Podiatry is a field of orthopedic health that specifically deals with the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders of the feet, legs and lower limbs. Podiatrists are professional foot health specialists. They are trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent foot and ankle disorders through instruments such as x-rays, CAT scans, MRIs, and orthotics. Their main function is to provide patients with relief from pain, increase their mobility and improve their quality of life.
There are four main types of podiatry. There is general podiatry Adelaide, which is generally practised by family physicians, surgeons and other general practitioners; family practice podiatry, which is generally practised by podiatrists or other licensed physicians practising in a podiatry office; corrective medicine podiatry, which is generally practised by orthopedic surgeons, physical therapy doctors and physicians working under the supervision of a podiatrist; and primary care podiatry, which is practised by physicians specialising in a specific field of medicine. Within each of these types, there are subtypes. In addition, there are numerous subspecialties within these main areas of podiatry.
Podiatry is the field of medicine devoted to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of various foot conditions. Some of the common podiatry Adelaide practices include arthroscopic surgery, heel lifts, fractures of the foot, plantar fasciitis, corns and calluses, gout, ingrown toenails and hammertoes. The scope of podiatry practise is vast and includes paediatrics, gynaecology, women’s health, orthopaedics, sports medicine, men’s health and trauma. Podiatry also includes orthopedic surgery, which is focused on the correction of abnormalities or structural defects of the musculoskeletal system and the rehabilitation of patients after orthopedic surgery.
A podiatrist treats the most common types of foot problems. They perform biomechanical diagnosis, which involves evaluating and diagnosing the patient’s symptoms and their relationship to known causes. Initial treatment usually involves the diagnostic evaluation and microscopic examination of the affected area, which helps the podiatrist determine the problem’s nature, location, and severity. Treatment may include physical therapy, steroid injections, podiatrist-directed surgical procedures, and non-surgical treatments such as applying pressure through shoe inserts or night splints. Most patients improve on their own within a few months to several years.
Foot disorders and deformities are treated differently at a pediatric, family practice, general hospital or acute care hospital setting. Pediatric patients receive special care because they are at risk for developing complications or conditions with prolonged exposure to the riskier medical interventions. Conditions treated at a hospital are more closely monitored, but overall, both settings provide patients with a high-quality, comprehensive level of care. When treating pediatric conditions, podiatry practices adhere to regulated health profession standards.
To become licensed as a podiatrist, you must pass the Board Certified Podiatrist examination. If you want to open up your podiatry practices, you must pass the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) exam. Only podiatrist physicians can write and approve patient exams. You must pass the NCLEX-RN exam and complete a four-year undergraduate program at an accredited university to become a physician. Only after completing an undergraduate program can you apply to take the licensing exam for the state you are practising in.
