Our feet face a lot of wear and tear as we age. Frequently aching heels or ugly toenails are common problems that make adult life more difficult. Don’t feel disheartened; you are not alone if youfeel awkward running barefoot on the beaches due to that pesky toenail fungus. No matter what, it keeps coming back and making your toenails thick, crumbling and discoloured. If bunions, corns, heel pain, toenail discolouration have become the harsh truth of your life, then you can find relief at a foot and nail clinic. Just like you scheduleyour dental appointments regularly, it is important to visit a podiatrist ‘regularly’ to keep up your feet and nails in good shape.

What is a podiatrist?

Podiatry is a branch of medicine focused on foot care. There are both podiatric physicians and surgeons that specialize in problems related to the foot, ankle, and connecting body parts.

Why see a podiatrist?

We often associate foot pain with bones and joints and think that an orthopaedist can suggest a treatment. Sometimes, when people face nail issues they search for a dermatologist. Podiatry is a branch that offers interventions for heel pain problems related to bone, tissues and joints, and solutions related to the toenails and surrounding skin.

What are the services offered at a foot and nail clinic?

Podiatrists do have answers to that stabbing pain you feel around your heels when you wake up. They also know, how to permanently get rid of  unsightly toenail fungus. In addition to this, you can also take your kids for treatment in the case of foot problems and gait abnormality. The myriad of services offered by a podiatrist are listed below:

1. Routine foot care: As part of their general podiatry services, you get a precise assessment, diagnosis and treatment for certain conditions related to foot pain, cracked heels, dry skin, corns, calluses and occasionally with injuries, sprains, infections and fractures.
2. Heel and foot pain treatment: Your flat feet, lifestyle, age  and certain other conditions contribute to a range of discomfort of the lower limbs. You get a variety of sore feet treatments, based on  advanced biomechanics assessment  and treatment for conditionslike plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, severs disease and more.
3. Sports podiatry: A podiatrist can also assess all sports related injuries like Morton’s neumora, patellofemoral pain, and pain in the hip. If you are an athlete  searching for effective sore heel treatment then booking an appointment at a foot and nail clinic would be helpful. After precise walking and running analysis, the doctors can suggest to you suitable footwear and possibly sports orthotics.
4. Children’s podiatry: Kids suffering from in-toeing, out-toeing, gait disorders, growing pains, sprains, cramps, hypermobility and sore heels can also be taken to a foot and nail clinic. The podiatrist can efficiently address the cause of theses problems to recommend suitable posture, exercise, footwear or other treatment options. 
5. Toenail fungus removal: The stubborn thick and crumbling part of your toenail is actually a fungal infection. The ugly discoloured toenails may cause pain when you wear shoes and cause embarrassment when you are barefoot. To get rid of it, you can try the most effective laser fungal nail therapy, only offered by a podiatrist.
6. Ingrown toenail treatment:  Partial nail avulsion is the name of the procedure that involves minor surgery to remove an ingrown toenail. Ingrown toenails can occur at any age and their reoccurrence makes the condition even worse. You can schedule an appointment and get them removed surgically with the help of a podiatrist.
7. Shockwave therapy: Pains and injuries affecting your movement can be treated effectively with shockwave therapy. You can receive acoustic shockwave therapy at a podiatrist’s clinic for pain relief and increased healing mechanism of the body against plantar fasciitis, Achilles, Osgood Schlatter’s, and various other strains causing pain in the ligaments, tendons and muscles.
8. Biomechanical treatment: With help of innovative video analysis and motion analysis, a podiatrist conducts the biomechanical examination. The analysis addresses issues related to the functioning of hips, knees, legs, ankles and feet. Using the results of gait analysis, a podiatrist offers a suitable treatment plan.
9. Dry needling: All kinds of tension and pain in the lower limb and the foot can be treated by a podiatrist using the dry needling technique. Book an appointment at a nearby foot and nail clinic for this acupuncture therapy to regulate the pain, mood, emotions and more. Dry needling is also referred to as acupuncture.
10. Orthotics prescription: Wearing ill-fitted shoes can contribute to those discomforting experiences. A podiatrist may suggest customized orthotics which are designed to fit inside shoes, sandals and even dress shoes.
11. Foot Mobilisation Technique: Dealing with misaligned foot and leg? Maybe consecutive appointments with a podiatrist are what you need. The doctor would realign the soft issues causingpain- through the treatment sessions of manual FMT therapies.
12.  Diabetic foot care: Foot complications are common with increasing age, however, diabetics are at higher risk of developing blood flow and nerve related problems. A podiatrist can assess your feet, provide general care and educate you with self-care tips and the right footwear advice.

 Final word

At a foot and nail clinic, people of all age groups can get customized plans for foot, ankle and heelpaintreatment. Their specialized services and tailor-made guidance not  only improve your functional ability but also improve your quality of life. If interested, you can book an appointment for general foot care at Suncoast Podiatry. It is a leading Podiatrist clinic on the Sunshine Coast. Click on the link below for more information.