What Do Podiatrists Do?

What Do Podiatrists Do?

Ever wonder what the American Foot and Leg Specialist podiatrists actually do in our Stockbridge, Fayetteville, Forest Park and Locust Grove offices? These days, a podiatrist is a lot more than just a foot doctor, and should be an important part of your health-care provider team.

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), there are nearly 18,000 practicing doctors of podiatry in the United States. Because of the aging of the baby boom generation, and the increasing emphasis on athletics and exercise, podiatrist services are in high demand. And statistics from the APMA indicate that foot disorders are among the most widespread and neglected health problems affecting people in the U.S. If you live in the Southern Atlanta Metro area, including Fulton County, Cobb County, Douglas County, Fayette County, Henry County, and Clayton County, and are experiencing leg, foot or ankle pain, contact American Foot and Leg Specialists at one of our 4 locations.

About Foot and Leg Health

For many of us, our feet are the furthest things from our minds, both physically and mentally. Sometimes we do things to make them uncomfortable, we often overwork them, and all too often we just grin and bear it when they ache. But healthy feet are fundamental to the quality of our lives, and pain can signify a more significant underlying health condition. The foot plays a significant role in our ability to function on a daily basis. Think about how these relatively small appendages effectively have to bear the load of our bodies, adapt to changing activities and environments, and move us from one point to another at varying speeds, all while keeping us upright.

The foot has to be flexible enough to adapt to changes in the surface environment yet stiff enough to propel us onto the next step. It has to do all of this without us even being aware of it. They are wondrously engineered and often the indicators of our overall health, so we need to look after them. Unfortunately, most of us take our feet and legs for granted and only realize how precious they are until they hurt or don’t function properly. American Foot and Leg Specialists can help you appreciate your foot and leg health.

What Podiatrists at American Foot and Leg Specialist Do

Podiatrists are doctors of podiatric medicine. They are highly trained health professional specialists who provide medical diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of foot and ankle conditions, including, but not limited to: toenail fungus; heel pain/spurs; plantar fasciitis; various types of sprains and fractures; sports injuries; ingrown toenails and toes disorders; bunions; hammertoes; diabetic foot disorders; growths and neuromas; warts; scaling or peeling feet; open sores, cracked skin or other skin disorders; and corns and calluses.

We can share advice on how to look after your feet, keep them dry, moisturized and fungus free, as well as what type of shoes to wear that are appropriate for your unique foot condition. And we have a Product Store that carries a variety of shoe styles, custom orthotics, products for non-prescription foot protection, support or padding, daily maintenance cleansers and moisturizers, vitamin supplements, anti-fungal merchandise, even nail polish that is good for your toenails.

Our specialized musculoskeletal doctors of podiatry also deliver care programs for: sprains; fractures; infections; soft tissue pain like muscle, ligament or tendon injuries; joint pain and swelling; bone pain; arthritis; and other conditions or injuries of the foot, heel, ankle, and lower leg. Their expertise lies in both the identification and understanding of the mechanism of a disorder or injury to effectively formulate an appropriate treatment strategy to quickly return you to painless daily activity.

The foot has to be flexible enough to adapt to changes in the surface environment yet stiff enough to propel us onto the next step. It has to do all of this without us even being aware of it. They are wondrously engineered and often the indicators of our overall health, so we need to look after them. Unfortunately, most of us take our feet and legs for granted and only realize how precious they are until they hurt or don’t function properly. American Foot and Leg Specialists can help you appreciate your foot and leg health.

Education and Credentials

Podiatrists are the most qualified doctors to care for your feet. In addition to four years of medical school training, they complete post graduate training with three years of podiatry and surgery hospital residency training. This training is similar to that of other doctors. After they have completed their training, podiatrists earn a doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM) degree. Podiatrists can specialize in many fields, including surgery, sports medicine, wound care, pediatrics (children), and diabetic care.

Podiatrists can earn board certification with advanced training, clinical experience, and by ultimately taking state and national exams. Our physicians hold board certification with the following: American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons; American Podiatric Medical Association; American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery; the American Board of Podiatric Medicine; and the Georgia Podiatric Medical Association.

Each of our podiatrists are licensed by the state of Georgia in order to practice. The doctors at American Foot and Leg Specialists continuously improve their medical knowledge by studying the latest diagnostic techniques, surgical procedures, and medical treatments for podiatric care. With four locations, Atlanta Foot and Leg Specialists serve the South Atlanta Metro area including Fulton County, Cobb County, Douglass County, Fayette County, Henry County, and Clayton County. American Foot & Leg Specialists has hospital affiliations with both Piedmont Henry Hospital and Atlanta Medical Center, South Campus.

Why Choose American Foot and Leg Specialists?

Choosing your podiatric health care provider is an important task. Living with foot and ankle pain is not normal and American Foot and Leg Specialists is committed to helping you manage your pain and restore your foot and leg well being. The foot doctors and staff at American Foot and Leg Specialists are committed to providing quality podiatric foot and ankle care to patients of all ages in a warm and friendly environment in order to make you feel relaxed and comfortable.

Our philosophy is that prompt diagnoses, early intervention and prevention are essential for the care and treatment of your feet and legs. We take pride in exhausting a full range of podiatric medical care options including both conservative non-invasive approaches as a first course of action, as well as surgical therapies when indicated. You will find that we are different than the average podiatrist or foot and ankle specialist. We have many alternative treatments for ankle and foot pain and injuries. MLS Cool Laser Therapy, which provide you with safer treatment options and help you heal quicker, as well as Toenail Fungus Laser Treatment to effectively eradicate difficult toenail fungus infections.

When to Schedule an Appointment

Connecting with a patient on a personal level is an incredibly important component of our practice – whether we’re dealing with a plantars wart or a larger scale systemic issue. It is suggested that people take preventive steps in their foot care by making a well-foot appointment to become knowledgeable about their foot structure, especially those with chronic medical conditions (such as heart conditions or diabetes) that predispose them to neurological or circulation related foot and ankle conditions. That way, our patients can understand and be aware of signs and symptoms of conditions affecting their feet and legs, as well as take steps to avoid injury.

Our qualified staff is friendly and will ensure a comfortable office experience for a pleasant visit. If you are experiencing acute or chronic foot and ankle ailments schedule an appointment at one of our four locations in Stockbridge, Locust Grove, Fayetteville or Forest Park. We also offer two specialty centers – Laser Toenail Fungus Center and Heel Pain Center of Atlanta, each with it’s own website and informative content.Our philosophy is that prompt diagnoses, early intervention and prevention are essential for the care and treatment of your feet and legs. We take pride in exhausting a full range of podiatric medical care options including both conservative non-invasive approaches as a first course of action, as well as surgical therapies when indicated. You will find that we are different than the average podiatrist or foot and ankle specialist. We have many alternative treatments for ankle and foot pain and injuries. MLS Cool Laser Therapy, which provide you with safer treatment options and help you heal quicker, as well as Toenail Fungus Laser Treatment to effectively eradicate difficult toenail fungus infections.