What Is a Foot Doctor and What Do They Treat?

A foot doctor is more commonly known as a podiatrist. Podiatrists are health professionals who assess, diagnose and treat conditions affecting the feet, ankles and lower limbs.

That can mean treating a painful ingrown toenail one day and helping someone with heel pain, a sports injury or ongoing foot problems the next.

Podiatry isn’t only about treating pain. Your podiatrist can also look at how your feet and lower limbs function when you stand, walk, run and move.

What Does a Podiatrist Treat?

There are plenty of reasons you might see a podiatrist. Some are painful, while others may simply be something you’ve noticed has changed.

Common conditions we treat include:

• Ingrown toenails
• Heel and arch pain
• Plantar fasciitis
• Corns and calluses
• Cracked heels
• Fungal nail and skin infections
• Warts
• Foot and ankle injuries
• Sports injuries
• Balance and mobility problems
• Arthritis-related foot problems
• General foot and nail concerns

You don’t need to know exactly what’s causing the problem before making an appointment. That’s what the assessment is for.

When Should You See a Podiatrist?

You don’t have to wait until foot pain becomes severe.

Consider seeing a podiatrist if you have persistent foot, heel or ankle pain, changes to your toenails or skin, difficulty walking comfortably or an injury that isn’t settling.

You may also benefit from podiatry if you have a health condition that requires ongoing monitoring of your feet.

In most cases, you can make an appointment directly with a podiatrist without a GP referral.

What Happens at a Podiatry Appointment?

Your first appointment starts with finding out what’s bothering you.

We’ll discuss your symptoms, medical history and any previous injuries that may be relevant. Depending on the problem, your podiatrist may also assess your feet, footwear, joints, muscles and the way you stand or walk.

We’ll then explain what we’ve found and discuss the treatment options that are appropriate for you.

Some problems can be treated during the first appointment. Others may need further treatment, rehabilitation, diagnostic imaging or ongoing care.

Looking for a Foot Doctor on the Central Coast?

East Gosford Podiatry provides assessment and treatment for a wide range of foot, ankle and lower limb conditions.

Our East Gosford clinic sees patients from Gosford, Erina, Terrigal, Wyoming, Green Point and across the Central Coast.

Whether you’ve developed a new problem or have been putting up with foot pain for a while, we’ll help work out what’s causing it and what can be done about it.

Book an appointment with East Gosford Podiatry and get your feet back to feeling their best.