What Is A Podiatrist?
Do your feet ache when you wake up in the morning? Do you get sore heels after walking, or a recurring case of athlete’s foot? If any of these describe you, or if you have any other issues concerning your feet or lower limbs, it may be time to see a podiatrist.
A podiatrist is a doctor with an interest in conditions affecting the feet, ankles, and lower limbs. They assess these areas of the body with an aim of diagnosing the problem and working on a treatment plan to help you feel your best.
How A Podiatrist May Help You
In assessing, diagnosing, and helping you with lower limb and foot conditions, your podiatrist may use one or a combination of the following:
Nail Care
Nail care may help with diagnosing issues that affect the nails before they become more serious, such as treatment for fungal nail infections.
Wart Treatment
Treatment for warts has come a long way in recent years, and may include natural therapies, cryotherapy, or freezing.
Diabetic Foot Care
People with diabetes recognise the importance of foot care by a podiatrist including regular checks to examine circulation and detect any possible issues.
Corn And Callus Treatment
Treating a corn or callus should always be done by a podiatrist, as this aims to treat the underlying problem rather than just the symptom.
Common Foot And Lower Leg Conditions
We assist with common conditions, including:
Heel And Ankle Pain
Heel and ankle pain can be attributed to plantar fasciitis or another condition. Regardless of its cause, heel and ankle pain can stop you from moving about how you’d like.
Sports Injuries
Common sports injuries that may affect the feet include Achilles tendonitis, stress fractures, ankle sprains, and heel spurs.
Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails may be the result of tight fitting footwear, poor cutting techniques, or injuring your toe, leading to pain, tenderness, redness, and swelling.
Fungal Nail Infections
Fungal nail infections may cause your nails to thicken or become brittle, crumbly, or ragged. This usually affects the toenails but can occur on fingernails as well.
Calluses And Corns
A callus is a thickened and rough area of skin usually found on the soles of the feet, while corns are similar but are generally smaller, harder, and more painful.
Warts
Warts on feet are generally known as plantar warts and are often painful, hard, grainy growths found on the heel or ball of the foot.
Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot isn’t restricted to just athletes— it is a fungal skin infection that usually occurs when somebody wears tight-fitting shoes that their feet begin to sweat in.
Diabetic Foot Care
People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing foot problems due to the likelihood of nerve damage in the feet, blood circulation issues, and risk of infection.
Ready to book your initial podiatry assessment?
What to Expect During Podiatry Care
Comprehensive Assessment
We aim to uncover the underlying cause of your foot, ankle, or lower limb issue, and work with you to fix it. This may include many questions and some physical assessments so we can be as thorough in our assessment as possible.
Customised Diagnosis
No two diagnoses will be exactly the same. A customised diagnosis is for you and you alone, and helps to determine which treatment(s) may be best for you.
Tailored Treatment
As a result of your customised diagnosis, your treatment will be tailored specifically for you and your individual concerns and needs.
Your Podiatry Questions Answered
What should I look for in a podiatrist?
Education and experience is important, but so is a good working relationship. Ensure you choose a podiatrist who understands your specific concern and answers your questions with confidence and puts your mind at ease.
How often will I need to visit a podiatrist?
The frequency you see your podiatrist will depend on your condition and its severity, so this will vary. We recommend asking your podiatrist during your consultation for their estimate.
I have diabetes— Can a podiatrist help me?
It’s important for people with diabetes to see a podiatrist regularly, so if you’re looking for a podiatrist for this reason, we can certainly help.
Why do I feel pain in my feet when I walk or exercise?
If you feel pain when you walk or exercise, this could be due to a number of reasons, including plantar fasciitis, ingrown toenails, arthritis, diabetes, high arches, flat feet, and more.
Can my foot pain cause lower back pain?
As your feet hold the rest of your body up, they can certainly contribute to lower back pain.
What areas do you service?
We treat patients across Perth, including suburbs such as: Crawley, Dalkeith, Nedlands, Claremont, Peppermint Grove, Mosman Park, Karrakatta, Mount Claremont, Swanbourne, Shenton Park, Subiaco, Floreat, Wembley and Fremantle.
Help Your Feet, Help You!
Foot and leg pain can cause you to alter the way you live and move, negatively impacting your life. At The Foot Clinic we want to see you doing what you love, kicking off your shoes, and digging your toes into the sand. Our team of podiatrists can help with just that! With years of experience and a passion for helping others, we do all we can to get you back up and running.
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