Many people have unfitness of their lower legs, ankles, and the feet that often need the attention of a doctor. This type of doctor is a podiatrist often termed a chiropodist, and known to many as a "foot doctor". Their specialty is studying, diagnosing, and treating problems and conditions of these types of ailments. Prevention is another area of their specialty.
Working/Practice
A podiatrist is a medical doctor (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine or DPM) who has completed medical school specific to podiatry and a two-year residency. To understand the foot, podiatrists must receive training in biomechanics, radiography, sports medicine, pharmacology, dermatology, orthopedics, and surgery. Podiatrists do not earn an M.D. or D.O. degree, but rather a D.P.M., which allows them to practice both general medicine and specialized foot care. Podiatrists may elect a specialty in primary care, podiatric surgery, or orthopedics.
The vast amount podiatrists work in their own offices also known as private practice. Some may find it beneficial in many ways to work with another or several other podiatrists in one office. This is a joint practice. However, there are those that practice their area of medicine as a member of a team in some of the larger hospitals. No matter where they work, a Perth podiatrist is usually in charge of assuring that a person's medical records are maintained confidential as well as other administrative duties. Those alone in a private practice often perform such tasks as employee hiring, bill paying, and service advertisement. In choosing a Perth podiatrist, one may simply ask their own family physician who they would recommend.
Specific Areas
Podiatrists in Perth often see patients with foot pain, plantar fasciitis, blisters, heel spurs, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, warts, corns, calluses and peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes. There are many different health issues that a podiatrist in Perth attends to. They aim to correct any issues such as deformities if possible and prevent certain conditions from worsening or occurring as well as attempt to aid individuals in maintaining as normal an amount of functioning and mobility as possible. It is important for patients who experience peripheral neuropathy to see a podiatrist regularly for checkups due to the lack of sensation often experienced with this affliction. Injury or infection of the foot can be a serious ailment for a person who has diabetes, leading to a skin or bone infection (osteomyelitis), amputation, and even death. Other issues and conditions that a podiatrist in Perth deals with are some of the following:
 Swelling in both feet
 Any type of pain involving the bones of the lower legs, ankles, or feet.
 Different types of arthritic problems