Foot Doctor
If you’ve ever experienced foot or ankle pain or problems you’ve probably needed to make an appointment with a foot doctor. A foot doctor, or a doctor of podiatric medicine or a podiatrist, is a specialist who provides medical diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle problems. Some of these issues may include bunions, heel pain, spurs, hammertoes, neuromas, ingrown toenails, warts, corns, and calluses. A foot doctor also provides care of sprains, fractures, infections, and injuries of the foot, ankle and heel. Foot doctors are highly educated professionals. Not only do they attend graduate school, but they are required to take state and national exams, as well as obtain a license by their practicing state.
According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, in the United States alone, there are an estimated 15,000 practicing podiatrists. Foot doctors are in high demand because of a speedily aging population. Foot disorders have become an epidemic and are a neglected health problem today.
Typically, foot doctors:
- Consult with patients and other physicians on how to prevent foot problems.
- Diagnose and treat tumors, ulcers, fractures, skin and nail diseases, and deformities.
- Perform surgeries to correct or remedy such problems as bunions, clawtoes, fractures, hammertoes, infections, ruptured Achilles, and other ligaments and tendons.
- Prescribe therapies and perform diagnostic procedures such as ultrasound and lab tests.
- Prescribe or fits patients with inserts called orthotics that correct walking patterns.
- Treat conditions such as: bone disorders, bunions, corns, calluses, cysts, heel spurs, infections, ingrown nails, and plantar fasciitis.
For more information on foot doctors,
call our Melbourne office at (321) 723-3500 or call our Eau Gallie office at (321) 255-3338!