The number of people with foot problems continue to increase. Current statistics from Mayo Clinic indicate that more than 200,000 individuals reported foot injuries that were caused by a hammer in a single year. This is one source of foot problem, which means that there are thousands of individuals out there with foot problems caused by other problems.

There are many podiatrists out there, which means that you have to use specific criteria so that you can be able to choose the best podiatrist who will provide the best foot treatment. Here are some of the strategies that you can use to choose the best podiatrist for foot pain treatments.

1. Podiatry Experience

Every time you are looking for a foot and ankle specialist, make sure that you select according to experience and not how podiatry looks or behaves. Treating your foot is not a simple undertaking, which means that you don't want amateurs to handle your foot. An experienced foot doctor has been in the industry for a longer period and has been able to diagnose a considerable number of people with foot problems. She will, therefore, diagnose your foot problems within a short period and be able to recommend the necessary cure.

2. Treatment Specialization

Multiple podiatrists in the foot and ankle center are offering varying treatment to their patients. Most of them have a general knowledge of dealing with multiple foot problems. However, it is important that you select a foot doctor who specializes in a particular treatment. Recent studies have shown that the best podiatrist is the one who focuses on treating a particular foot problem rather than dealing with all sorts of foot problems that are likely to manifest. If you have diabetes, you need to consider a diabetic foot doctor as she is likely to provide specialized treatment than other foot doctors in the same facility.

3. Method of Treatment

Traditional foot treatment continues to be one of the major methods used in treating food problems in various facilities around the country. Therefore, you need to know whether a particular podiatrist uses traditional treatment or contemporary foot treatment such as surgeries. If you are an athlete and you have some problems in your foot, the best podiatrist would be the traditional foot doctor because she would recommend physical therapy, which means that you will be back on track within a short period. However, it is highly recommended that you consider a podiatrist if you need surgery.

4. Training and Certification

This should probably be one of the first factors that you should consider when you are looking for a foot doctor. You don't want to be treated by someone who does not have formal training. It is your responsibility to make sure that you check whether the foot doctor has formal training by asking them to display their certification.

5. Referrals

This could be the first time you are experiencing a foot problem, which means that you know very little about foot specialists in your area. It would be important to ask people who have recently been treated with foot problems. There is a high probability that you will get someone in your area who will recommend the best podiatrist. However, it is important to make sure that you seek referrals from close relatives and people who you can trust.

6. Payment Method

Foot injuries and other problems are covered in both Medicare and Medicaid. There are other health care insurance policies that cover all sorts of injuries, including foot injuries. You need to know the method of payment that your podiatrist accepts. She should be in a position of accepting Medicaid and Medicare or any other form of insurance policy that you are using. You don't want to get services from a doctor who forces you to pay from your pocket.

These are some of the factors that you need to put into consideration when you are looking for foot and ankle specialists. However, there are other necessary things that you should also check, such as vicinity and customer services, among others.