Perhaps you have heard the term- Podiatrist but have little idea as to what the word means. Well, you are just on the right page if looking for complete information on who is a Podiatrist and what he does. Read on to learn more.
What Is A Podiatrist?
Well, a podiatrist is a doctor of podiatric medicine. The physician and surgeon are also referred to as DPM, and he treats the structures of the leg, the foot and ankle. You can look for a podiatrist by looking for the designation DPM after his or her name. He is uniquely qualified to take care of your foot and ankle and treats the disorders of the foot and ankle exclusively. He also takes care of minor ailments like an ingrown toenail, non-invasive shoe inserts, and orthotics. They also work on chronic conditions like foot pain and bunions.
Podiatrists need to finish four years of training in a medical school and complete three years of residency training in a hospital. Their training is very much like other physicians, and they may also go for fellowship training after their residency. They can focus on different fields like surgery, sports, pediatrics, wound care and diabetic care.
Before a podiatrist can practice or work in a hospital, he needs to earn board certification from the certifying boards for the field like the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He treats issues only related to feet and ankles as their license does not allow them to treat any other type of unrelated care. They pursue the specialty of their choice and later follow a career in that field exclusively. Depending on their residency training and specialty, they can perform different treatments and surgeries on foot and ankle.
A podiatrist sees patients from all age groups and works in different settings. Because of the diverse nature of the work, he has flexible, patient and good with his communication skills. After all, he needs to converse with his patients a lot and explain to them the treatment options as well as advice on how to improve their mobility and quality of life. Many times, some patients are at high risk for amputations because of a severe injury or if suffering from diabetes. The podiatrist needs to be gentle and kind in dealing with such patients.
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When to See A Podiatrist?
Our legs and feet are complex structures that work as stabilizers, propulsion machines, and shock absorbers. Needless to say, they are very crucial for our overall health and need proper care. One needs to see a podiatrist in case they find any issue or pain in their feet or ankle. Podiatry is a medical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of injuries of the lower limb, foot, and ankle. Any foot or ankle injury means having pain and complications while walking. Many times, people develop ankle and foot issue bemuse of tier ailments like diabetes and arthritis. Warts and other fungal conditions can develop because of skin and nail infections. A podiatrist assesses diagnoses and treats medical conditions related to foot and ankle.
As there can be some similarity between surgeons and podiatrists, it is essential to look for the individual who is best suited for the procedure needed. The doctor may be a regular physician or a podiatrist. look for a podiatrist who carries a good reputation and has a long list of happy and satisfied patients. Do not go before doing your research and always settle for a Podiatrist who specializes in the foot and ankle treatment and have years of experience. After all, your foot and ankle are a very important part of your body, and thus you need the best physician to treat them.
Perhaps you have heard the term- Podiatrist but have little idea as to what the word means. Well, you are just on the right page if lookin...
