What Does a Mobile Podiatrist Do?

Mobile podiatrists are individuals who treat foot problems at various locations, including in patients' homes. An individual who plans to enter this career field has to complete a four-year bachelor's degree program in a science field followed by four years of medical school. He or she can then complete a residency that lasts two years to six years and allows him or her to focus specifically on foot care.

Conditions Podiatrists Treat

• Fractures and sprains. Podiatrists regularly treat these common injuries when they affect a foot or ankle. They also work in sports medicine, treating foot problems athletes have and recommending ways to avoid them.
• Bunions and hammertoes. These are problems with the bones in your feet. A bunion happens when the joint at the base of your big toe gets bigger or knocked out of place. That makes the toe bend toward the others. A hammertoe is one that doesn't bend the right way.
• Nail disorders. These include issues like an infection in your nail caused by a fungus or an ingrown toenail. That's when a corner or side of a nail grows into your toe instead of straight out.
• Diabetes. This is a condition in which your body either doesn't make a hormone called insulin or doesn't use it the way it should. Insulin helps you digest sugar. Diabetes can damage the nerves in your feet or legs, and you might have trouble getting enough blood to your feet.
• Diabetes can cause serious complications. More than 65,000 people a year need to have a foot amputated removed by a doctor because of diabetes. A podiatrist can help prevent that. If you have diabetes, make sure to get any sore or callus on your feet checked out.
• Arthritis. This results from inflammation, swelling, and wear and tear on your joints. Each foot has 33 joints. A podiatrist might recommend physical therapy, drugs, or special shoes or inserts to help with your arthritis. Surgery also might be an option if other treatments don't work well for you.
• Growing pains. If your child's feet point inward or look flat or their toes don't line up right, a podiatrist might be able to help. They could recommend exercises, insoles, or braces. Or they might recommend surgery.

Contact Gentle Touch Mobile Podiatry to get high quality care in the comfort of your own home.