A podiatrist is a foot doctor who treats the feet and ankles and any of their connecting parts. This type of doctor will have the initials "DPM" standing for Doctor of Podiatric Medicine following their name. A podiatrist must complete four years of study at a podiatric medical school followed by at least three years of residency training at a hospital or clinic. After passing the required exams, a podiatrist will be certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and may desire to undertake further training to specialize in a particular area of foot health. A podiatrist is licensed to practice in the state that they work in, and like all other doctors, they must renew their licenses every few years and keep up to date with training. Most podiatrists treat general foot conditions as would a general practitioner unless they specialize in a particular area like surgery, wound care, or pediatrics. If you experience any pain in your feet or ankles, or if you want to learn about the best types of shoes that should be worn, it is suggested that you consult with a podiatrist for diagnosis, treatment, and general knowledge.
If you are experiencing pain in the feet or ankles, don’t join the stubborn majority refusing treatment. Feel free to contact one of our podiatrists from Brondon Foot and Ankle. Our doctors can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
What Is a Podiatrist?
Someone would seek the care of a podiatrist if they have suffered a foot injury or have common foot ailments such as heal spurs, bunions, arch problems, deformities, ingrown toenails, corns, foot and ankle problems, etc.
Podiatric Treatment
A podiatrist will treat the problematic areas of the feet, ankle or lower leg by prescribing the following:
- Physical therapy
- Drugs
- Orthotic inserts or soles
- Surgery on lower extremity fractures
A common podiatric procedure a podiatrist will use is a scanner or force plate which will allow the podiatrist to know the designs of orthotics. Patients are then told to follow a series of tasks to complete the treatment. The computer will scan the foot a see which areas show weight distribution and pressure points. The podiatrist will read the analysis and then determine which treatment plans are available.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Centerville, OH . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.