When it comes to seeking help for foot and leg problems, there are a few different health professions that may be able to assist. However, each of these will have both unique and overlapping areas of expertise which can make it difficult to know where to start.
Although we can’t speak on behalf of the other disciplines, we thought we’d share our thoughts about some of the reasons why someone might book an appointment to see a podiatrist.
Reasons to See a Podiatrist
Podiatrists are often colloquially known as foot doctors, which makes sense given that much of their working day is spent assessing, diagnosing and treating different types of foot problems. However, what many people don’t realise is that podiatrists can also assist with many other lower limb concerns too!
For podiatrists, their scope of practice has evolved somewhat from their chiropody predecessor which focused on foot and nail care to include other professional services such as biomechanics, orthotics and so on. In fact, podiatrists are trained to assess, diagnose, treat and manage a range of different conditions that affect the feet, ankles, knees, legs and sometimes even the hips.
So, when should you see a podiatrist?
Since podiatrists deal with a range of foot and leg problems, there are many different reasons to see a podiatrist, some of which include:
- Unexplained or unresolved foot or leg pain
- Growing pains, bow legs, toe walking in children
- Foot problems such as bunions, plantar fasciitis and Morton’s neuroma
- Foot orthotics and footwear advice
- Cracked or callused heels, painful corns or recurring toenail problems
There are of course many other reasons to see a podiatrist, which is why an initial appointment is so important. At the initial appointment, your podiatrist can assess the area of concern, offer a diagnosis and discuss treatment options to help you decide whether podiatry might suit your circumstances. From there, it may be possible for the podiatrist to provide follow up care at subsequent appointments to manage the problem or it might be necessary to involve other health professionals for a multi-disciplinary approach.
Summary & Key Takeaways
When it comes to finding help for your foot and leg problems, there are a few different health professions that may be able to assist. Podiatry is one of those professions but is sometimes overlooked due to the misconception that podiatrists only cut toenails and trim away callus.
However, there are many other reasons to see a podiatrist so if you haven’t considered podiatry before for your foot and leg concerns, now might be the time. You don’t need a referral to be seen as a private patient and appointments can be made easily by contacting the clinic that is most convenient for you.
