3 Ways That A Foot And Ankle Specialist Can Help
Posted on: 4 April 2016
One of the most useful medical professionals to consult is a foot and ankle specialist, mostly because any issues with your feet and ankle can cause problems with a variety of other parts of your body. Listed below are just a few of the ways that a foot and ankle specialist can help you.
Running Health
One of the biggest reasons that many people see a foot and ankle specialist is to determine if they can take up running. A foot and ankle specialist can look at your weight, joint strength, and the condition of your feet in order to determine if you are healthy enough to begin running. If your joints are weak, he or she may suggest that you work on building those up before you begin running in order to avoid permanent damage to the joints. They may also advise that you lose a bit of weight to lessen the impact on your knees and ankles when you run.
Gait Problems
Another big reason to see this type of specialist is that he or she will be able to help you ensure that you are walking properly. This is an important service as issues with the way you walk can lead to posture issues that can cause severe leg, back, and hip pain over the years. A foot specialist can watch you walk for a few minutes in order to determine what is causing the issues with your gait.
If your gait issues are a result of flat feet or other structural issues with your feet, he or she can prescribe orthotics that can resolve the issue. If your issues are a result of pain due to a bunion or corn, he or she can begin treating and removing those issues so that you can begin walking naturally again.
Fungal Infections
Finally, you will want to see a foot specialist if you notice that your feet are giving off a foul odor or that your toenails are starting to become discolored. This is very important as both of those issues can a sign that you have developed a fungal infection.
You can often get a fungal infection by walking around a communal area in your bare feet or if you have not been properly cleaning your feet. The main reasons that it is important that you see a foot and ankle specialist as soon as you suspect that you have a fungal infection is that many of the fungal infections will spread very quickly if they are not dealt with quickly and they can also be quite resistant to store-bought creams and medications.
Make an appointment with a foot and ankle specialist, like Elmhurst Podiatry Center Ltd, today in order to discuss how he or she can help you with your particular medical situation and needs. This type of healthcare professional can help you deal with fungal infections and gait problems while also ensuring that you can take up running in a safe and healthy manner.
Share