If you have sustained a foot injury or are dealing with excruciating heel pain after a good jogging session, your friends may suggest a specialist in sports podiatry.

 
If your child is clumsy or has developed a habit of toe walking, then you might get a recommendation for a Podiatrist Noosaville.

 
In addition to this, if your father is a diabetic and often struggles with slow recovering blisters and corns, suggestions are often given to find a podiatrist.

 
So what exactly is a podiatrist? Are they superhumans? Do they have superpowers to cure all your ailments?

 
Well, for some families a podiatrist is no less than a super human who deals with all the issues related to feet. In this post, we will discuss the specialty of a podiatrist and why you need one.
 
What do you understand about podiatry?
 
Podiatry is a branch of medical science concerned with the issues of lower extremities. The term lower extremity is related to the leg, the ankle, and the foot. Any kind of pain, injury or disease in the lower extremity is treated by podiatrists who attend a podiatry school and also complete their residency to become board-certified medical professionals.
 
What conditions do podiatrists treat?
Any disorder related to your lower legs can be handled efficiently by a podiatrist. Based on the specialisation, there are branches such as prevention of peripheral vascular disease and general podiatry.
 
General podiatry involves routine care of ankles, feet and nails. The licensed doctors can perform a variety of treatments for below mentioned conditions:

Nail conditions: You can go to a podiatrist for timely diagnosis and treatment of ingrown nails, thickening nails, and fungal toenail infections.Skin conditions: Podiatrists are also experts in treating skin problems like corns, callus, warts, dry skin, and tinea.Foot pain: Any deformity or injury that results in aching of feet can be treated by a podiatrist. For instance, heel pain, fracture, sprains, infection or bunions.

 
 
A kids podiatrist is highly recommended for timely intervention of structural alignment problems. Young childrenare always on the move; they jump, they run and most likely they injure themselves. Seeing a paediatric podiatrist is the wisest decision if your child is dealing with growing pains, heel pain, ankle sprains, tight calves, cramps or plantar fasciitis. If your toddler is not walking properly, you should consult a child podiatrist for biomechanical analysis of gait disorders. These doctors are specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of overriding toes, poor balance, flat feet, alignment disorder or delayed walking.
 
Sports podiatry is helpful for individuals involved in sports activities. Athletes or anyone who puts greater physical pressure on their lower limbs can consult a podiatrist for treatment of sports related injuries like heel spurs, Morton’s Neuroma, knee pain, hip and back pain and spinal problems. With a thorough biomechanical assessment, a sports podiatrist can diagnose a variety of injuries and disorders causing pain and discomfort.
 
Potential foot complications related to diabetes are also treated by podiatrists. A licensed podiatrist can conduct neurological and vascular assessments to identify circulation damage and nerve damage which are most common in diabetics. Further, a diabetic patient should get regular check upswitha podiatrist for diabetes foot care which involves diagnosis and treatment of calluses, dry skin, ulcers etc.
 
To put it simply, any disorder related to your calves, ankles, heels, feet, nails or the skin of the leg can be treated efficiently by a podiatrist. People from all age groups and different lifestyles need timely consultation with a podiatrist to maintain good health of their feet.
 
What are the treatment options available at a podiatry clinic?
From ingrown toenails to plantar fasciitis and from stress fractures to peripheral neuropathy, the range of conditions treated at a podiatry clinic is vast and so are the treatment choices. With a thorough biomechanical assessment and the latest imaging techniques, a board certified podiatrist can use the below mentioned treatment options:
 

Surgery: A podiatrist is a licensed professional to perform ingrown toenail surgery. The hour-long partial nail avulsion surgery is helpful in preventing the recurrence of ingrown toenails.Shockwave therapy: Leveraging technology and innovation, podiatrists use acoustic shockwaves to speed uptissue repair. Weekly treatments of shockwave therapy are helpful in a variety of painful conditions.Foot Mobilisation technique: It is a manual therapy performed to improve foot and leg function. If you are suffering from stiffness or poor alignment, consecutive appointments for foot mobilisation are essential for faster recovery.Laser treatment: Podiatrists are high in demand for the fast and side-effect-free treatment option of laser therapy that is used to get rid of stubborn toenail fungal infection.Acupuncture: For chronic pains, you can book an appointment for a dry needling session at a podiatrist’s clinic. Acupuncture needles stimulate nerve fibres and are helpful in treating tendon injuries and tight muscles.Footwear: Wearing sandals, high heels or sports shoes that are ill-fitted can create a nuisance. A podiatrist offers footwear guidance for conditions like plantar fasciitis, diabetes, ingrown toenails and more.Orthotics: You can visit a podiatrist’s clinic to get an in-depth diagnosis of your foot condition, shoes, activity levels andget customised supporting devices. There are sports orthotics and accommodative orthotics for diabetes which can only be used after professional consultation.

 
When to see a podiatrist?
At some point in our lives, we need one-to-one consultation with a podiatrist. Waiting can make the pain worse, so timely consultation is highly recommended. Go to a podiatrist if you are dealing with prolonged heel pain, poor blood flow, footwear problems, ingrown toenail pain, painful bunions, or any signs of infections. Even when there is no issue, a diabetic should seek regular consultation with a podiatrist for general foot care. You can also take your child to a podiatrist regularly for a timely assessment of growth patterns.
 
Visiting a podiatrist regularly is a wise decision because foot pain is a common condition. Any disorder related to nails, skin and joints in the lower limbs can be treated by a podiatrist. Visit the link given below to book an appointment with a board certified Podiatrist on the Sunshine Coast.
 
https://www.suncoastpodiatry.com.au/contact-us/