7 Lessons Learned From The Best Podiatrists

The feet are an integral part of any athlete’s health and well-being. Managing foot care is an essential element that is crucial to their health. So, here are ergonomic footrests for your office. Please visit this site and read the reviews. A sports podiatrist not only focuses on the foot, but they are also highly trained specialists who understand the details involved in sport-related injuries and performance.  Numerous sports podiatrists perform surgeries and manage injuries by combining manual therapies and prescriptions. At  Movement 101 – podiatrist in Sydney, we recommend considering rehabilitation and rest before orthotics or surgery.

Here are some services that have offered many podiatrists hard lessons when working with sports teams. The lessons include foot assessments, shoe examinations, orthotic prescription and examination, training and performance consultation, rehabilitation and injury guidance, surgery, and little care and gait analysis.

1. Foot Assessments 

A detailed foot examination is a tedious process that requires plenty of tests and not just medical history. Sometimes a foot examination might take too long, and patients can tend to get furious. The biggest mistake in sports is rushing to a quick judgment instead of finding the underlying issue. An all-inclusive foot examination lacks a standard process; therefore, you must understand the elements of a proper analysis to determine its usefulness. A comprehensive assessment includes simple measures such as ankle dorsiflexion that will test the stability of medial and lateral columns.

2. Shoe Examination

Every athlete can’t possess the same foot size and wear the same footwear because each foot has a unique attire that keeps it comfy and avoids further injuries.  An ideal podiatrist will require you to come with your footwear to identify what is causing the problem.

3. Orthotic Prescription

Orthotics shouldn’t be prescribed to just anyone, and a static device can do little.  However, new advancements in technology enable 3D printing and advanced engineering technology to provide a solution.  Even with the use of technology, appliances can do very little. Be wary of orthotics prescribed without pressure mapping. Trusting by sight might be a bad idea.  If there is no pressure mapping, one should request a motion picture. If these advancements aren’t available, you can do a treadmill video for testing endurance. 

4. Training and Performance Consultation

Sports podiatrists also act as ideal educators. They are professionals in biomechanics but aren’t highly appreciated because they do more clinical work than research.  However, most podiatrists don’t know enough about kinetic aspects. Working with podiatrists with kinetic knowledge will give you an upper edge.  A new wave of sports podiatrists has emerged whereby they are biomechanically inclined and less of foot care. 

5. Rehabilitation and Injury Management

It’s essential to work with a podiatrist who works with athletes to return to their play phase. This will provide complementing care to help with the recovery of extreme injuries. Podiatrists should be part of the solution as they have witnessed many rehabilitations fail. Athletes should see podiatrists early in an injury instead of seeing an orthopedic specialist to ensure they get excellent care. Even if you don’t visit a podiatrist at first, a comprehensive foot exam will serve as a baseline.  Contrary to popular belief, the ideal podiatrists are the ones who let athletes rest and not bombard them with a lot of activities because foot recovery doesn’t happen overnight, and seeking a podiatrist can help athletes recover.

6. Surgery and Minor Care

When surgery is mandatory, you will have to decide if you want an orthopedist or podiatrist with specialized training programs.  Minimal issues can be taken care of by a podiatrist who understands simple procedures.  For complex surgeries, athletes might have to go to foot specialists who can solve complex issues.  Podiatrists are superb for minor non-surgical procedures. For example, small injections that entail medications.  Most podiatrists have a comprehensive understanding of a careful strategy of getting back to the track, field, or court without risking further injury.

7. Gait Analysis

A gait analysis comprises a report that is not only constrained to an athlete running on a track, treadmill, or field. Podiatrists constantly look for excessive pronation, an extremely delicate issue in both clinical and research entities.  The best podiatrists examine movement and help an athlete make changes that will result in success. 

Final Recommendations

 Settle for a podiatrist who pays close attention to conservative care. Athletes should see podiatrists early in the career as it is better to be proactive rather than reactive.  Regular checkups will ensure that a winning team is always on the safe side by providing an environment free from life-threatening injuries. Remember, prevention is better than cure.


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