What is Podiatry? | Who is a Podiatrist? | When Should you See a Podiatrist? |
Associated Medical Conditions | Treatment in Podiatry | What’s the Takeaway?
Overview
The human body comprises complex systems, which in medical science take years of learning and practice to master. It is why several branches of medicine specialize in just one system or even organs. Today we shall be looking at the branch of medicine called podiatry.
In this article, you will learn about podiatry – what it is, the disorders treated in podiatry, who are podiatrists, and when you need to see a podiatrist.
What is Podiatry?
Podiatry, or podiatric medicine, is the branch of medical science concerned with studying and treating disorders related to the ankle, sole, and leg. Podiatry broadly includes preventing, diagnosing, and treating foot-related disorders in children, teenagers, adults, elders, and specifically athletes.[1]
Podiatry is more than foot care, although treatment of some podiatric conditions requires just foot care. But, of course, not the type you get at a nail salon.
Podiatry as a branch of medical science is further divided into two main categories, which are:
- Medical Pedicure: This type of care involves specialized foot care and treating skin and nail conditions.
- Podiatry: This approach requires gait analysis and treatment of walking problems.
Who is a Podiatrist?
A podiatrist is someone who specializes in the treatment of foot-related disorders. A Podiatrist can perform surgery, reset bones in the foot region, prescribe drugs, and order lab tests and X-rays. [2]
Depending on the case, a podiatrist’s work sometimes overlaps with that of a physiotherapist and an orthopedic doctor. There are cases where a podiatrist dispenses treatment in the areas of these specialists, like when resetting a bone. And there are some cases where they work hands-on with these specialists to treat a patient.
While a podiatrist is specifically someone licensed as a doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM),[2] other medical positions are associated with podiatry, such as a podiatric nurse, podiatric surgical nurse, foot care, podiatry technician, podiatric medical assistant, and podiatry support worker.
When Should you See a Podiatrist?
While there are underlying medical conditions that would necessitate a follow-up medical examination by a podiatrist, you should see a podiatrist if you are having any of the following symptoms: [3]
- Foot pain
- Ankle pain
- Knee pain (gonalgia)
- Thick or discolored toenails
- Cracks or cuts in your skin
- Growths like warts
- Scaling on peeling on your soles
Associated Medical Conditions
Apart from the symptoms highlighted above, patients with the following medical conditions would require follow-up by a podiatrist.[1]
- People who have diabetes
- People undergoing chemotherapy
- People experiencing reduced sensation in their lower limbs, and
- People with venous or arterial circulation issues
Treatment in Podiatry
A podiatrist’s approach to treatment is first to investigate and identify the underlying cause to provide specialized treatment to each case. However, the most common treatments employed in podiatric medicine are foot and nail care and insoles or functional foot orthoses.[2][4]
What’s the Takeaway?
As we grow older, nature takes its course in the wear and tear of bone, which creates the need for specialized care. However, whether you are “old” or not, and if you have any of the symptoms listed above, kindly contact a podiatrist for proper diagnosis and treatment today.[5]
References:
- A. Evan, The Pocket Podiatry Guide: Paediatrics, I. Mathieson, Ed., Australia, South Australia, 2010.
- M. Smith, “What Is a Podiatrist?,” 23 June 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/podiatrist-facts. [Accessed 27 March 2023].
- M. Noreen Iftikhar, “What Is a Podiatrist?,” 21 February 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-a-podiatrist. [Accessed 27 March 2023].
- J. Cook, “Podiatry Treatment For Common Foot Conditions,” [Online]. Available: https://thehouseclinics.co.uk/learning-hub/. [Accessed 31 March 2023].
- “Podiatry,” [Online]. Available: https://www.swissmedical.net/en/podiatry. [Accessed 27 March 2023].
