A podiatrist is a medical doctor who treats feet, ankles, and lower leg limbs. They are often consulted for lower leg and foot injuries, as well as severe diabetes and other health problems related to the feet. Podiatrists are sometimes called foot doctors or doctors of podiatric medicine.
Podiatrists form an integral part of the medical industry because they specialise in the nerves, muscles, and bones of our feet and ankles. As most of us use our feet every day, getting a diagnosis from a podiatrist can treat or prevent damage to one of the most important parts of our bodies: our feet!
Align Health Collective is a professional podiatry clinic, committed to providing you with affordable, high-quality foot care. Get in touch and make your booking today.
Key Takeaways
- Podiatrists diagnose and treat foot, ankle, and lower limb conditions, including injuries and diabetes-related issues.
- Podiatrists use exams, imaging, and medical history to create personalised treatment plans, from therapy to medication.
- Issues like plantar fasciitis, bunions, and fractures are typically treated with non-surgical methods like orthotics and rehabilitation.
- Custom footwear and orthotics aid recovery, while surgery is a last resort for severe conditions.
What does a Podiatrist actually do?
Podiatrists diagnose and treat lower limb, foot, and ankle issues. Podiatrists will start by examining your foot and ankle joints and asking you for feedback on pain, numbness, or stiffness. Apart from a physical examination, various diagnostic tests may be necessary, such as X-rays, MRIs, musculoskeletal ultrasounds, or other podiatric tests. Your podiatrist will also ask about your medical history and any previous injuries.
Based on this examination, your podiatrist will diagnose the condition. The diagnosis will guide your personalised treatment plan, which could include corrective footwear, prescriptions, OTC medication (such as special ointments or creams) or physical therapy that will ultimately heal the nerves, joints, or bones of the foot.
In extreme cases, your podiatrist may recommend podiatric surgery. They may also prescribe special footwear and equipment which gradually corrects your feet and ankles, or protects them from further damage.
What does a Podiatrist treat?
Podiatrists treat issues related to your feet, ankles, and lower leg, including bone fractures, broken bones, foot-related symptoms due to severe diabetes, tears in your Achilles tendon, ankle sprains, soft tissue injuries, and more.
When it comes to prescribing podiatric surgery, it’s worth noting that the Podiatry Board of Australia has taken steps to make sure patients are clear about the qualifications of a podiatrist. According to The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), only 0.7% of podiatrists in Australia are registered as podiatric surgeons.
With this statistic in mind, podiatric surgery is not prescribed very often. More often than not, corrective therapy is prescribed to treat severe foot injuries. There’s also a significant range of corrective footwear at the disposal of podiatrists to help their patients correct their feet or ankles without surgery.
Here’s a comprehensive list of issues treated by podiatrists:
| Ailment | Medication | Corrective Footwear | Physiotherapy | Multiple Treatments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plantar Fasciitis | ✅ Pain relief (NSAIDs) | ✅ Orthotics, supportive shoes | ✅ Stretching, shockwave therapy | ✅ Custom orthotics & therapy |
| Bunions | ❌ | ✅ Wide-toe box shoes, orthotics | ✅ Strengthening exercises | ✅ Non-surgical first, surgery if needed |
| Ingrown Toenail | ✅ Antibiotics (if infected) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Medication & minor surgery |
| Athlete’s Foot | ✅ Antifungal creams/pills | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ Medication-only treatment |
| Heel Spurs | ✅ Pain relief (NSAIDs) | ✅ Cushioned shoes, orthotics | ✅ Shockwave therapy | ✅ Often needs multiple approaches |
| Flat Feet | ❌ | ✅ Orthotics, arch supports | ✅ Strengthening, balance training | ✅ Orthotics & therapy often needed |
| Diabetic Foot Ulcers | ✅ Antibiotics if infected | ✅ Pressure-relieving footwear | ✅ Wound care therapy | ✅ Essential to combine treatments |
| Neuropathy (Nerve Damage) | ✅ Medications for nerve pain | ✅ Special footwear for protection | ✅ Physical therapy to improve circulation | ✅ Requires long-term management |
| Achilles Tendonitis | ✅ Anti-inflammatory meds | ✅ Heel lifts, supportive shoes | ✅ Stretching, strengthening exercises | ✅ Therapy & footwear first, surgery if severe |
| Hammer Toe | ❌ | ✅ Toe splints, special shoes | ✅ Toe exercises | ✅ Often managed conservatively first |
| Corns & Calluses | ❌ | ✅ Padding, orthotics | ❌ | ❌ Typically treated with debridement |
| Shin Splints | ✅ Pain relief (NSAIDs) | ✅ Proper shoes, orthotics | ✅ Strengthening, stretching | ✅ Footwear & therapy needed |
| Stress Fractures | ✅ Pain relief | ✅ Protective boots/shoes | ✅ Gradual return to activity | ✅ Immobilisation & therapy necessary |
| Toenail Fungus | ✅ Antifungal oral/topical meds | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Medication |
| Gout (Foot & Toe Pain) | ✅ Anti-gout medications | ❌ | ✅ Some benefit from therapy | ✅ Medication |
| Ankle Sprains | ✅ Pain relief, anti-inflammatory | ❌ | ✅ Strengthening, balance training | ✅ Therapy is key to recovery |
| Severe Foot Deformities | ❌ | ✅ Custom braces/shoes | ✅ Post-surgery therapy | ✅ Surgery plus rehab often needed |
| Peripheral Artery Disease | ✅ Circulatory meds | ✅ Compression footwear | ✅ Exercise therapy | ✅ Long-term management required |
What is a Podiatry assessment?
A podiatry assessment, or biomechanical assessment, examines your foot and ankle in detail. During the podiatry assessment, the practitioner will check the range of motion or mobility of your ankle and joints, assess muscle strength, discuss your medical history, and even check your skin and toenails for signs of infection. Your podiatrist may also examine your posture and walking habits to check whether your feet are causing any back or spinal problems.
In some cases, your podiatrist may also order X-rays, a gait assessment, or an MRI scan. Podiatrists also treat minor foot issues like ingrown toenails, corns, and athlete’s foot, so these are all additional ailments your podiatrist may look out for.
What types of footwear does a Podiatrist prescribe?
In podiatry, corrective footwear typically includes orthopedic shoes, custom soles for existing shoes (referred to as custom orthotics), diabetic shoes, CAM Boots, recovery shoes for post-surgery, and heel lifts. This footwear helps to rehabilitate your feet and get them back to a healthy state.
Most of these footwear options include a custom design of the shoe that tailors the size, shape, and corrective specs to your specific needs. Athletes are also regular visitors to their podiatrists due to their very particular needs regarding their shoes. There has also been much progress made in therapeutic footwear for children with mobility impairment.
What does DPM stand for in podiatric medicine?
DPM simply stands for Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and refers to the medical degree that podiatrists obtain, qualifying them to assess, diagnose, and treat your foot or ankle-related ailments. Although podiatrists are considered to be medical doctors, they do not go through the same educational training as conventional doctors. Their training is specifically geared at understanding the nerves, bone structure, and muscles of the feet, ankles, and lower limbs.
What is a Podiatric Surgeon?
Some podiatrists are registered as podiatric surgeons, meaning they are qualified to perform surgery on the feet, ankles, and lower leg sections. A podiatric surgeon may be called upon to perform surgery for:
- Broken bones
- Bunions
- Hammertoes
- Plantar fasciitis
- Foot and ankle fractures
- Neuromas
- Tendon tears
- Diabetic foot ulcers and infections
Align HC: Award-Winning Podiatry and Physiotherapy
If you’re experiencing foot or ankle-related problems in your walking, or pain in your ankle joints, visit your podiatrist for a check-up. It’s worth noting that if your symptoms are directly related to your feet, make sure you visit your podiatrist rather than your family doctor to get these problems properly diagnosed and treated.
The experienced podiatry team at Align Health Collective is well-versed in treating a wide range of conditions, including shin splints, arthritis, foot and ankle pain, heel pain, heel spurs, Achilles tendonitis, and more. As a leading podiatry clinic, we deliver advanced care and innovative solutions to support your foot health. Get in touch today!
FAQs on What is a Podiatrist?
What is a biomechanical podiatrist?
Biochemical podiatry is the treatment of movement in the feet and ankles. A biochemical podiatrist will assess your posture, walking patterns, and how your weight is distributed across both of your feet. They will also do a manual, physical examination to check the movement of your feet and ankles, taking stiffness, joint pain, and muscle pain into account.
What’s the difference between a chiropodist and a podiatrist?
The biggest difference between a chiropodist and a podiatrist is terminology, since chiropodist is a somewhat older and more traditional term. However, chiropodists are generally more concerned with minor foot problems such as corns, ingrown toenails, and calluses; whereas podiatrists are trained in biomechanical diagnoses and more severe foot and ankle problems.
What is a podiatric pedicure?
Some podiatrists offer professional pedicures, known as podiatric pedicures. This involves all the benefits of a traditional pedicure, but it takes a more medical approach to foot care. Skin, nails, and heels are assessed and treated medically, and in some cases, corrective footwear is prescribed.
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