What is a Podiatrist?

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A podiatrist is a health care professional whose training and practice focuses on the foot, ankle and lower extremity. Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPMs) are physicians and surgeons who diagnosis, treat and prevent foot and ankle conditions. The education of most podiatrists includes an undergraduate degree, four years in an accredited podiatric medical school, followed by a hospital or university based residency program. Most of the residency training focuses on disorders relating to the lower extremity, specifically the foot and ankle. Residency training may also include, but is not limited to, rotations in orthopedics, anesthesiology, dermatology, microbiology, pathology, emergency medicine, general and vascular surgery. Every podiatrist must pass national and state examinations in order to be licensed by the state in which he or she will practice.

The podiatric physician cares for people of all ages, children with an abnormal walking pattern, athletes with heel pain and elderly individuals with crooked toes. Podiatrists most commonly treat foot and ankle conditions, but also can help with knee, hip and back conditions if the problem originates in the lower extremity. Common foot and ankle conditions podiatrists treat include plantar fasciitis (heel pain/ heel spurs), tendonitis, neuromas, ingrown toenails, skin conditions, hammertoes, warts, bunions, corns and calluses. The podiatric physician also renders care for injuries of the foot and ankle, including sprains, fractures and lacerations. The podiatrist has an important role in the management of diabetics, helping treat and prevent diabetic foot problems.