What is a Podiatrist?
A podiatrist is a medical professional who specializes in treating injuries and illnesses that mostly affect the foot. Depending on where they practice, they can occasionally diagnose and treat issues with the ankles and lower limbs as well.
Before they begin treating patients, podiatrists complete comprehensive educational and training programs.
Podiatrists earn doctorate degrees from recognized podiatric medicine institutions. Despite their comprehensive knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, their training focuses on treating the lower extremities, specifically the feet.
During their residency training, podiatrists acquire practical experience in hospitals and medical facilities. They must succeed in a series of board certification exams following the completion of this program. The letters DPM, which stand for Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, are added to the names of fully licensed podiatrists.
A podiatrist can suggest treatment after making a diagnosis. Depending on the nature and severity of the condition, a podiatrist may collaborate with a different expert or an entire healthcare team.
If someone experiences discomfort, tingling, or swelling in their feet, they might want to schedule a visit with a podiatrist.
Cases
Specialties
Orthotics
On a prescription basis, you wear these medical devices within your shoes to treat biomechanical foot problems, such as concerns with your gait, posture, or running. Additionally, they can alleviate foot pain brought on by illnesses including diabetes, plantar fasciitis, bursitis, and arthritis. You might be able to avoid surgery to treat flat feet by using orthotics.
Diabetes
Podiatrists have received specialized training in evaluating nerve damage in the feet, identifying risks to your particular foot health, and assisting patients in developing treatment and preventative strategies. Podiatrists assist in addressing the effects that diabetes might have on your feet.
Pediatric Care
A pediatric podiatrist, sometimes known as a children's foot specialist, specializes in the identification and management of foot and ankle problems in newborns, babies, adolescents, and teenagers. There are some foot conditions that only affect children, but there are many additional foot and ankle conditions that affect both children and adults.
Geriatric Care
Compared to standard foot care, geriatric foot care is different. Simply put, older people's feet have more wear and tear, making them more prone to injury and even deformity. People who have these aging-related foot issues may experience pain and even lose part of their mobility.
Neurologic Foot Conditions
Neurologic foot ailments range from peripheral vascular disease and circulation illnesses that can be signs of circulatory issues impacting the brain to cognitive issues that impair motor response and nerve damage that limits movement. Although podiatry and neurology are not usually associated specialties, they can collaborate as a part of a comprehensive multidisciplinary healthcare team.
Circulatory Food Conditions
A podiatrist can examine your feet for ulcers, ingrown toenails, abscesses, or skin conditions that could be problematic because of inadequate blood flow. The importance of this increases if you have diabetes.
Centers & Institutes
Healthcare Delivery by Podiatrists in the US
A field of medicine known as podiatric medicine is focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of foot diseases brought on by illness or injury. A specialist who has undertaken extensive training to be certified to treat a particular body part is a doctor of podiatric medicine.
A doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.) makes autonomous decisions and either performs or orders all required diagnostic tests. They carry out operations, give medications, and recommend physical treatment programs. Podiatric doctors receive cutting-edge training in physical medicine, surgery, orthopedics, dermatology, and rehabilitation.
The American Podiatric Medical Association estimates that there are 15,000 active podiatrists in the country. A rapidly aging population has an increased need for podiatrists nowadays. Furthermore, the association claims that foot illnesses are among the most common and underserved health issues affecting people in this country.
Are you looking for a Podiatrist who will care for you? Our medical professionals at KellySearch create personalized strategies for each patient and/or their family. We have over 700k doctor listings on the website because our doctors want to give each client their undivided attention. They are also trustworthy and compassionate. Additionally, they are always available for conversation with anyone!
Sources:
The material presented above is only meant to be informative and is not intended to take the place of advice from your doctor or another health care practitioner. We advise you to talk to your provider about any questions or issues you may have.
