Podiatry or podiatric medicine is that branch of medicine that is concerned with the study, diagnosis, and surgical as well as general medical treatment of disorders related to the ankle, foot, and lower extremity. The medical professional who specializes in podiatry and using their knowledge diagnoses and treats patients with foot problems are known as a podiatric physician or foot and ankle surgeon or podiatrist. In the United States, podiatrists are trained in a wide range of areas of medicine including sports medicine, general surgery, biomechanics, pain management, geriatrics, infectious disease, vascular surgery, dermatology, physical therapy, pathology, cardiology, orthopedic surgery, anesthesia, and much more.
From severe conditions to minor concerns, a podiatrist treats a variety of foot and ankle concerning problems using both surgical as well as non-surgical methods depending on the state of the patient’s issue. In order to practice in the field, they need to complete four years of the undergraduate program, followed by four years of specialization from a podiatric medical school and then three or four years of the residency program. After acquiring certification and license from an accredited institution like the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery or the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, podiatrists can begin their work as a specialist.
