Podiatry Adelaide (podiatric medicine) entails diagnosing, treating and preventing foot, ankle and lower leg issues like arthritis, bunions or hammertoes. Podiatrists specialise in this field.

To become a podiatrist, most students earn a bachelor’s degree and enrol in a 4-year podiatric medical school. \

Heel Pain

Heel pain is a prevalent ailment with various sources. Most commonly, however, the culprit lies with the excess strain being placed upon the plantar fascia (the fibrous band of tissue connecting the heel bone to the base of toes), leading to injury and inflammation of this ligament and calcium deposits around heel bones (called heel spurs).

Podiatrists offer treatment for hammertoes, which are bending deformities of the second to fifth toes that result from poorly fitting shoes and can worsen over time if untreated early. Furthermore, podiatrists specialise in bunions – lumps at the base of one or more big toes – which they also treat.

Ingrown Toenails

An ingrown toenail occurs when it penetrates its surrounding skin, usually on the big toe, often due to improper nail trimming with curved corners or from heredity or pressure from tight shoes on toenails.

An ingrown toenail can be extremely uncomfortable and, left untreated, may lead to infection – something especially detrimental for people with poor circulation, such as diabetics. Prompt treatment helps lower the risks of complications while keeping you mobile.

Podiatry Adelaide can trim and shape your nails, clean and sanitise the area around your toenails, remove infected nail sections, and provide home care tips such as soaking your feet in warm water with Epsom salts to prevent ingrown toenails. Additionally, they offer immediate diagnosis and treatment should an ingrown toenail be causing pain or turning red and swollen.

Fractures and Sprains

When you have injured your foot or ankle, consulting a podiatrist is key in getting back up and running again. These doctors are specially trained to identify sprains and fractures and treat these injuries to minimise long-term damage.

If your break is serious, your podiatrist may attempt to “reduce” it, which means aligning the ends of bones so they can heal correctly. Podiatry Adelaide might then use metal plates and screws to repair it before placing you in a special “boot” or cast to keep you immobilised while crutches assist during recovery.

Sports Medicine

Podiatrists specialise in treating sports-related foot, ankle and lower leg injuries. They can quickly get you back in the game using various treatments like plaster casts or flexible strappings to restore mobility quickly.

Many podiatrists we surveyed identified relationship building as one of the most rewarding parts of their job. They regularly collaborate with other health professionals and athletic trainers to assist athletes in recovering from injuries quickly.

Professional podiatrists also apply their expertise to foster an active lifestyle with proper foot and leg mechanics, prescribing orthotics to improve your foot function, helping prevent injury or enhance performance, which is particularly vital for athletes competing at high levels. Orthotic care may also be prescribed to treat various conditions like ingrown toenails, bunions, shortened tendons and bone disorders, as well as diagnose and treat injuries like sprains, fractures or any other injury sustained from running and jumping activities.

The foot and ankle are complex structures that play a vital role in mobility, balance and the overall health of the body. Podiatry is the medical specialty that deals with disorders of these structures, including pain, aching and numbness. Depending on the practice type and setting, podiatrists may also deal with wound care, pharmacology, biomechanics, sports medicine, and various surgical techniques.

A podiatrist will often work 30 to 60 hours per week, depending on the type of practice and the number of patients. It’s a low-acuity field, but podiatrists can still expect to work with trauma, pediatrics, geriatrics and other specialties. They will need to be comfortable with anaesthesia and working in operating rooms. They should also be prepared to travel and attend conferences, seminars and other educational activities. A career in podiatry can be very rewarding, particularly as the demand for podiatric services continues to grow. The profession is stable and well-respected, and there are good opportunities for advancement.