It might sound like a simple question but it’s one we hear fairly often:
What does a podiatrist do?
Podiatrists are specialists in foot and ankle health. They are health care professionals who can diagnose and treat problems relating to your feet and ankles.
They can also work with you to relieve pain, correct deformities, help prevent foot conditions from occurring, as well as keep you active and mobile throughout your life.
Podiatrists can work alongside other medical professionals, such as your GP, to treat the symptoms of any underlying medical conditions, for example diabetes and arthritis, which can often have an effect on your foot health.
Some podiatrists choose to specialise in certain areas of podiatry, for example paediatric podiatry, sports podiatry, or workplace health.
What conditions do podiatrists treat?
Some of the common foot problems which are often treated by our podiatrists in Sydney include:
Verrucas and warts
Claw and hammer toes
Flat feet
In-toeing and out-toeing
Heel pain and heel spurs
Blisters
Gout
Running and sports injuries
How do I know when I should see a podiatrist?
If you experience foot or ankle pain, you should see a podiatrist.
Painful feet, thickened or discoloured nails, growths on your feet, cracked skin and discolouration on your feet are all reasons you should see a podiatrist.
The Foot Hub has a team of podiatrists who are on hand to help you on the road to good foot health.
What you need to know before you see a podiatrist
Some people believe they need a referral from their GP before they can make an appointment with a podiatrist. This is not the case. Only in some circumstances is a referral needed – for example, if you fall under a medical concession scheme such as the Department of Veteran Affairs or Worker’s Compensation.
Before you book an appointment with a podiatrist, make sure you check what the cost will be. Some podiatrists bulk bill their appointments and some are private practices so you may be required to pay for your appointments upfront and claim the rebate from Medicare. Some podiatrists bulk bill the Medicare cost and you simply pay the gap.
If you have private health cover, it’s worth checking if you are covered for podiatry appointments. If so, they may cover some or all of the cost of your appointments and treatment.
If you think you need to see a podiatrist in Sydney, get in touch with us at The Foot Hub today. We have two podiatry clinics in Sydney and would love to help you with your foot problems.
Get in touch with us on 02 8096 4763 or book your podiatry appointment online now.
