The foot contains several bones, joints, and muscles. These internal parts should work in sync so your body can function well. At the same time, you should take care of your feet and avoid having injuries as much as possible.
But sometimes, accidents still happen. For signs of ankle and foot injuries, it is best to visit a podiatry clinic near you. Don’t know what that is? Keep reading.
What Podiatrists Do
Podiatry is a branch of medicine that treats ankle and foot issues. These include conditions from ingrown nails to sports-related injuries. Podiatrists are familiar with the entire body anatomy. However, their specialization only allows them to treat a patient’s ankle and foot area.
Podiatrists carry the medical title, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM). They are doctors but are not technically physicians. However, they can perform some surgeries on the ankle and foot area. They also offer medical advice for proper foot care.
Podiatrists vs. Orthopedic Specialists
Both podiatry in Singapore and orthopedic medicine focus on ankle and foot care. For foot pain and injuries, you can consult either of the two. But, they actually differ in expertise and specialization.
The former treats mostly all kinds of foot and ankle-related types of pain. In layman’s terms, podiatrists are “foot doctors.”
Meanwhile, the latter specializes in all aspects of the musculoskeletal system. The scope of an orthopedic specialist ranges from diagnosis up to the prevention of musculoskeletal-related injuries. However, they also study ankle and foot treatment. Between the two, orthopedic specialists have wider medical expertise.
Again, for your foot or ankle problems, you can turn to either specialist, whoever is available in your area. But if you are looking for a doctor who exclusively treats injuries, it is better to consult a podiatrist instead.
Taking care of your feet and ankle injuries
Like anyone else, the last thing you would want to happen is to incur injuries. Even professional athletes fear getting injured. You should apply utmost care for your feet and ankles to prevent this. Here are some tips:
1. Warm up before engaging in physical activities.
Before doing intense exercises, make sure to do some stretching. If not, you could do a two-to-three minute jog as a warm-up exercise. Be gentle when doing stretching, though, as it can cause injuries.
2. Choose the right shoes.
Avoid wearing high heels or any narrow shoes as much as possible. Doing so could result in bunions, a painful foot condition. Let your feet rest from closed shoes every once in a while. Consider footwear specific for a certain sport, Such as tennis, basketball, track and field or long-distance running, soccer, and so forth.
3. Wear ankle support during workouts or physical activities.
These kinds of support braces help lessen the impact during intense physical activities. These include long-distance running, basketball, and football among a few.
4. Remember RICE.
In case injuries do happen, remember RICE. It stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. So if you are experiencing any issue with your foot or ankle, stop what you’re doing, take a rest, put an ice pack on the affected area, and put your feet up. For severe cases, consult a podiatrist immediately.
Taking care of your foot is just as important as taking care of other parts of your body. If you happen to get into an accident or if neglect it for whatever reason, at least there are professionals you could trust to help you.
