If you have ever experienced any type of problems with your feet, ankles or lower legs, there is a very good chance that you have visited a podiatrist. That is because a podiatrist has studied to not only diagnose but to also cure ailments that are associated with those general areas. But just in case you have not, here is what you need to know about the reasons why you may want to visit a podiatrist.
What Exactly is a Podiatrist?
Essentially, a podiatrist is going to be considered a foot doctor. They are also going to be referred to as a doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM), and will typically have letters associated with their name similar to an M.D. or D.S. In this particular instance, a podiatrist is going to have the letters DPM following their name. As for what a podiatrist actually does, they are going to be responsible for handling the maintenance, diagnosis, and repair of just about all the symptoms and conditions associated with your feet, your ankles, and all of the connecting parts of your lower leg. While podiatrist is considered to be a newer name for these types of doctors, they used to be known as chiropodists, which is still used but is not going to be as common.
Now that you know what a podiatrist is, you may be wondering why you would ever need to visit one like podiatrist Maroubra OSP. Here are all of the different foot conditions that will lead you to visit your local Maroubra podiatrist.
Foot Conditions to Visit a Podiatrist
When it comes to podiatrists, they are going to treat people of all different ages. While most are going to be able to treat a wide range of different foot conditions, some may specialize in a certain area. However, for the most part, they are going to be very similar to a family doctor or even a general care physician in the sense that they are going to be able to help you no matter what the condition may be.
If your podiatrist does specialize in one certain area, however, that particular area can include:
- Wound care
- Surgery
- Sports medicine
- Pediatric or children
- Diabetes
- Some of the other types of foot problems
If you have noticed that your feet have started to hurt as of late, there is a good chance that you are going to want to visit a podiatrist. In fact, even if you are not experiencing any type of foot pains, it is still going to be a great idea to visit them and have your feet checked anyways. With that being said, here are the reasons that you may want to visit your local podiatrist.
Foot Problems to Visit a Podiatrist
Here are some of the most common types of foot problems:
- Blisters
- Ingrown toenails
- Corns
- Warts
- Calluses
- Nail infections
- Bunions
- Heel pain
- Smelly feet
- Heel spurs
- Cracked or dry skin
- Hammer toes
- Flat feet
- Sprains
- Neuromas
- Foot injuries
- Arthritis
- Muscle pain or foot ligament pain