Podiatry can be considered a branch of medical science that can be used in the treatment of common foot diseases and problems, including nails and calluses.
A doctor who is a podiatrist teaches health care to treat foot problems and can help them in diagnosing and treating conditions where the feet and lower limbs suffer from abnormal diseases.
Also, people who choose podiatry as their career must have academic and university education in this field to be able to work. These people can prevent deformities or foot diseases and treat pain and infections in these organs.
Foot medicine is a science that gives you enough information about how to take care of your feet and can provide treatment for you in case of problems in this field.
What Is a Podiatrist?
This title refers to a foot specialist and doctor. This type of doctor or surgeon focuses on the parts of the foot, ankle, and connecting parts of the foot and is responsible for the treatment of these parts. An older name that has been used for the podiatry group, and is still sometimes referred to by this title, is “Chiropodist“.
Medical podiatrists are doctors who can identify the problems that occur on your feet and provide people with treatments according to the type of lesions created in these organs. These people can also treat injuries or pain caused by diabetes.
A medical podiatrist can also be known as a podiatrist or podiatrist. The old name that was used for these people is also called car-podocyte, which is less used today.
These people can do their academic studies in specialized schools and associations in this field. A person who begins to study medicine can easily perform the necessary specializations in the field of broken bone surgery, treatment of muscle nerve problems, prescribing medicine, using X-ray treatments, and performing different tests in this field.
These people can also get help from other specialists in the field of surgery, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, and infectious diseases and cooperate with them to treat foot problems. Podiatrists can also obtain licenses from medical organizations to open their practice.
Medical Education in Foot Medicine
All people and specialists in the field of podiatry, like other specialized fields, first study for four years in medical schools. Then, during at least three years, they receive the necessary training and gain experience in their residency training in hospitals and clinics.
Finally, after passing all the required tests in the field of podiatry, podiatrists receive the required certificate from the American Board of Podiatry. Some of them may also go through more specialized educational fellowship courses that focus on more specific areas. This step turns the podiatrist into a foot health specialist.
Medical Foot Surgeons
A medical foot surgeon who specializes in foot surgery is called a foot surgeon. They are approved by the American Society for Foot and Ankle Surgery. A foot surgeon has passed special specialized tests in both general foot health and foot surgery in different conditions and different injuries to the foot.
In addition, podiatrists must have the necessary licenses in the area and region in which they work. They are not allowed to work without the necessary certificates and permits. Like all doctors, podiatrists must renew their licenses and certifications every few years. They may also have to take necessary training into up-to-date with new and newer methods by participating in seminars held in this field.
Foot Positions in Podiatry
Podiatrists should treat people of all ages. Most treatments are offered for a wide range of different foot conditions and they treat a wide range of general foot conditions. These are similar to family doctors or general practitioners. Some podiatrists have surgical expertise in various fields of podiatry. They may specialize in various fields such as the following:
- Surgery
- Foot wound care
- Treatments and care in the field of sports
- diabetes
- children’s feet
- Other types of foot care services
If your feet hurt, you may need to see a podiatrist. Even if you are not injured or have any pain in your feet, it is a good idea to see a podiatrist for a foot exam.
A podiatrist can easily and safely remove the hard crust on your feet and properly trim your toenails. They can also give your ideas and advice on wearing the right shoes.
What Are The Problems that Can be Treated with Podiatry?
Problems and discomforts caused in the feet can cause people to face more acute diseases and problems. As we know, the foot is the second heart of the body. Many diseases enter the body through the feet and spread.
The treatment of many of these problems is also done through the feet. This is why podiatry can be vital. If the following problems occur, you can go to a podiatrist so that they can prescribe the right treatment for you.
- Infections and fungi in the nails and feet
- Calluses on the heels
- Flesh warts
- Dry and cracked heels
- Flat soles
- heel pain
- Blisters on the feet
- gout
- neuroma
- Aspirins
- Arthritis
- Leg ulcers
- Skin diseases of feet or nails
- Bone fractures of the leg
- Foot and ankle joint problems
- Formation of leg tumours
- Sports injuries
- Unusual sweating on the feet
- bad foot odour
- Calluses on the soles of the feet
- Discoloration of nails
- Broken nails
- Scaling of the skin of the feet
Other podiatrists focus on specific characteristics and problems, such as:
- Remove calluses
- Bone fractures
- Tumours
- Diseases related to skin and toenails
- Foot wound care and treatment
- Diseases related to blood flow and arteries in the leg
- Walking patterns
- Modification of cases where artificial limbs are used
- Cases of amputation
- Leg prostheses
If you see the above problems in your feet, you need to see a podiatrist as soon as possible so that you can start treatment and prevent the spread of infectious diseases in yourself.
How Does a Podiatrist Perform The Treatment?
First, the podiatrist examines your problems, and after consulting and knowing the history of people’s diseases, basic tests such as blood tests are performed to check blood circulation in your body. After that, the podiatrist can guide you on what treatment to use for recovery by examining and correctly diagnosing the disease.
Other tests and scans such as MRI scans, ultrasound, and nail swabs should also be taken from people for a more correct and reliable diagnosis. A podiatrist will recommend treatments such as appropriate medical insoles or the use of appropriate shoes to relieve pain such as foot arthritis or heel pain.
Also, more acute problems of foot diseases can be diagnosed by a doctor. After diagnosing the treatment steps, the injuries to your feet will be examined by a podiatrist. The consultation time may last up to an hour.
Why Do You Need to See a Podiatrist?
You may need to consult a general practitioner and podiatrist if you have any pain in your foot or if any part of your foot is injured. Also, you may need other specialist groups besides podiatry. For example, physiotherapists are a group that can help you. Your general practitioner or podiatrist can diagnose the causes of your pain by examining you and examining your condition. Tests and scans that are done to check your foot pain include the following:
- Blood test
- Toenail swab sampling
- Sonography
- X-ray examination
- MRI scan
