Cure for Foot Pain – Whom Shall You Approach Podiatrist or Physiotherapist
You must have often got up in the morning only to find yourself limping with pain in the heel or legs, or a general body ache. This is a common occurrence and there are specialists to address these problems. It is always better to approach the specialist that is an expert in their respective domains.
So, here we are presented with a problem of leg and heel pain and so whom should you turn to, a physiotherapist or a podiatrist. Let us find out more about their respective expertise and what problems they address.
Who is a podiatrist?
He is a medical practitioner, and he aims to prevent, diagnose, treat, and investigate rehabilitation of the musculoskeletal, surgical, and medical conditions related to lower limbs and the feet. This professional is responsible for repairing the damage, improving mobility, doing away with stiffness, and minimizing pain. He will also help you with improvement in muscular efficiency, stability, and overall quality of life. Podiatrist Townsville can help with a variety of ailments.
Who is a physiotherapist?
A physiotherapist is also a medical practitioner, and he has the expertise for assessment, diagnosis, prevention, and addressing a broad spectrum of health ailments. This also includes catering to disorders with movement. He tries to improve these conditions by physical methods, applying manual therapy, counseling, and exercise.
However, it may be mentioned here that there are many treatment procedures that a physiotherapist may not perform but a podiatrist will and vice versa. But a podiatrist will also treat ingrown nails, corn, calluses removal aside from treating painful lesions.
Administer local anesthesia and gait examination. Treating skin disorders (warts), foot mobilization, biomechanical analysis, foot, and leg shock wave therapy, to name just a few.
- If you have a foot injury or your ankle gets twisted, it is a physiotherapist that you will approach. But if you are repeatedly injuring your leg, foot, or ankle, you must see a podiatrist find out why your leg hurts frequently and factors that are causing frequent foot and leg sprains and injury. Under such circumstances, a physiotherapist will usually refer you to a podiatrist.
- If you are suffering from chronic pain in your legs and if it is found that the reasons are not just restricted to the lower limbs or feet and ankles, a podiatrist might refer you to a physiotherapist to assess the situation and accurately address the pain and injury.
While their domains and areas of expertise are different, to some extent and in some cases their treatment does overlap, and the problems might be overlapping as well. So, it is best to consult a podiatrist as well as a physiotherapist. This will also ensure that you get the best possible treatment and if the podiatrist deems it necessary that you must be referred to a physiotherapist, he will do so and vice versa.
Interestingly, you will find both these experts if you happen to find out more about Physiotherapy in Waterloo from Movement 101.
