According to a survey conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association, 53 percent of Americans suffer from foot pain so severe that it inhibits their daily function and activity. If you’re one of them, a foot doctor or podiatrist can help to alleviate your suffering and improve your quality of life. Here’s how.

Podiatrists or foot doctors are physicians who specialize in diagnosing, treating and preventing disorders of the feet and ankles. By making sure your feet are in top working condition, they also help to prevent disorders of the legs, knees and hips.

Role of Foot Doctors in Treating Disorders
Some podiatrists treat foot disorders without surgery, for instance, correcting arthritic and diabetic problems of the feet and ankles. They may recommend devices such as orthotics to correct or reduce a walking problem that you may have, such as flat feet. Some podiatrists specialize in treating dancers, runners and other athletes with sports medicine.

However, if you have a severe foot disorder such as clubfoot, or suffer trauma to your foot, you will need to see a foot doctor that specializes in surgical treatments. These doctors are called podiatric surgeons, or sometimes “foot and ankle surgeons.” They perform surgeries to reconstruct parts of the foot, ankle or lower leg.

Conditions Commonly Treated By Foot Doctors
Many people feel uncomfortable sharing their foot problems with a doctor. But, you don’t have to suffer in hiding or alone. Foot doctors are quite used to treating a wide range of conditions such as:
– ankle sprains
– arch pain
– bunions
– calf muscle stretch
– clubfoot
– corns and callus
– cracked heels
– diabetic foot
– flat foot
– hammer toe
– heel pain
– heel spurs
– high arch foot
– ingrown toe nail
– Morton’s neuroma
– plantar fasciitis
– rheumatoid arthritis
– sweaty feet
– tarsal tunnel syndrome

One of the most common reasons people visit a foot doctor is to correct pronation problems stemming from having a high arch or flat feet. Your foot doctor will recommend orthotics, a medical device you wear inside your shoe.

Orthotics provide support for your feet and helps to treat problems such as sprained joints and weak muscles in your feet. They prevent your feet from rolling inwards or outwards too much when you walk or run. For the best results, you should get custom-made orthotics from your foot doctor (rather than the store-bought variety), especially if you’re an athlete. These foot supports improve endurance, strength and performance.

Other people who are most likely to benefit from orthotics are those who spend a lot of time walking or standing, such as nurses or security guards, as these devices help to relieve foot fatigue and discomfort.

If you’re overweight, orthotics help to alleviate the extra stress and pressure on your feet caused by the extra weight. For people with foot arthritis or a deformity, orthotics can offer some much-needed relief.

To learn more about the type of orthotics your foot doctor may recommend, visit http://MyBadFeet.com today.

Author Bio: MyBadFeet.com is the brainchild of Dr. Maasi J. Smith, founder and director of Rittenhouse Foot and Ankle Associates in Philadelphia and developer of the highly acclaimed, all-natural Dr. Smith’s Foot Care product line. MyBadFeet.com provides a wealth of information to help you better understand foot health and to cope with foot-related disorders including ankle, shin and knee problems

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: foot doctor, podiatrist, foot and ankle surgeon, foot surgeon, foot pain, foot disorders