Podiatry - Podiatric Medicine

Feet | Podiatry - Podiatric Medicine (Medicine Field)


Description

Podiatry, also called chiropody is that branch of medicine and surgery that specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the foot, ankle, leg, and lower back.

Specialization

Podiatric physicians can focus and specialize on different areas such as: surgery, sports medicine, biomechanics, geriatrics, pediatrics, internal medicine, diabetes, orthopedics, or primary care. The main aim as a chiropodist/podiatrist is to assess, diagnose and treat abnormalities and diseases of the lower limb.

Symptoms and Diseases

Podiatrists are treating conditions resulting from bone and joint disorders such as arthritis and soft-tissue, muscular pathologies and neurological and circulatory diseases. Podiatrists can also diagnose and treat complications of these conditions, including skin and nail disorders, corns, calluses and ingrown toenails. Foot injuries and infections gained through sport or other activities are also diagnosed and treated by podiatrists. Common disorders of the foot are: Foot Pain, Pes planus, Diabetic foot, High arch, Clubfoot, Bunions, Athletes foot, Plantar fasciitis and Morton’s neuroma.

Diagnosis, Treatments and Benefits

Podiatrists diagnose and treat foot diseases, disabilities, and deformities by means of physical medicine and rehabilitation, special shoes and other mechanical devices, drugs, and minor surgery.

Diseases of the foot are generally not limited, that is they are related to or manifest elsewhere in the body. Because of the foots distance from the central circulation, the heart and its constant exposure to pressures from the ground and the weight of the body, it is often the first place some of these diseases or a sign or symptom of others appears. ...