A podiatrist is a doctor specializing in diagnosis and treatment of problems of the feet and ankles. According to the Illinois Podiatric Medical Association, about 13,320 podiatrists currently practice in the U.S., and most hospitals have a podiatric physician on staff. Each year, 5 percent of Americans see a podiatrist.
Duties
In addition to patient examination and treatment, duties of a podiatrist include interpreting X-ray, MRI, ultrasound and other diagnostic test results, ordering physical therapy and prescribing medicine. Some podiatrists fit patients for special shoes or shoe inserts, and others practice surgery. The special skills of the podiatrist are increasingly in demand, according to the Massachusetts Podiatric Medical Society, since foot problems are common and often neglected.
Training
DPMs, or doctors of podiatric medicine, attend four years of graduate school from an accredited school of podiatric medicine, then fulfill several years of residency training at a hospital. All 50 states require that a podiatrist pass state board examinations before receiving a license, and in most states, podiatrists must complete continuing education programs for license renewal. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, the majority of podiatrists in the U.S. are board certified, either by the American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine, or the American Board of Podiatric Surgery.
Specialties
Podiatrists may specialize in a particular subfield of podiatry. A primary care podiatrist specializes in treating foot problems in a family oriented general practice. The field of orthopedic, or biomechanical, podiatry offers non-surgical treatment of foot and leg problems through special footwear, orthotics which realign the foot, prosthetics and physical therapy. Podiatric surgeons use surgical methods to correct foot and ankle problems. A podiatrist may also specialize in treating a particular group of patients, in geriatric, pediatric or sports podiatry.
Foot Ailments
Common foot ailments treated by a podiatrist include infections, athlete's foot, corns, calluses, bunions, warts, heel spurs, heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis, ingrown nails and cysts. Foot abnormalities which may require surgery include bunions, clawtoes, hammertoes and disorders of the bone. Additionally, injured bones, ligaments and tendons of the foot can call for surgery.
Other Diseases
Some medical disorders originating in other parts of the body create complications for the feet. Often a podiatrist plays a role in diagnosing and treating such illnesses, some of which are life-threatening. Patients with diabetes, arthritis, gout, impaired circulation and immune disorders may require the specialized care of a podiatrist. In many cases, a podiatrist can improve such patients' mobility or even prevent the need for limb amputation.
