Podiatry is a reasonably well known discipline of medicine. But do you know what it is a podiatrist actually does?
Let’s take a closer look at what a podiatrist does, the various podiatry services specific to Western Australia, and see how these treatments and procedures help people keep their feet comfortable in their day-to-day activities.
First off, let’s define podiatry
Podiatrists are more than just a doctor that looks at your feet. While that’s a big part of it, a podiatrist is a health professional expert in complete care of the foot, ankle, and leg. They focus on how the foot affects the biomechanics of your lower limbs, supporting their patients to improve overall lower body mobility.
The foot is an incredibly complex part of the body. There are 26 bones found in the foot, 33 joints, and over a hundred different muscles, tendons, and ligaments. These all work together to support the full weight of your body as you go about your day, throughout your entire life.
Yet despite this, our feet can often be an afterthought in our primary health care routine. This is why podiatry services are so critical.
A registered podiatrist helps you manage any foot or leg pain. They work with you to diagnose your issue, providing treatment plans that help you see an improvement—whether it’s running, walking, sports, or simply going about your daily activities.
When to see a podiatrist
Aches and pains after being on your feet all day might be just that—or it could signify something larger. We recommend seeing a podiatrist if you experience:
- Specific, localised foot pain. It could be your Achilles tendon, along the arches, or at the ball of your foot
- General foot discomfort when standing or walking
- Pain elsewhere in your lower limbs, like your ankle, calves, knees, or even lower back
- Any numbness, tingling, or other unusual sensations
- Distortion, thickening, or discolouration of your toenails
- If you notice you’re developing corns or callouses
The benefits of going for regular podiatry services
Here are some benefits that come from seeing a podiatrist regularly:
Relieve foot and leg pain
The main thing your podiatrist can support you with is providing relief for foot and leg pain. Whether it’s in the arches or the heel, pain that radiates elsewhere, irritation from skin lesions, problems with your toenails, bone structural problems, or circulation issues, your podiatrist provides services that help you improve your foot health.
Identify other potential health issues
You can tell a lot by the health of your foot, and nobody knows this better than your podiatrist. Aside from foot pain, problems with your feet can be an indicator of other potential medical issues that may need attention.
Issues like a regular tingling sensation, your feet going cold or numb, or brittle or discoloured nails can all point to conditions that need attention. Your podiatrist can support you in identifying these issues and getting you in contact with the right specialist for your needs.
Provide podiatry support to improve your quality of life
A podiatrist offers services that go beyond immediate foot pain. Your podiatrist can help you choose the right footwear that fits your feet better and provide more comfort.
They can provide hygiene services to improve the health of your feet and nails, and even work with a dietician to help you access diet and nutrition advice for conditions that affect your feet.
Is podiatry covered by Medicare?
Medicare does not normally cover podiatry as a general health service.
However, if you have a chronic condition, it can be. Your GP can give you a referral to a podiatrist if you suffer from a chronic condition that affects your feet or lower leg mobility like osteoarthritis or diabetes, and have lived with the condition for more than three months.Your podiatrist can then be included as part of an Enhanced Primary Care Plan from your GP, which allows you to access a rebate for your podiatry as part of Medicare. This rebate entitles you to up to five podiatry visits per year, as part of your health care management plan.
What are the various podiatry services to consider?
So, what does a podiatrist do? It’s a lot more than you might think.
At Brecken Health, we provide the following podiatry services:
- Foot pain management
- Management for pain in the ankles, shins, and knees
- Support to manage plantar fasciitis
- Achilles pain support
- General foot health
- Diabetes support
- Podiatric toenail and skin care services (including ingrown toenails)
- Biomechanical assessment & gait analysis
- Footwear recommendations
Want to learn more? Contact our Bunbury podiatrist today
At Brecken Health Bunbury, we’re here to help you manage your way to better foot health and get your feet comfortable. Get in touch with us today to book an appointment with our podiatry team.