Basics of Podiatry Profession (5 cr)

Objective

The student is able to describe the key content, concepts, core competence areas and historical frame of reference of podiatry. The student knows how podiatry services have been organised, identifies the key aspects of high-quality podiatry and is committed to developing them. The student is able to describe the national and international networks of their field and to make use of them in their study and work. The student understands the ethical principles of podiatry. The student is able to search for, evaluate and provide critical grounds for research-based information and professional practices in their field, and understands the significance of evidence-based information. The student is capable of critical thinking and understands the foundations of concepts and theory formation, and understands the significance of the conception of knowledge in development work. The student is able to describe the ethical practices of good research and development work. The student is able to describe the characteristics of healthy lower extremities and feet. The student recognises changes in them and is able to apply the information to examine the customer. The student is able to palpate various anatomical structures and to describe what they have found using various palpation techniques. The student masters lower limb alignment and the assessment of load on the sole of the foot. The student understands the basis for social sustainability and is able to apply, on a personal level, the principles of social sustainability to their own student life.

Content

- Core competence areas of podiatry
- Podiatry nomenclature
- Podiatry development in Finland and around the world
- Podiatry services as part of health and social services system
- Podiatry knowledge and value base and literature
- Ethical principles of podiatry
- Critical thinking, formulation of concept and theory
- Research ethics
- National and international podiatry networks
- Legislation regulating the work of a podiatrist
- Evidence-based podiatry
- Information retrieval
- Healthy lower limb and foot
- Palpation of tissues and structures in the lower limb
- Examination of lower-limb alignment
- Examination with foot inspection mirror and foot imprint
- Foundations of social sustainability

Location and time

Metropolia Myllypuro Campus
Zoom
Teams

Materials

Duodecim: Jalkaterveys 2.uudistettu painos
VK-Kustannus: reittiopas ihmiskehoon
Opintojakson aikana jaettu muu materiaali

Teaching methods

Interactive lecture
Learning assignment
Assignment-based instruction
Guided assignments

Employer connections

Alumnin vierailu opintojakson aikana
Kirjaesitty VK-kustannus

Exam schedules

Palpaation näyttökoe 17.11.2025 erillisen aikataulun mukaan (jaetaan opintojakson alettua)

Luupalpaation arvioi lehtori Mona Liljegren
Lihaspalpaation arvioi lehtori Anni Anttila

1. uusinta 9.12.2025
2. uusinta 15.12.2025

Student workload

1op = 27t opiskelijan työtä
Kokonaiskuormitus 5op = 135 tuntia
Koostuu etätunneista, lähitunneista sekä itsenäisestä opiskelusta

Content scheduling

Basics of Podiatry Profession 3op
Palpation of tissues and structures in the lower limb 2op

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE BASE
· Student can search for professional knowledge regarding a single issue
· Student is familiar with the professional knowledge base of the field
· Student distinguishes informal information from research knowledge

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ACTIONS
· Student can act in individual professional situations according to instruction
· Student aims to act in a client-oriented way
· Student proves to have adequate skills to act in
professional situations

ETHICS, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
· Student is familiar with the ethical principles of the field
· Student can work as a member of a work group
· Student is able to evaluate personal strengths and development needs
Arviointikriteeri, hyvä (3)

Assessment criteria, good (3)

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE BASE
· Student can search for knowledge from various
sources and is familiar with the professional knowledge base of the field

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ACTIONS
· Student can work well in typical professional tasks and situations
· Student can work in a client-oriented way

ETHICS, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
· Student can act in accordance with the ethical principles of the field
· Student can work in work groups and projects
· Student develops oneself

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE BASE
· Student can search for knowledge from different sources and justifies their use
· Student utilizes the professional knowledge base

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ACTIONS
· Student can apply professional skills in professional situations and acts responsibly
· Student can act in a client-oriented way
· Student is capable of solving professional tasks and problems

ETHICS, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
· Student justifies professional activities based on the ethical principles of the field
· Student can work in work groups and projects and shares competence
· Student develops oneself

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE BASE
· Student uses professional knowledge base of the field one-sidedly and is not familiar
enough with the sources of the field

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ACTIONS
· Student does not have adequate professional
knowledge or skills
· Student does not act according to educational objectives or instruction

ETHICS, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
· Student does not consider professional safety or ethical principles sufficiently
· Student does not show adequate readiness to participate in group and development work

Assessment methods and criteria

Continuous assessment
Learning assignment
Attendance requirement
Demonstration test

Objective

The student is able to describe the key content, concepts, core competence areas and historical frame of reference of podiatry. The student knows how podiatry services have been organised, identifies the key aspects of high-quality podiatry and is committed to developing them. The student is able to describe the national and international networks of their field and to make use of them in their study and work. The student understands the ethical principles of podiatry. The student is able to search for, evaluate and provide critical grounds for research-based information and professional practices in their field, and understands the significance of evidence-based information. The student is capable of critical thinking and understands the foundations of concepts and theory formation, and understands the significance of the conception of knowledge in development work. The student is able to describe the ethical practices of good research and development work. The student is able to describe the characteristics of healthy lower extremities and feet. The student recognises changes in them and is able to apply the information to examine the customer. The student is able to palpate various anatomical structures and to describe what they have found using various palpation techniques. The student masters lower limb alignment and the assessment of load on the sole of the foot. The student understands the basis for social sustainability and is able to apply, on a personal level, the principles of social sustainability to their own student life.

Content

- Core competence areas of podiatry
- Podiatry nomenclature
- Podiatry development in Finland and around the world
- Podiatry services as part of health and social services system
- Podiatry knowledge and value base and literature
- Ethical principles of podiatry
- Critical thinking, formulation of concept and theory
- Research ethics
- National and international podiatry networks
- Legislation regulating the work of a podiatrist
- Evidence-based podiatry
- Information retrieval
- Healthy lower limb and foot
- Palpation of tissues and structures in the lower limb
- Examination of lower-limb alignment
- Examination with foot inspection mirror and foot imprint
- Foundations of social sustainability