If you ever experience a foot-related problem, which doctor would you consult for a checkup? You will probably visit a general physician who sits in the closest clinic to your home. After your checkup, the doctor will recommend seeing a podiatrist.
If you are still unsure about a podiatrist, it’s time to expand your knowledge and understand what this doctor can do for you. This helps you stay aware of doctors of different specialties. In this blog, we will discuss podiatrists and the conditions they treat.
Who is a Podiatrist?
A podiatrist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and lower leg areas. A podiatrist treats any medical condition, disease, or injury affecting the foot, ankle, and lower leg. Podiatrists are also known as foot doctors. They not only diagnose the lower leg issues but also provide medical and surgical treatments to patients.
But keep in mind that a podiatrist is not an orthopedic. Orthopedic doctors specialize in treating issues related to the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, ligaments, tendons, joints, and other tissues. Whereas, a podiatrist treats issues related to the lower extremities of the body.
What Conditions Do Podiatrists Treat?
Not everyone is familiar with podiatrists and their specialty. That’s why people with foot-related issues often take a long time to visit the right doctor, and by then, the condition has worsened. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the podiatrist’s responsibilities and the foot-related conditions they treat. So, the following is a list of conditions that podiatrists treat:
Ingrown Toenails
An ingrown toenail is a condition in which the nail grows into the skin. This usually occurs on the big toenail. It is caused by incorrectly cutting the corners of your nails. You can visit a podiatrist, and they will treat this condition.
Toe Deformities
Toe deformities are conditions in which toes have a deformed shape and appearance. Toe deformities are caused by abnormal positioning of foot bones and joints and can also occur later in life due to a disease or improper footwear. A podiatrist is the doctor who treats these deformities and helps you walk properly again.
Bunions
Bunions are bony bumps that usually form inside the joint of the big toenail. These are typically caused when the toenail joint experiences excessive pressure, which causes misalignment in the joints. Foot doctors can treat this condition.
Foot and Ankle Injuries
Podiatrists specialize in treating issues related to the feet, ankles, and lower limbs. They treat all types of ankle injuries, including sports injuries, ankle sprains, heel bursitis, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendon ruptures. So, if you ever experience any injury targeting these areas, a podiatrist is the right doctor to consult.Â
Skin Conditions Affecting Toenails and Ankles
Podiatrists also treat medical conditions that include skin conditions that affect your lower extremities. You can consult a foot doctor and get the recommended treatmentÂ
Swelling Issues in Feet
Certain conditions, like arthritis or some injuries, may also cause swelling in your foot and ankles. These conditions are not particularly dangerous and can be conveniently treated by a podiatrist.
Leg Wounds
In addition to foot and ankle problems, leg wounds related to injuries are also treated by a podiatrist.
Foot and Toe Ulcers
Foot and toe ulcers are open wounds and lesions that form on the skin of the foot and toe. Depending on the state, they can be located on the surface of the skin or deep within, affecting the bones. In this condition, it is essential to receive comprehensive treatment from a podiatrist.
Bone Fractures
People experiencing bone fractures in the lower limb area, including the ankle and foot, need to consult a podiatrist to treat the issue and repair the broken bones. Podiatrists typically treat the following types of bone fractures, including fifth metatarsal fractures, Toe fractures/ dislocations, Lisfranc fractures, Jones fractures, and Talus fractures.
What Treatments Do Podiatrists Provide?
If you experience any foot-related problem, a podiatrist is the right person for consultation. However, beyond consultation, a range of treatments is performed to address your conditions. So, the following are the types of treatments podiatrists perform for their patients:
Diagnosing Foot-Related Diseases and Conditions
If patients feel pain or discomfort in their bodies, it is a doctor’s responsibility to guide the patients. Similarly, if patients experience pain in their feet or are unable to walk correctly, a podiatrist will diagnose their condition and guide them to the proper treatment.
Prescribing Tests and Medicines
After an initial checkup of the foot and ankle problems in patients, podiatrists order lab tests and scans. This helps them understand the patient’s conditions, and then they prescribe the proper treatment accordingly.
Perform Foot Surgery
Certain foot-related injuries or conditions require surgical procedures to regain normal functioning. Thus, it is a podiatrist’s job to perform foot and ankle surgical treatments on patients.
Prescribe Medical and Mobility Devices
Depending upon the patient’s condition, the podiatrist can prescribe foot-related medical devices, which include orthotics (shoe inserts), braces, walking boots, casts, and prosthetic feet. Moreover, foot doctors also prescribe mobility devices like canes, crutches, walkers, gait trainers, wheelchairs, and knee scooters. They also guide patients to use these mobility devices to restore foot mobility.
How to Become a Podiatrist in 2025?
A podiatrist is a special doctor who treats foot-related diseases and conditions. To become a foot doctor, you must undertake a medical degree and meet state-recognized requirements. So, the following is the career guide to becoming a podiatrist:
Get a Bachelor’s Degree
The first step to enter the field of podiatry is to obtain a bachelor’s degree. This equips students with the basic medical and scientific knowledge necessary for the profession.Â
Earn a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
After completing a bachelor’s degree, students must enroll in the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) program. This is a four-year degree program that allows students to learn about anatomy and undergo clinical training.
Residency Period
After completing the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree, students have to complete a residency period. This is a three-year training period for specializing in foot and ankle care.Â
License and Certification
Once students have completed the study requirements for podiatry, they must pass the state exam to earn their license and become a podiatrist. Furthermore, they can also choose to do certifications to support their professional profile.
Medical Facilities Where Podiatrists Work
You might wonder where a podiatrist works. Like other doctors, podiatrists also have access to a range of medical facilities where they can provide their services. Moreover, foot doctors are also crucial in sports care centers.
So, the following are the settings where podiatrists work:
- Hospitals
- Private Practices
- Clinics
- Sports Medical Centers
- Community Health Centers
- Long-term Care Facilities
Podiatrists in Healthcare- Takeaway Message
A podiatrist is your primary healthcare professional who provides immediate and long-term care and treatment for foot-related problems. A podiatrist’s job is to diagnose and provide treatment for all foot and ankle-related medical conditions, injuries, and diseases. Furthermore, foot doctors also guide and prescribe to patients to use medical and mobility devices. Thus, for all foot and ankle-related care, visit a podiatrist for proper diagnosis and treatment.Â
If you are interested in exploring better job opportunities as a podiatrist, consider utilizing the services of a health staffing agency. Intuitive Health Services is the primary health staffing agency that can help you find the best medical setting to practice as a podiatrist.
