(607NewsNow) — Your foot is a complex instrument that is composed of 26 bones, 19 muscles, 33 joints, and more than 100 ligaments.

Podiatrists and orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons both diagnose and treat foot and ankle issues but differ primarily in training and treatment. As a foot and ankle surgeon at Arnot Health, a Member of Centralus Health, Dr. Sean Van Aken provides care for a wide range of conditions that require more complex medical attention. “We are able to provide the same treatments you would get at a large healthcare system locally, without having to travel,” he says.

“I knew that I wanted to be a surgeon, and when I started looking at specific specialties within surgery, foot and ankle was of special interest to me because the providers I spoke with and shadowed seemed very happy with what they were doing. They seemed fulfilled with the patients they were able to provide care to,” says Dr. Van Aken. According to the Institute of Transportation and Development, walking is the world’s most common way to get from one place to another. With many people needing to use their feet to stand, walk, or run, issues with the simplest form of self-transportation can cause problems with everyday activities.

Foot and ankle surgeons care for those who are suffering from pain, deformities that limit mobility, and persistent discomfort. They offer both non-surgical treatments, like injections, physical therapy and orthotics, and advanced surgical solutions, particularly when conservative care or complex issues don’t work.

“We commonly treat arthritis throughout the foot and ankle. This includes fractures, tendon issues, and any type of pain. We are also highly specialized with advanced training in deformity correction and limb salvage and limb preservation techniques.”

Foot pain or diseases of the foot can be extremely hard on patients because they can limit activity and mobility, causing simple everyday activities to become painful and challenging. Dr. Van Aken says alleviating these restrictive issues is the best part of the job.

“It’s great to see patients on the other side of surgery, because they’re typically very happy. Quite commonly, in this area, we’re seeing patients who thought there wasn’t any hope, and now they’re at a point where they can really enjoy their lives.”

Arnot Health provides comprehensive foot and ankle care through orthopedic surgery and specialized podiatry at 300 Hoffman Street, Elmira; 600 Roe Avenue, Elmira; and 100 John Roemmelt Drive, Horseheads. Cayuga Health provides foot and ankle care through specialized podiatry and orthopedics at 16 Brentwood Drive, Ithaca; 1122 Commons Avenue, Cortland; 220 Steuben Street, Montour Falls; 2333 Triphammer Road, Ithaca and 406 Second Street, Ithaca.