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Here at podiatrist Perth, we often get questions from our patients asking when they should move towards physiotherapy and whether that would help speed up their road to recovery. Well, you asked, and here we are to answer. In this blog, we will detail the difference between podiatry and physiotherapy, and how the combination of both these modalities can achieve the optimal outcome for your lower limbs!
Physiotherapists assess the quality of function and movement and recommend exercises of balance and strengthening to re-establish function to muscles which have incurred injury. Similarly, a podiatrist also examines the structure and function of the lower leg, foot and ankle. Additionally, they can perform or order imaging studies such as x-rays and MRIs if necessary, to diagnose the problem, and prescribe several treatments to address the problem, including physical therapy.
If you have suffered from tendon tears, dislocations or fractures, the best course of action may be to remain immobile for a specific amount of time, to prevent putting extra strain onto your limbs due to weight-bearing on fragile structures. Here at Podiatrist Perth, we believe that there is a time for activity and therapy, however, periods of immobilization are necessary to rebuild structures and functions. Our podiatrists will tailor treatment based on your specific injury experienced. Additionally, they will recommend the proper resting periods if your injury requires this time for recovery, however will then recommend strengthening exercises to get you back to health as soon as possible. Physiotherapists may endorse early activity, however, returning to exercise before a period of immobilisation can cause damage if pursued incorrectly. Therefore, we believe that it is best to seek the opinion of a podiatrist to make sure that one is ready for strengthening and activity. At Podiatrist Perth, we work closely alongside various physiotherapy clinics, to help provide a holistic approach to your health care.
If you are battling with structural issues including collapsed, pronated or flat arches, which may contribute to over utilisation of certain tendons, foot pain, or deformities such as bunions or callouses, there are different ways in which a podiatrist or physiotherapist can assist you. Physiotherapists often depend on the foot moving in a specific way. Contrastingly, podiatrists can assist to ensure that the foot is moving in the correct manner, by using biomechanical devices such as custom orthotics. Similarly, to glasses or contact lenses which adjust the angles of light coming into the eye, orthotics adjust the angles of gait to reduce the stress on certain structures so that conditions do not worsen.
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Orthotics can provide you with the necessary support to help fractures heal and muscles regain function, which may take quite some time to do with physiotherapy. This is because it is very complicated to sustain correct neutral joint angles, meaning that it may be too much pressure on structures, which already bare the whole-body weight. One may learn to squint to see, but it is much better to have a pair of glasses or contact lenses to see 20/20. It could be beneficial to ask your podiatrist to evaluate if biomechanical correction is needed.
Further, physiotherapists aim to balance and strengthen structures surrounding the injury, whilst podiatrists may prescribe medication and perform surgical correction if needed, to address severe conditions such as fractures, tendon ruptures or deformities. It is advisable to look for the opinion of a podiatrist to see if such treatments can be helpful to you.
Physiotherapy is vital for strengthening following a period of needed immobilization to return to sports or activities. However, physicians and surgeons such as podiatrists should be consulted to treat injuries and foot conditions, as they can evaluate and treat them such issues by using custom orthotics, radiography, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, immobilization, medication, refer to physical therapy and to perform surgery if need be.
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