Podiatry is a specialty dedicated to everything about the foot, ankle and lower leg. This includes diagnosis and treatments of disorders such as corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, bunions, heel spurs, ankle and foot injuries, deformities, and other foot associated diseases. Specialty branches include reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, diabetic limb salvage and wound care, podopediatrics (children’s foot and ankle condition), and forensic podiatry (CSI crime scene investigation associated foot studies). A podiatrist must be licensed to be able to practice podiatry, which requires up to 3-4 years of undergraduate study plus 4-year podiatric college program and a passing score on the national and State exam and are considered as health care professionals. Podiatrists work to improve the mobility, independence and the quality of life for their patients. This is done by preventative care, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of problems affecting the feet, ankles and lower limbs.

Common Foot Disorders

Common foot disorders include Achilles tendonitis, adult flatfoot, arthritis in the big toe joint, bunions, charcot joint disease, extensor tendonitis, ganglions, gout, hallux limitus, hammertoes, heel pain, heel spurs, ingrown toenails, metatarsal stress fracture, neuroma, peroneal tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, plantar fibromas, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, posterior tibial tendonitis, sesamoiditis, tarsal tunnel syndrome.

History

Feet care was found to be available since 2400BC where evidence in ancient Egypt suggested through ancient carvings of available feet care was showed. During the 20th century, podiatrist or practitioners of podiatry were still not classified as practicing in valid organized medicine fields until in the 21st century, when it is finally recognize as a field of specialty in many countries including the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and more.