducing somebody's pain. And I have a lot of variety in my work – so no two days are ever the same; my job's never boring. It's great have flexibility in the hours I work too.