What Do You Wear to a Podiatry Appointment? | Premier Foot & Ankle Care (2024)

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What Do You Wear to a Podiatry Appointment? | Premier Foot & Ankle Care? ›

Choose Comfortable and Accessible Clothing

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During your appointment, your podiatrist will not only perform a physical exam of your feet and ankles but will also examine your posture and gait. Be prepared to remove your shoes and socks for the exam, and wear loose-fitting pants that can be rolled up to the knee.

The podiatrist will then give you an expert examination of your foot and lower leg to check your blood flow, feeling, sensation and strength. They will identify any area of concern, including deformities such as bunion or hammertoes, muscle weakness and skin and nail changes.

A foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon performs complex surgical procedures, not performed by a podiatrist. There can be some overlap in what a podiatrist treats and what an orthopedic foot and ankle specialist treats such as the simpler conditions of sprains and strains.

What should I expect during an appointment with a podiatrist? Your podiatrist will discuss your symptoms and medical history. They may also ask about family illnesses, medicines, and allergies. They will examine you to diagnose and treat your condition.

This could mean wearing pants with a looser fit or those that can be easily rolled up. Additionally, selecting clothing that doesn't restrict movement or blood flow, such as overly tight socks or leggings, can also be beneficial for a thorough and comfortable podiatric examination.

If possible, try to wear clothes that you feel comfortable in and will allow your Podiatrist to assess as far as your knees. Pants that you can roll up are particularly handy if you can't wear shorts.

During your Biomechanical Assessment your Podiatrist will ask about the pain you are suffering – it may be in you feet, legs, lower back or hips. You will be closely observed to see how your body moves when walking and your gait (the way you walk) will be studied in detail.

For certain conditions, such as ingrown toenails, circulatory problems, fungal infections, or warts, treatment may be started at your first visit. They will also likely tidy up your feet, such as trimming your nails and removing any dry or thickened skin.

During your appointment, your podiatrist will monitor your vital signs including your blood pressure.

Is it better to see a podiatrist or orthopedist for ankle pain? ›

Podiatrists specialize in foot and ankle care. Conversely, orthopedists cater to general musculoskeletal problems. Although an orthopedist technically has studied foot and ankle problems, a podiatrist specializes in them. This specialization allows a podiatrist to better address issues unique to your foot and ankle.

Podiatrists diagnose and treat any foot or ankle problem. They perform physical exams and use tests to identify issues that make it hard to move or use your feet and ankles. They can also perform surgery.

Dress appropriately for wherever you are going and when going to the podiatrist, short skirts aren't the best idea. Stick with pants, and longer shorts or dresses. Don't: As badly as you want your feet to look nice and pretty, resist the urge and don't paint your nails.

Common problems that podiatrists treat include bunions, heel pain, ingrown toenails, and athlete's foot. Treatment methods used by podiatrists can vary depending on the specific condition but often include things like orthotic devices, braces, or surgery.

They'll look at how you stand and walk, check the range of motion in your joints, and see how your shoes fit. The first visit is often the time to treat bunions, ingrown toenails, heel and lower back pain, circulation in your feet if you have diabetes, and foot deformities.

Now, a podiatrist will appreciate clean feet. But they will advise against getting a pedicure for their benefit, for a number of reasons: When done in non-sterile conditions, pedicures increase the risk of foot infections.

Based on this, the podiatrist will assess your footwear on its heel height, sole rigidity, heel counter stiffness, and tread pattern. Each of these has long-term ramifications on the health of your foot, making a shoe assessment an absolute necessity to ensure proper fit to reduce indications of pain.

In most cases, yes; they regularly assist patients with toenail care.

Will the Podiatrist comment to your face about your feet? No medical professional will judge any part of you.