When should you see a podiatrist?
You can consult a podiatrist if you have problems with your feet, toes, nails, ankles, knees, hips or back. Even if moving around has become less comfortable or your symptoms recur, it may be worth investigating whether your posture, foot position or the way you move plays a role in this.
When people think of a podiatrist, they mainly think of foot problems. That’s true: feet often play an important role in podiatry. But feet are not separate from the rest of your body. The way your feet move affects how you stand, walk and move. As a result, problems can also be felt in other parts of your body, such as your ankles, knees, hips or back.
The podiatrist therefore does not just look at the area where you are experiencing pain. Instead, they examine how your feet, posture and the way you move are all interconnected. This helps to identify which factors are influencing your symptoms and what kind of support might be appropriate.
When can podiatry help?
A visit to a podiatrist can help with various types of symptoms or if you notice that standing, walking or moving is less comfortable than you are used to. Not only if you have pain in your feet, but also if symptoms recur or if you notice that your posture or the way you move is changing. The podiatrist will assess whether your feet are a contributing factor.
A visit to a podiatrist may be appropriate if you:
- you have pain in your feet or toes;
- experiences symptoms whilst walking, exercising or standing for long periods;
- notice that your posture or the way you move is changing;
- regularly suffers from strain;
- notices that symptoms recur despite rest or exercise;
- are experiencing problems with shoes or strain on your feet;
This also applies to complaints relating to diabetes, rheumatism Podiatry can offer support for these and other chronic conditions.
As your feet influence how you stand and move, symptoms may be felt in various places. Below, you can read more about common symptoms where the podiatrist will assess whether your feet, posture and the way you move play a role.
Problems with the foot, ankle or lower leg
Problems with the feet or ankles can have a significant impact on daily activities. Sometimes these problems develop gradually, for example due to prolonged strain. Other problems arise following an injury or a change in movement patterns.
Examples of conditions that podiatry can help with:
- heel pain or heel spur;
- pain under the forefoot;
- Achilles tendon problems;
- ankle complaints or complaints following a sprain;
- pain when walking or standing for long periods;
- strain to the foot or lower leg.
Problems with toes and toenails
Problems with toes and toenails can also affect mobility and day-to-day functioning. The podiatrist investigates the cause of the problems and looks, for example, at the pressure on the foot, the position of your toes and the way you walk.
Sometimes these involve skin or nail problems, and sometimes changes in the position of the toes that cause pain or strain.
