What Can a Podiatrist Do for You?

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At NY Foot Health, we find that many people don’t fully understand what a podiatrist is or why they might need one. Oftentimes, we think of someone taking care of the nails of an elderly patient and while that is one type of care podiatrists provide, there is so much more that they offer patients. Podiatrists diagnose and treat all types of conditions and injuries of the feet, ankles and lower leg.

Look for the DPM

When choosing a qualified podiatrist, look for the letters DPM after her or his name. This stands for doctor of podiatric medicine and it means that the physician has undergone years of rigorous training, following the same type of program that doctors in other specialties do. This includes many years of college specializing in podiatric medicine, followed by hospital residency training. Podiatrists may also go on for advanced training and take a test to become board certified in surgery or other aspects of podiatric care. Your feet are complex structures, consisting of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 103 muscles, ligaments and tendons. They are the stabilizer and carriers of your entire body. They are also the first place where several systemic diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis and hypertension, may show symptoms. For this reason, it’s essential that the foot doctor you choose be fully trained and qualified. We offer a free directory of podiatrists and can help you find one in your area.

Podiatric Care

A doctor of podiatric medicine is licensed to perform many tasks associated with your feet. These include:

  • Perform comprehensive physical examinations of the lower extremities

  • Prescribe medications and order/do physical therapy

  • Diagnose and treat sports injuries, including repairing fractures

  • Order, perform and interpret x-rays and other imaging studies

  • Perform surgeries for repair and treatment of all types of podiatric conditions and injuries, including reconstructive surgery

  • Prescribe, make models for and fit orthotics and custom-made shoes

  • Prescribe durable medical goods

Without full use of your feet, you would not be able to perform even basic daily tasks. Don’t they deserve someone specially trained and best qualified to treat them? To learn more about the field of podiatry and common podiatric conditions, contact us.

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