From Heel to Toe: Foot Health Awareness Panel Held at IGU

Moderated by Prof. Dr. Zuhal Kunduracılar, Head of the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at the IGU Faculty of Health Sciences, the panel brought together the disciplines of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation and Podiatry. In her opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Kunduracılar emphasized that foot health should not be considered merely a local issue, highlighting its direct relationship with posture, balance, gait function, and overall quality of life. She underlined that interdisciplinary collaboration provides substantial scientific and clinical benefits in both preventive healthcare services and rehabilitation processes.

In the first session, Lecturer Almina Durmuş Koç, Head of the Podiatry Program and Head of the Department of Health Care Services at the IGU Vocational School of Health Services, delivered a presentation titled “Diabetes and the Foot.” She comprehensively discussed the impact of diabetes on foot health, addressing the roles of neuropathic and vascular factors in the development of diabetic foot complications. Emphasizing the critical importance of early assessment, regular follow-up, and patient education, Koç highlighted strategies to prevent complications, presenting her talk alongside clinical examples and current approaches.
 

The second session featured Asst. Prof. Ayşe Toraman Karagülmez from Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Ahmet Erdoğan Vocational School of Health Services, Podiatry Program, who addressed “Biomechanical Changes in the Geriatric Foot.” She evaluated structural and functional changes occurring in the foot during the aging process and their effects on pressure distribution, balance control, and fall risk, supported by scientific evidence. Preventive and supportive approaches aimed at improving quality of life in geriatric individuals were particularly emphasized.

In the third presentation, Research Assistant Gökay Çakıroğlu from the IGU Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation (English Program), discussed “Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and the Foot.” He addressed the influence of foot function on walking capacity, exercise tolerance, and functional independence, stressing that foot biomechanics should not be overlooked in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation processes. Çakıroğlu highlighted that multidisciplinary assessment strengthens clinical outcomes.

In the final session, Specialist Orthotist–Prosthetist Hamza Sinen delivered a presentation titled “Orthotics and Prosthetics Expertise for Optimal Foot Health: The Critical Intersection of Physiotherapy and Podiatry.” Addressing the role of individualized orthotic and prosthetic applications in functional recovery, Sinen shared practical insights through clinical examples, emphasizing coordinated practice with physiotherapy and podiatry.

During the question-and-answer session that followed, topics related particularly to foot biomechanics and orthotic applications came to the forefront. This interactive segment, which attracted strong interest from podiatry students, explored clinical decision-making processes, individualized assessment approaches, and practice-oriented questions in detail, contributing to the development of students’ professional awareness and clinical perspectives.

At the conclusion of the event, plaques of appreciation were presented to guest speakers Asst. Prof. Ayşe Toraman Karagülmez and Specialist Orthotist–Prosthetist Hamza Sinen by Prof. Dr. Zuhal Kunduracılar and Lecturer Almina Durmuş Koç in recognition of their contributions. The ceremony included expressions of goodwill regarding the advancement of academic collaborations and the continuation of joint projects.

The panel, jointly organized by the Departments of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation and Podiatry, contributed to increasing social awareness of foot health while offering a high-quality platform where academic knowledge met clinical experience. The event was regarded as an important academic activity that strengthened university–community engagement.