What is a Podiatrist and why do I need one?

A Podiatrist and a Chiropodist mean the same thing and these two terms are used interchangeably. There are many preconceptions about what a Podiatry is and what a Podiatrist does.

Many people believe a Podiatrist just cuts toenails and removes hard skin; however, a Podiatrist is a foot and ankle specialist, trained to assess, diagnose and manage any type of foot and ankle abnormality or problem.

Upon qualifying many Podiatrists choose to sub-specialise in a particular field of Podiatry such as dermatology, diabetic foot care, biomechanics, and many more.

Most people visit a Podiatrist when they have pain or discomfort with their feet or if they notice any abnormal physical changes such as a bunion.

When you visit a Podiatrist they will carry out a thorough assessment of your feet which allows them to diagnose your condition. They will then give you specialist advice and in many cases, formulate a treatment plan for you.

If you are suffering from foot/ankle pain or notice anything unusual your first port of call should be a Podiatrist. You should not delay seeking professional advice as early detection means treatment can be started sooner rather than later and this often means a better prognosis (treatment success/cure).

The most common reasons people come to see a Podiatrist are:

• Corns and callus (hard skin)
• In-growing toenails and general nail care
• Fungal toenails
• Verrucae
• Athletes foot

You don’t have to be suffering from foot pain to make an appointment with a podiatrist. A benefit of seeing a Podiatrist can be for foot health education and prevention of problems. A Podiatrist can provide lots of useful information even before you have a complaint with your feet about how to stop the development of preventable foot problems.

Alongside this the Podiatrist can educate you on the self-care of your feet; self-care is beneficial when you are equipped with the correct knowledge of how to carry this out safely and effectively.

So, if you would like to book an appointment to see the Podiatrist, give us a call on 01380 730473.