Podiatrist- A Review
Podiatrist is the shortened form of the Greek word which means “foot doctor”. Podiatry or podiatrist is a field of medicine dedicated to the study, diagnosis and treatment of ailments of the feet, ankle and lower limb. A podiatrist treats a wide range of musculoskeletal problems and diseases such as arthritis, fractures, sprains, strains, tennis elbow, heel fractures, calluses, corns and calluses, bursitis, hammer toe and more. Many people turn to podiatrists for their care because of their general knowledge about the feet and their years of experience treating various foot related conditions. A qualified podiatrist is an expert in his or her own field and knows how to deal with different patients.
A podiatrist performs surgery and provides a wide variety of medical treatment using a variety of techniques including physical therapy, laser surgery, orthotics, fractures, tendonitis, sports injuries, neurological disorders and much more. A podiatrist uses diagnostic imaging such as x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans and bone scans in order to diagnose a patient’s condition and determine the right course of treatment. They also perform surgery and refer their patients to surgeons and specialists for surgical procedures. The primary purpose of a podiatrist is to provide physical treatment to their patients using various medical equipment and techniques. In order to become a good podiatrist, one needs to be well trained in medicine, anatomy, physiology, nursing, orthopedics, neurology and infectious diseases.
Podiatrist requires licensing and certification from the Board of Podiatry Medicine and must get permission of their local board to do research and treat patients. They need to pass many exams such as the ARRT Podiatry examination, American Podiatric Medical Association exam, the National Board of Certified Podiatrists (NBPCR) exam, the National Certification Board for Foot and Ankle Surgeons (NCNBAS) exam and the Examination for Professional Pediatric Denture Appraisal (EPDAS) exam. Before being able to practice as a podiatrist, they have to acquire their license. After getting their license, they are equipped to treat both acute and chronic foot conditions.
