Every 9 out of 10 people in Ontario encounter a problem related to their foot in their lifetime. However, many do not seek the help of a professional out of embarrassment or lack of knowledge. It is a misconception that foot-related problems will always resolve with time. This may be the case in some situations, but the problem can worsen in other circumstances.
If you ever experience severe pain with your feet and ankles that remain persistent, you should consult a podiatrist. It may be more than stress pain and consulting an expert on time will prevent future health problems from further developing.
Before we discuss the advantages of seeking podiatry treatment, let’s see who are Podiatrists and how do they help us.
Who are Podiatrists?
Podiatry is a field of medicine that focuses on the health of your feet. They deal with the diagnosis, prevention, rehabilitation, and treatment of your foot, ankle, and lower leg. These treatments can help improve your flexibility and ensure independence from foot problems.
Podiatrists are feet health experts who provide treatment to your foot-related problem. It is important to seek podiatrist services to ensure your feet are in good condition. They have comprehensive in-depth knowledge of the foot and how to cure foot-related problems such as bone and joint disorders, muscular problems and other circulatory diseases. Such extensive training helps podiatrists to identify foot and leg problems and create a proactive treatment plan to cure them.
Many Podiatry Ontario experts provide education for self-care and foot problem prevention especially to athletes, elderly, and handicapped people.
What are the benefits of Podiatry treatment?
Investing in good Podiatry treatment can be beneficial to your foot health and prevent any possible health problems in the future. Listed are some of the advantages of taking a Podiatry treatment.
1. They can cure your Foot health problems
Podiatry treatments are designed to cure and prevent foot and ankle pain from minor ailments such as fungal infection, nail condition, skin lesions to major serious diseases including bone deformation, limb salvage, etc.
Before the treatment, a podiatrist will consider your medical history, occupation, and lifestyle, footwear that will help him diagnose the health of your feet and consequently prescribe the right treatment for you. Further therapies can be prescribed helping you keep your feet in healthy condition
2. Maintaining the overall health of your feet
It not necessary that you need to have a serious foot problem to visit a podiatrist. A regular visit to the clinic can help maintain the overall health of the feet.
Feet are vulnerable to all kinds of diseases and disorders that are likely to affect movement and overall health. Overlooking small problems like cracked heels, ingrown toenails, verrucas, etc. can lead to painful infections. There is, for example, a disease that affects feet like athletes ‘ feet and needs to be addressed early enough before they cause any trouble. Keeping in check on your feet’s health can help maintain the overall condition of your feet and treat any possible disease before they appear.
3. Help manage the pain in your feet
Keeping up with foot pain is unnecessary and uncomfortable. Several therapies can help release stress and cure any chronic disease you might have. A trip to your podiatrist is all you need to get your feet back to complete health. It will not only help keep you prone from any disease but will also ensure the appearance of your feet.
4. Help you eradicate feet odor
It is common to suffer from time to time with foot odor and precipitation. However, if this becomes persistent, seeking medical treatment might be a good choice. This will help resolve the issues effectively and quickly and you won’t have to suffer from smelly feet embarrassment ever.
5. Help to make a lifestyle change
Nutrition is extremely important when it comes to the protection of the toenail and the body requires certain vitamins from the food to avoid the thickening, discoloration or breakage of the nails. Apart from giving medical treatment, a podiatrist can also recommend making changes in your diet like adding more protein and iron supplements in your diet.
Podiatrists can also provide valuable advice on breathable footwear and correct standards of hygiene. For those over the age of 60, it is especially important to live a lifestyle that preserves good foot health. The joints in our toes can often get weaker as we age, and the ankles are more likely to retain water and swell. Podiatrists can help the elderly to stay comfortable and safe with helpful advice and recommendations.