What is podiatry?
Podiatry is a medical specialty that treats foot and ankle health problems and injuries.
The team at CHW Cares can assess your feet and ankles to diagnose any conditions or injuries affecting them. After reviewing your medical history, they examine your feet for possible clues about symptoms like ankle stiffness or foot ulcers.
If you need them, diagnostic tests like X-ray imaging are available. However, many conditions affecting your foot health don’t require such tests to get a conclusive diagnosis. The team discusses your treatment options and may build an individualized plan using more than one of them.
What are some common conditions and injuries that can affect foot health?
The podiatry team at CHW Cares can diagnose and treat a wide array of overuse injuries, acute injuries, degenerative conditions, and skin or nail issues affecting your foot health. Some of the most common podiatric complications are:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tendinitis
- Bursitis
- Arthritis
- Gout
- Sprains and strains
- Bone fractures
- Peripheral artery disease
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
- Diabetic foot ulcers
- Corns
- Calluses
- Athlete’s foot
- Plantar warts
- Bunions
- Hammertoe
- Ingrown toenails
- Toenail fungus
Conditions affecting the feet and ankles become more common with age. If you have concerns about your foot health, you can bring them up with the team at CHW Cares for prevention tips and suggestions.
Which treatments can improve my foot health?
The team at CHW Cares can treat most foot and ankle issues using nonsurgical, minimally invasive, and low-risk techniques. Highly effective treatments that may be appropriate for your podiatric condition include:
Custom orthotics
Custom orthotics are inserts for your shoes that align with the contours of your foot to offer support. The team at CHW Cares also suggests purchasing and wearing shoes with plenty of space and support for your feet.
Medications
Anti-inflammatory medications and others can help relieve pain from a foot injury or arthritis.
Physical therapy
Strategic physical therapy can reduce the impact of a foot or ankle injury on your mobility and range of motion.
Minor surgery
For plantar warts and ingrown toenails, the CHW Cares team performs minor surgeries in the office on an outpatient basis.
Other possible treatment approaches include wound care, casts and immobilization, and rest.
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