PODIATRY NEWS & REVIEW:
By Columnist Andrea Castello – Biomechanical, Sports and Paediatric Podiatrist:
Photo credit: The 3 of Us via photopin (license)
We all know how it starts. You have a foot problem and talk to your friends, family or perhaps a health professional about it and you get the response, “Maybe you should see a Podiatrist?” Then you think to yourself, that’s great advice, but how do I pick a podiatrist that is right for me? What differentiates a good podiatrist from an average podiatrist?
Rather than you running around in circles trying to find the right podiatrist, I have devised the 3T Model for choosing the right podiatrist for you.
What is the 3T Model?
The 3T model is a simple paradigm that you can use to ensure the podiatrist you want to see, or the podiatrist you currently see is the correct one for you. It will allow for you to ask those questions which will ultimately maximise your health outcomes.
The First T: Training
All podiatrists in Australia have completed a Bachelor Degree from a major university. However, this basic training does not make podiatrists all the same. It is important to understand that there are podiatrists that have special training and skills in different areas, such as sports podiatry, high -risk management, paediatrics and surgery. You need to ask, when you make contact with the podiatrist, what extra training, skills or experience they have with regard to your problem, this will ensure the best outcomes for you.
The Second T: Techniques
Put simply, the more techniques at a podiatrist’s disposal the greater the chance they have of fixing your problem. The reality is no two people are the same and not everyone responds to the same treatment regime. The more strings a podiatrist has in their treatment bow, the better it is for you. My advice, do your research and ensure that the podiatrist has at least a couple of options for treating your problem.
The Final T: Total
By this I mean your podiatrist takes a ‘Total Approach’. You are not just a foot and leg, but a whole person. Your podiatrist needs to understand you and the pressures that you may have in your life such as family or work, and ensure that your treatment plan fits you. In addition, there are many foot and leg issues that have drivers higher up the body that also need to be addressed. If your podiatrist doesn’t understand this, and have a strong referral network to ensure you get these other drivers addressed, you won’t maximise your health outcomes.
About Our Podiatry News and Review Columnist
Andrea Castello graduated from the University of South Australia in 1999 and has worked in the public and private sectors in both the country and the city. After completing a Masters Degree in Health Services Management in 2006, Andrea decided it was time to put his education to work and start his own practice, which culminated in the inception of AC Podiatry in late 2007. Since then it has grown to include 8 clinics employing 11 podiatrists.
As a podiatrist, Andrea has spent much of his professional career refining his skills with particular attention given to biomechanical, sports and paediatric podiatry. In addition to standard podiatric skills, Andrea has also completed numerous workshops in Dry Needling and Mobilisation. He is a member of Sports Medicine Australia, the Australasian Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, a Mentor to final year students and new graduates, and is currently the podiatrist for the Central District Football Club in the South Australian National Football League.
Disclaimer: The information published in this column are based on the author’s own professional and personal knowledge, and opinion. This information and opinion is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of any manner. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding any medical condition and consult a qualified medical professional before beginning any nutritional program or exercise program. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on InShape News.
Thanks for pointing out that you should find a podiatrist that will have at least a few different options for treating any of your problems. My feet are really flat, and they keep on hurting if I stand up for too long. It seems like I’ll just need to find a podiatrist who’ll be able to help me figure out what to do about them.
I am looking for a podiatrist in town to help me with some foot pains I’ve been getting after my runs, so thanks for sharing this. I like your point about choosing a podiatrist with lots of experience and extra training. I’ll be sure to ask about this so I know I am getting the best treatment possible.
It’s great that this article explains how people respond differently to the same treatment routines so it’s important to find a podiatrist that has a couple of options. This could ensure that they’ll be able to figure out which technique will have the best results for your situation. When choosing one, it would probably be a good idea to research the different podiatrists and then meet with them so that you can ask questions and discuss your situation in order to determine which one can provide the best treatment.
It is good to hear that all podiatrists have to complete at least a bachelors degree from a major university. This can give you peace of mind knowing they have the proper training to help you. As a runner, it is important I find the best to help when I have foot pain.
I like how you mentioned finding a podiatrist with many different techniques at his/her disposal to handle the different patients they will have. From my point of view, it makes clear sense why a good one would be able to offer multiple treatment options for someone to make sure something will work for their situation. I’m grateful for your advice about doing research and ensuring your podiatrist has such options. http://www.daptopodiatryclinic.com.au
My wife has been needing a podiatrist for a while because her feet are always giving her problems. I liked that you had mentioned that it can be important to find a podiatrist with a great variety of techniques to make sure you can get the best treatment possible. We’ll have to start doing some research into a professional and we’ll be making sure we can find one that has a wide variety of what they can do.
I really liked how you suggested getting in touch with podiatrists that I am considering to ask a few questions regarding their specialization in order to make sure that they are the right fit for me. That’s a pretty good thing to take note of, especially now that I am in need of a foot and ankle specialist. It was without a doubt that I enjoy playing sports, however, I am quite prone to injuring myself, and this time I did it on my foot. Thanks! I’d love to begin the search right away.
I agree that you need to consider the training of a podiatrist. It would be good to consider this in order to ensure that they are qualified. My sister needs a podiatrist to help with some orthotics she needs, so she’ll have to find someone with the right education.
I like that you mention how it’s important to know the special skill and training a podiatrist has. My sister is looking into podiatry for her son’s feet. I’ll be sure to talk to her about finding a podiatrist who has the right expertise needed. http://www.kenaidoctor.com/podiatry
Andrea, thanks for your comment about how you should look for podiatrists who is educated in his field and has been well-trained. I like how you said that they should be able to adjust their work to whatever works best for you. My sister is looking into getting a laser nail treatment, so she is considering professional and qualified podiatrists who can offer this service. http://www.familyfootcenter.net/laser-treatment
Thank you for your article about finding the right podiatrist for me (well, for my wife, actually). I’m trying to help my wife with her ankle pain. Since giving birth to our daughter, she hasn’t found the time to go out have her aching ankles checked, and I thought I’d get her an appointment with a podiatrist. I like how you talked about the 3T model. It makes searching a lot simpler. I’ll look for a podiatrist with proper training and great technique as those two are what I think are most important.
I like that you mentioned to make sure you choose a podiatrist who is proficient in a lot of different treatment techniques. It makes sense that everybody is different, and many people might require different treatments. I need to find a podiatrist, because I suffer from heel pain every day, and I want to relieve it. I will keep this in mind, thanks.
I agree that you need to consider the training of a podiatrist when you choose them. It would be good to find someone who is experienced and qualified and properly trained. My brother is looking for someone to help with some ankle problems, so he’ll have to consider their teaching qualifications first.
I loved that you mentioned finding a podiatrist who has special training and skills that can help you specifically with your problem. It was nice that you included that asking the doctor about their experience can help to ensure that you will receive quality service. My nephew injured his foot in a recent soccer game. I’ll be sure to tell him of these tips to help him find a reputable foot doctor.
I had never heard of this 3T model before, but it does make a lot of sense, especially for finding a podiatrist. However, of the three Ts I personally think that technique is one of the most important that you need to keep an eye out for. After all, there are many different kinds of foot conditions out there, so you want to make sure that the podiatrist you choose has the right experience and skill to help you with your specific problem.
I like how you talked about the 3 t’s of finding a podiatrist. I think that if I could find a good podiatrist who has the proper training like you mentioned, I’d be really happy with the care I receive. I’ve had a lot of struggles with my ankles and feet for years, so being able to have a properly trained foot doctor would be great for me! Thank you!
I agree with you in that it is a good idea to ask your foot doctor about their experience with cases like yours. It makes sense that looking into this can help you get proper care for your feet and make sure you will find relief. My wife has been talking about how her feet have been hurting a lot lately and wants to make sure it is nothing serious, so I’ll keep your tips in mind as we start looking for a reputable professional.
Thank you for all this great information about choosing a podiatrist. One thing that really stood out to me is that you say to make sure that they have basic training and a bachelor degree. It would be nice to see that they have been through all the training that they need.
I like that you suggested finding a podiatrist that has a few different treatment options available. I have been looking for a new podiatrist, but I don’t know how to choose one. I can see how it would be helpful to have various options available, in case one doesn’t work for you.
I really liked your suggestion to look at the three T’s when selecting a podiatrist. I found it interesting though how you mentioned needing to find a podiatrist that takes a whole body approach instead of an isolation oriented one to the problem area. If I’ve been having pain in my heel, does that mean the solution to treating that pain lies in more than just catering to my heel’s benefits?
Hi John. The answer to your question really lies in ‘you as an individual’. A well-rounded podiatrist should get to the bottom of your heel pain by looking at you as a whole, not just a heel or a foot. By getting to know you and your whole body, how you move, your postural alignment, previous history and what activities you enjoy, a podiatrist may actually discover that your heel pain is attributed to let’s say your hip alignment etc. But without a full assessment, a podiatrist won’t uncover the cause, they’ll just treat a symptom. As a result, you’ll never get rid of that heel pain entirely. Of course, if a podiatrist discovers it’s not just your foot causing your heel pain, then they should refer you to another specialist for a follow-up – physiotherapist or chiropractor etc.
I’m glad that training is the first “T” on your list here. After all, if you’re going to find the right podiatrist for you, then you want to make sure that they’re properly trained. If they aren’t then you immediately want to go and find a new podiatrist.
I agree that you need to consider a podiatrist’s training before you choose them. I would imagine that you would want to find someone who is properly licensed and who has been trained in the treatment you need. My husband is looking for a podiatrist after a soccer injury so he’ll have to consider their training as well.
I agree you need a podiatrist with the right training. I would imagine that you would need to find someone who is properly trained to help take care of your foot pain. I’m looking for a podiatrist to help take care of some foot pain I’m experiencing right now so I’ll have to find someone who is properly trained.