There are 26 bones, multiple muscles, tendons, and many ligaments inside a human foot. The complexity of your feet should lead you to visit an Austin foot doctor, also known as podiatrists, in order to keep them as well maintained as you can. Since your feet support all your weight, weakened bones or muscles in them can lead to certain disorders or injuries.

Feet injuries mostly manifest in the elderly, pregnant, and athletic peoples. Congenital defects like clubfeet may affect mobility as well. In normally healthy people, feet that stay long in dark, moist shoes may end up getting all sorts of infections. In all these cases, podiatrists can help heal or somewhat alleviate the pains and problems.

Fungal infections caused by people wearing shoes for long periods of time are the most common issue people have with their feet, along with people who don't take proper hygiene measures for them. Podiatrists are skilled and frequently diagnose and treat these issues. In addition to infections, they treat a number of disorders, diseases, and foot defects.

A general doctor will refer you to a podiatrist for foot-related issues. You can explain your situation to your podiatrist, and he or she will either give you a diagnosis with treatment options or will give you a biomechanical test. This test will examine gait analysis and other issues related to the feet.

Your walking posture is examined during gait analysis. Posture is very important when examining feet injuries, especially in athletes. More times than not, wearing the wrong shoes can cause incorrect gait, and therefore lead to injuries and even disorders.

The most common treatment option for feet problems that podiatrists recommend are orthotics such as insoles, or sometimes physiotherapy. People with high arches or flat feet would greatly benefit from these types of orthotics, since their feet structure is abnormal to normal feet. Podiatrists offer custom-made pairs of orthotics so that your feet will fit perfectly with them.

Podiatrists will heal infections by giving you medication and cleaning tips. They can also treat people with diabetes mellitus, since these people lose sensation in their feet and can't feel feet injuries when they occur. A number of other issues such as bunions, warts, corns, blisters, calluses, and heel spurs can all be addressed by a podiatrist. Also, they may be able to help you with problems that have been caused by disorders such as pain in your thighs, back, or hip areas. However, congenital defects are a bit trickier, as podiatrists will have to perform surgery in these cases.

Podiatrists are foot doctors that have extensive educational experience. They usually have four years of undergraduate education in medicine, two or three years of postgraduate study in podiatry, and often some clinical experience. Though podiatrists are all well-learned, what the education requires and job profiles do differ in every country.

Podiatry education is quite extensive in the U. S., and these skilled doctors are able to perform a variety of procedures. This is unlike other countries that allow podiatrists to merely obtain an undergraduate degree in podiatry, and thus only allow them to perform certain procedures. A podiatrist in the U. S. Can expect varying salaries, based on where he or she works and the state of residence.