For Foot And Heel Pain Treatment North Carolina Should Consult Podiatrists

By Anthony Parker


Almost everyone will, at some time, experience problems with their feet, ankles and heels. The feet work very hard and are constantly under tremendous physical pressure. Fallen arches, calluses, other growths, injured tendons, swollen joints and a host of other factors can cause severe discomfort and sometimes even make it difficult to move around freely. When seeking foot and heel pain treatment North Carolina patients are best of consulting a podiatrist.

Podiatrists specialize in treating conditions related to the feet, ankles and heels. This is a highly specialized field because podiatrists can only specialize once they have qualified as ordinary general practitioners. Training to become a podiatrist requires another four years of intensive studying with regular practical training sessions. The selection process is rigorous and only top candidates are accepted for this training. Podiatrists are qualified to treat their patients both medically and surgically.

Most podiatrists lament the fact that so many of their patients only seek professional help when the problem has persisted for some time. They think that with a little bit of patience the [problem will resolve itself. This is almost never the case. It is best to seek help if any symptom is experienced for longer than a day or two. Waiting until the discomfort becomes severe will simply make it more difficult to treat.

Then there is the fact that so many patients consulting a podiatrist at last first tried to solve the problem themselves. They try over the counter medication, homemade concoctions that can actually be harmful to them and they even go as far as to try and remove growths by using unsterilized tools that are certainly not suitable for this purpose. In the process they often make matters much worse.

The majority of patients seeing podiatrists are female and there is a very good reason for this. The culprit is, without a doubt, high heeled shoes. These shoes place tremendous pressure on the soles, the ankles, the heels and the tendons. Growths are common because the shoes often squash the toes together. Experts warn that the prolonged wearing of high heeled shoes can eventually lead to permanent difficulties.

Those actively involved in competitive sports are also at risk. Many types of sports require very sudden and unnatural movements from the player. Stopping, jumping, changing direction suddenly and a host of other movements can also cause damage to the feet, the tendons, the ankles and the heels. It is important to wear shoes specially designed to provide support at all the right places.

There is much that one can do to prevent problems with the feet and ankles. It is very important to ensure that the feet are always clean and dry. Moisture can cause the growth of potentially harmful bacteria. Podiatrists also advise their patients to walk barefoot as often as they can, preferably on sand or lawns. Standing on tippy toes for a few minutes also helps to prevent injuries to the tendons and ankles.

The feet, ankles and heels are vital if one wants to move around freely without discomfort. Luckily, a few basic precautions and the correct shoes can help to prevent problems from developing. Home remedies should be avoided and a podiatrist should be consulted whenever symptoms manifest themselves.




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