A podiatrist in Perth is a medical doctor (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine or DPM) who has completed medical school specific to podiatry and a two-year residency. To understand the foot, podiatrists must receive training in biomechanics, radiography, sports medicine, pharmacology, dermatology, orthopedics, and surgery. Podiatrists do not earn an M.D. or D.O. degree, but rather a D.P.M., which allows them to practice both general medicine and specialized foot care. Podiatrists in Perth may elect a specialty in primary care, podiatric surgery, or orthopedics.
Orthopedic podiatrists in Perth diagnose and treat problems of the foot, ankle, and lower leg while surgeons of podiatry are qualified to operate. Podiatrists in Perth are the foremost authority on the human foot and ankle, which consist of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 ligaments and tendons. The nerves, blood vessels, soft tissue, and muscles that link these structures are the support system for most every upright movement - from running, jumping, bicycling, and playing tennis, to walking and standing still.
Podiatrists in Perth often see patients with foot pain, plantar fasciitis, blisters, heel spurs, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, warts, corns, calluses and peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes. It is important for patients who experience peripheral neuropathy to see a podiatrist regularly for checkups due to the lack of sensation often experienced with this affliction. Injury or infection of the foot can be a serious ailment for a person who has diabetes, leading to a skin or bone infection (osteomyelitis), amputation, and even death.
A Perth podiatrist can treat any of the following conditions:
* Discoloration on the feet - Redness may be a sign of gout, blue or purple may indicate a vein problem, and whiteness can evidence a decreased blood flow.
* Pain that worsens with activity - A stress fracture will continue to worsen with weight. Early treatment of a stress fracture will help the foot to heal more quickly.
* If one foot looks noticeably different from the other - Broken bones, tendon rupture, tendonitis, or infection may be the culprit.
* Swelling in both feet - This may indicate lymph edema.
* Numbness, tingling and burning - These symptoms may be signs of neuropathy. Neuropathy is a symptom of diabetes and needs to be carefully monitored.
* Severe foot pain - Severe pain can be caused by infection, broken bones, deep vein thrombosis, or compartment syndrome.
* A changed mole - A mole that changes has an irregular shape, or bleeds should be examined for melanoma.
* Flattened arch - A flattened arch could indicate tendon dysfunction, where the bones of the foot are not aligned.

Perth Podiatrists diagnose and treat both common and rarer skin and nail pathologies of the feet. Perth Podiatrists play an important role in maintaining the mobility of many elderly and disabled people, and others. This achieved through the ongoing monitoring of foot health, in particular of those with circulation problems and diabetes. Perth Podiatrists are recognized as important members of the health care team in preventing and managing lower limb complications for those living with diabetes.
A basic area of foot care undertaken by podiatrists is the treatment of various acute and chronic nail conditions, the treatment of which depends on the pathology. Perth Podiatrists have specific instrumentation for painless and effective treatment of these conditions. For example, the surgicalcorrection of chronically ingrown toe nails under local anesthesia is a common podiatric procedure.