A lot of people may wonder “What does a podiatrist do” and when you should see one.
Firstly an Allied health professional with a degree in podiatry is a podiatrist.
“A Podiatrist is a university educated health care professional specialising in the prevention, diagnoses, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders, medical and surgical, of the feet and lower limbs”.
Secondly they are specialists in treating disorders of the feet and lower limbs that are painful and debilitating.
Why are Podiatrists Necessary?
Podiatrists are necessary as the foot is a highly complex part of the body. It consists of numerous bones, joints, nerves, blood vessels, ligaments, muscles and associated tendons. Damage to any of these structures can develop problems, affecting a patient’s overall health and well being.
Podiatrists work in a range of clinical settings including public hospitals or government agencies, including private practices, medical clinics, aged care facilities and sports clinics.
They are important primary health care professionals, as the foot may be the first area to show signs of other serious conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, or heart disease. If a podiatrist detects any signs in the feet that may indicate other conditions they can advise you.
In addition to general foot care, a podiatrist is qualified to treat specific lower limb foot conditions. These may include the areas of:
- Foot pain (e.g bunions, foot arthritis, clawed toes).
- Sports injuries and rehabilitation (e.g ankle sprains, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, Achilles Tendinopathy, Plantar Fasciitis)
- Paediatric podiatry (Children’s feet- e.g Severs Disease).
- Diabetes foot assessments and associated complications.
- Nail and foot care (i.e. corns, callus, warts, fungal nails, cracked heels and ingrown toenails).
A podiatrist can also assist you with selecting appropriate footwear, training, exercise and stretching programs to get you back on your feet!
Well Heeled Podiatry has fully qualified and experienced podiatrists who are registered with the Podiatry Board of Australia. Our podiatrists specialise in manual therapies such as shockwave therapy, dry needling, Tool Assisted Massage, Prolotherapy and Foot Mobilisation Therapy .
