Podiatrists podiatry are foot and ankle specialists who diagnose and treat conditions of the feet, ankles, and lower legs. They also provide preventive foot care and counsel patients with diabetes on foot care.
Podiatrists may perform surgery on the bones of the foot, ankle and lower leg to repair injuries such as broken bones or torn tendons. They prescribe medications to relieve pain and swelling from injury or arthritis. Podiatrists also provide advice on how to prevent future problems with your feet.
Foot surgeons (also known as podiatric surgeons) are a type of podiatrist who work primarily in the operating room to remove painful conditions from the foot or ankle. They treat problems such as bunions, hammertoes, heel spurs, warts and ingrown toe nails by removing them surgically through small incisions in the skin.
Podiatrists are doctors of chiropody and medicine (Chiropodists and Podiatrists Act, 1993).
They are educated to a high standard and have experience in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of foot disorders. They can offer advice on how to prevent problems occurring through regular foot care, footwear advice, exercise programs, orthotics and surgical treatment.
Podiatry is concerned with the health of the foot, ankle and lower limb. The podiatrist can treat many problems relating to your feet including plantar fasciitis (heel pain), bunions, hammer toe deformities, callus problems, corns and warts as well as other conditions such as ingrown toe nails.
The podiatrist uses a range of treatments including office treatments such as cryotherapy (freezing), ultrasound therapy and iontophoresis (salt water injections) together with more advanced therapies such as laser treatment or surgery if required. In addition they may provide custom made orthotics or insoles which can help reduce pain caused by over pronation or supination of the foot.
When should I see a podiatrist?
The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) recommends that you see a podiatrist if you:
Are having foot pain or problems.
Need help with a wound or injury.
Have diabetes.
Have a foot injury, such as a fracture or an ankle sprain.
Have hammertoes, bunions or other foot deformities.
Are pregnant and need to know what shoes are best for your feet.
Are overweight and have problems with your feet, such as heel pain or plantar fasciitis.
Have poor circulation in your legs (peripheral arterial disease).
When should I see a podiatrist?
A podiatrist is a foot and ankle specialist. They can help you with any foot or ankle problems you may have. There are many different types of foot and ankle problems, including:
Bunions (a painful bony growth on the big toe joint)
Ingrown toenails (toenails growing into the skin and causing pain)
Blisters, corns or calluses (thickened areas of skin)
Plantar fasciitis (pain in the heel)
Heel spurs (small bone outgrowths at the back of your heel)
Stress fractures (cracks in bones that can lead to more serious injuries)
What is the most common problem treated by podiatrist?
The most common problem treated by podiatrists is foot pain. The feet are the foundation of our bodies, and problems with them can cause pain in other parts of the body. For example, if you have a bunion on your big toe, it might rub against your shoe and cause irritation that leads to inflammation in the joint where your big toe meets your foot. This can lead to arthritis and other problems.
Other common foot conditions include:
Bunions: A bunion is an abnormal bump at the base of your big toe. It’s caused by wearing shoes that are too narrow or pointy in front. The bump gets bigger over time as your toes bend out from under the joint of your big toe and into its side. Bunions often cause pain when walking or standing for long periods of time, but they’re not usually painful when you’re sitting still or lying down.
Plantar fasciitis: Plantar fasciitis occurs when tissue that runs from underneath your heel bone to the ball of your foot becomes inflamed and painful. This condition often occurs after exercising or playing sports because it puts extra stress on these tissues during activity, causing them to become inflamed over time if left untreated
The most common problem treated by podiatrists is foot pain. This may be due to fungal infections, ingrown toe nails, plantar fasciitis, corns or calluses.
In addition to treating the above conditions, a podiatrist can also treat heel pain and ankle problems. Podiatrists are skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes related foot problems such as nerve damage and ulcers (foot sores).
Depending on what you need treatment for, your podiatrist will recommend different types of treatments including:
Footwear advice – your podiatrist can provide footwear advice to avoid any future foot problems
Nail surgery – if you suffer from ingrowing nails or corns on your toes then your podiatrist can perform surgery to remove them
What is difference between podiatrist and chiropodist?
Podiatrists and chiropodists are both professionals who help people with foot problems. They are both also known as foot doctors, but there are some differences between them.
What is a podiatrist?
A podiatrist is a medical doctor who has completed four years of pre-med training followed by three years of medical school and then an additional three years in a residency program to become a specialist in foot care. A podiatrist then spends another year in advanced training in order to become eligible for certification by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine.
What is a chiropodist?
A chiropodist is not a doctor but rather a member of the allied health professions. In Canada, they must complete at least two years of postsecondary education at an accredited college or university, although some provinces require more training than others. The National Association of Chiropody Technicians (NACT) requires that all its members have at least one year of postsecondary education plus at least three months of on-the-job training. In other words, while some may have bachelor’s degrees, most don’t have any formal education beyond high school or community college level.