What the Heck is a Podiatrist?

Is that the job that works with kids? Do we paint toenails? You studied at uni to shave off callus? No, that's a paediatrician. No... but maybe if you're really nice, and definitely not, but I do remove callus frequently.

Podiatrists are the experts in conditions of the foot and lower leg.

Podiatrists are allied health professionals experienced in diagnosing, treating and managing conditions involving bones & joints, muscles, ligaments, fascia and other soft tissues, skin & nails, neurovascular health

The scope of podiatry is incredibly broad!

There are many umbrellas of podiatry including general podiatry, sports podiatry, children's podiatry, high-risk podiatry, nail surgery and the beauty of seeking podiatry care, is that podiatrists are trained in all areas (although some may chose to specialise and focus on one area). Podiatrists with extra qualifications can even prescribe common medications or perform an extended range of minor surgeries.

What types of services do podiatrists provide:

• Medical Pedicures (medi pedi)

• Removal of callus & corns

• Treatment for plantar warts

• Management of ingrown toenails

• Management of skin and nail infections

• Diagnosis and treatment of lower limb injuries

• Prescription of foot and ankle orthoses

• Strength & conditioning advice

• Management of wounds and ulcerations

• Preventative care for people with chronic conditions eg. Diabetes

• Falls risk prevention

• Management of arthritis

• Paediatric care

• Footwear advice

• And about everything in between!

Who should see a podiatrist?

Seeing a podiatrist should be the first point of call for all non-emergency foot and lower limb pain or pathology. Preventative care is our cup of tea, so anyone with questions, concerns or pathology regarding lower limb health pain and performance should definitely consider seeing a podiatrist!