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Dr.
Lloyd T. Bowser, Jr. Quick Tip Walking is the best exercise for your feet. It also contributes to your general health by improving circulation, contributing to weight control and promoting all around well being. What is a podiatrist? A podiatrist is a doctor licensed to treat the foot. This includes the use of prescription drugs, routine trimming of lesions and surgical correction of foot, ankle and leg deformities. The podiatric physician (doctor of podiatric medicine, or DPM) has received conventional medical training plus special training on the foot, ankle and lower leg. All 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico require that podiatrists pass a rigorous state board examination before being licensed and require continuing education programs for regular license renewal. Some podiatrists do not have formal surgical training and thus may not offer a full range of medical treatments. Correction of digital deformities such as hammer toes and bunions, bony protrusions such as heel spurs and excision of cysts are common podiatric procedures. Podiatrists also treat common foot ailments such as athletes foot, fungal nails and neuromas. Plastic and reconstructive surgery are also performed by many podiatrists. Proper Care of Your Feet Medical Economics magazine reported that 56 percent of all older patients have seen a podiatric physician. Only a small percentage of the population is born with foot problems, the American Podiatric Medical Association believes. Its neglect and a lack of awareness of proper care-including ill-fitting shoes-that bring on the problems. A lifetime of wear and tear, plus neglect, accounts for the fact that the practices of most podiatrists are made up of older Americans. Corns and Calluses are caused by friction and pressure from skin rubbing against bony areas when wearing shoes. If the first signs of soreness are ignored, corns and calluses rise up as nature’s way of protecting sensitive areas. Special care for diabetic patients One group of patients which often requires specialized foot care is the diabetic population. Diabetics are frequently plagued with infections and ulcerations of their feet which may result in amputation. They are often said to have poor blood supply (ischemia) and for this reason lose parts of their limbs. Though this can be true, it is inaccurate for most diabetics. The actual cause of frequent ulceration, infection and sometimes amputation of the feet lies in the loss of sensation suffered by most diabetic patients. The loss of sedation become so profound that patients step on sharp objects such as insulin needles and are unaware of it, and fail to properly treat the wound, resulting in infection. People who suffer from neuropathy (loss of sensation) should check their feet daily for any breaks in the skin. Prevention and education are therefore, very important for diabetic patients. Accommodative orthotic devices or in shoe cushioning arch supports and frequent foot inspection can be helpful in preventing a large proportion of amputations. Remember your feet mirror your general health. Such conditions as arthritis diabetes nerve and circulatory disorders can show their initial symptoms in the feet-so foot ailments can by your first sign of more serious medical problems. Bowser Podiatry, P.A. is your complete foot care facility. Specializing in reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle Corns & Calluses Bunions Foot & ankle injuries Heel or arch pain Diabetic foot conditions Hammer toes Warts & skin problems Ingrown nails Sports medicine Foot Arthritis |