The pedicurist is an individual specialist in medical care and foot treatment
In some states, podiatrists can also treat back and lower body conditions, including ulcers, leg nerve damage, and sports injuries.
Podiatrists attend podiatric medical schools. They also underwent several years of training in hospitals and clinics.
Read on to find out what podiatrists are doing, what types of illnesses they are treating, and more.
What is a podiatrist?
A podiatrist is a healthcare professional who diagnoses and treats medical conditions and injuries that mainly affect the feet and podiatrists always suggest patients to wear plantar fasciitis relief socks for pain relief. Sometimes they can also diagnose and treat hip and arm problems, although it depends on where they work. Podo-therapists go through many training and educational programs before they start treating people.
Podiatrists obtain doctorates from accredited podiatry institutions. Although they have extensive knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, their training focuses on the treatment of the lower limbs, especially the feet. Podiatrists gain practical experience during on-the-job training in hospitals and medical clinics. Upon completion of this training, they will be required to pass a series of board examinations. A fully licensed podiatrist has the letters DPM next to their name, which means a doctor of podiatric medicine. Although treatment is often hands on, a podiatrist can perform Telehealth podiatry Canberra where they examine your concerns over a video link and determine a treatment plan or whether an in-person visit is required. This may work well as there are many podiatry treatments that require prescription creams or simple exercises you can perform at home.
People can consult a podiatrist if they experience pain, numbness or swelling in the leg.
Podiatrists can diagnose and treat many conditions, including:
- foot injuries such as fractures or bone fractures, as well as sprains and strains
- foot pain and inflammation due to arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or gout
- diabetic foot diseases such as infections, chronic ulcers and nerve damage or neuropathy
- structural abnormalities of the foot, including the hammer toe, flat foot, and long arch
- skin diseases such as warts, corn, plantar dermatosis and athletic foot
- nail conditions, including ingrown toenails and nail infections
- causes great pain such as plantar fasciitis
Types of podiatrists:
Some podiatrists treat various general foot conditions, similar to primary care physicians. Others specialize in specific types of podiatry, such as sports medicine or wound care.
Other pediatric specialists include:
- orthodoxy
- diabetes
- dermatology
- Childcare
- geriatric care
- neurological condition of the foot
- state of food circulation
- autoimmune and inflammatory conditions
- general or reconstructive surgery
Diagnosis:
Podiatrists usually begin the process of diagnosis by reviewing a person’s medical history and current symptoms.
They perform basic physical examinations of the foot. During this examination, they looked for signs of inflammation and skin discoloration. They can ask someone to walk or move their feet and toes in different directions.
Based on their initial findings, podiatrists use orthotic insoles to treat a wide variety of foot pains including heel pain, but they may recommend further tests before making a definitive diagnosis. Podiatrists can use the following diagnostic tools:
- Imaging tests, including X-ray, ultrasound, bone scan, CT scan and MRI scan. These tests can show bone fractures, blocked or narrowed blood vessels and other structural problems.
- Blood tests to detect the presence of infection or inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- Quantitative sensory testing uses a special computer system that records how well nerves observe changes in temperature and vibration.Podiatrists use this test to diagnose diabetic neuropathy, hypersensitivity and other nervous diseases of the foot.
- Electromyography (EMG) measures how well muscles respond to nerve impulses. During the test, the healthcare provider inserts one or more thin needles, called electrodes, into the muscle to extract electrical activity from the muscle tissue. Abnormal EMG results indicate a nerve problem and can help your pedicurist manage your treatment.
Treatment of Podiatry
Once a podiatrist makes a diagnosis, they can recommend treatment. A podiatrist may work with another specialist or an entire healthcare team, depending on the type and severity of the condition.
Podiatrists can provide the following treatments:
- Contact Prospect Podiatry which is the best podiatry centre for podiatry services.
- setting fractured bones
- prescription medication, such as pain relievers, antibiotics, and antifungals
- corticosteroid, or cortisone, joint injections
- joint aspiration, or removing fluid from the space around a joint
- corrective footwear
- orthotic devices, including insoles and braces
- Podiatric surgeons perform different surgical procedures to:
treat inflamed or torn tendons and ligaments:
- set broken bones
- remove bunions, bone spurs, and tumors
- debridement of damaged, infected, or dead tissue
- correct structural abnormalities, such as hammertoes and flat feet
Conclusion:
Foot problems can affect a person’s daily life. A pedicurist can diagnose and treat many foot diseases, from broken bones to complications of basic health conditions, including diabetes and arthritis.
