Podiatrists treat a variety of foot and ankle conditions. These include bunions, a bony bump that forms on the outside of the big toe joint, and hammer toes, which are when smaller toes bend upward at the middle joints.

Diabetic Foot Care

Diabetes can cause nerve damage in the feet and legs, and poor circulation can lead to ulcers. People with diabetes should seek podiatry Adelaide for a thorough foot exam to detect problems.

Podiatrists can prescribe shoe inserts or orthotics to support the arches of the feet and to help with pain in the ball of the foot, heel or toes. They can also offer guidance on wearing comfortable shoes and a programme of exercises to strengthen and stretch the feet.

Many podiatrists specialise in wound care. They are trained to assess and treat injuries to the lower legs and feet, and they can manage complex and infected wounds. Wound care podiatrists work closely with specialist colleagues, such as vascular surgeons and infectious disease specialists.

A podiatrist can trim a patient’s toenails and advise on how to keep them healthy, including keeping them clean, trimming them straight across and not over-growing them. They can also remove thickened areas of skin (calluses and corns) and file rough edges on the feet. They can help people with diabetes to keep their feet healthy by recommending good shoes, wearing socks and slippers at home, protecting the skin from injury and washing and drying it properly after showering. They can also advise about checking blood circulation and pressure in the feet and ankles and managing diabetes.

High Arches

Podiatrists are trained to treat any musculoskeletal condition, but they typically focus on foot and ankle conditions. They are also trained to use various diagnostic tools and surgical techniques, including minimally invasive surgery. It means they are able to treat many conditions with less pain and recovery time than traditional surgeons.

In some cases, podiatrists may treat hereditary high arches. These types of conditions tend to be stable or predictable and are generally not very severe. However, in some people, hereditary high arches can lead to skeletal problems if not treated.

In other cases, high arches are caused by a neuromuscular disease. These are typically inherited disorders that affect the muscles and nerves of the body. Often, these are related to poliomyelitis or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which causes smaller, weaker muscles and can cause flat feet. A podiatrist can identify these types of conditions by performing a physical exam of the foot and watching how the person walks while doing so. They will also use X-rays and other diagnostic tests as needed.

Shin Splints

Foot and ankle pain can be a sign of many health issues. Unlike general medical doctors and orthopaedists who receive a broad education about the whole body, podiatrists invest years into studying the feet and ankles in detail. It gives them a better understanding of the 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments that make up your feet and ankles.

They can treat common issues like bunions, calluses, ingrown toenails, heel spurs and circulation problems in the feet for diabetic patients. They can also prescribe drugs, order X-rays and lab tests and set broken bones.

One of the most common reasons to seek treatment from podiatry Adelaide is for heel pain. It can be due to stress fractures, Severs disease (common in children aged 9-14), tendonitis or arthritis. Ill-fitting shoes or high heels may also cause the pain.

Heel pain is not to be ignored, and a podiatrist will examine your feet, check how you stand and walk, the range of movement in your joints and look at your shoes. They will be able to diagnose the issue and suggest treatment, which may include shoe inserts or orthotics, physical therapy and a programme of stretching and strengthening exercises. Another common condition a podiatrist can treat is hammer toe, which is a bending deformity of the middle joint in the second through fifth toes. It often develops due to ill-fitting or tight shoes and will become more severe if left untreated.