If you think podiatrists and foot and ankle specialists are nothing more than New Age mumbo jumbo, you probably have the wrong notion about these professions.
Podiatrists and foot and ankle specialists are medical experts who help patients with legitimate medical concerns.
What do I need to know about podiatrists? Many people seem to believe that podiatrists are "alternative healers" who stimulate certain areas in your feet to ensure internal organs function properly.
To make things clear, stimulation of specific areas in the body is more associated with acupressure.
Podiatrists do not stimulate but rather they examine, treat, and provide recommendations to relieve pain or other problems in the foot, ankle, and lower leg areas.
Another common misconception is the number of years required for podiatry training.
Contrary to popular belief that this will only take two years or less, US schools actually require four years of intensive studies for podiatry after completing a four-year undergraduate degree or required semester hours.
The first year training is comparable to studies given to general practitioners and doctors of osteopathy.
The real difference occurs in the third and fourth years of learning because these usher in in-depth and specific lectures for foot area treatments.
Once the four-year study is over, an aspiring podiatrist would have to undergo hands-on training.
In the US, after completing residency requirements, board certification will follow either from the American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine or the American Board of Podiatric Surgery.
What is a foot and ankle specialist? Foot and ankle specialist is a sub-specialty under orthopedic or podiatry practice.
The general practice is concerned with diagnosis and possible treatments for foot concerns.
Studies for an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon take several years to complete.
These consist of four years of education in college followed by four years of allopathic or osteopathic medical school, one year internship for surgery, an additional five or six years of orthopedic training, and an elective year fellowship in foot and ankle surgery.
For podiatry, the requirement is four years of bachelor's degree, four years of podiatric medical school, and an additional three to four years of surgical residency.
What happens if I consult with these experts? A general consultation regarding your medical history and family medical background would first ensue.
The specialists would need the information to assess what is causing your problem before recommending ways to treat it.
Depending on the circumstance, the expert may then require you to undergo laboratory exams or X-rays.
Once the results are analyzed, the professional may then recommend medication, special apparatus, and medical advice.
In worst case scenarios, they may also advocate surgery if no other treatment is viable to correct the problem.
For people who feel they need a podiatrist or a foot and ankle specialist's help, it's best to consult your medical doctor first.
Your physician knows more about this field than you can imagine and he or she will be able to direct you to the nearby experts in your area.