An introduction to Podiatry

Podiatry is a branch of medical science which

deals primarily with the treatment of disorders pertinent to the lower half of the body. It is a science which is dedicated to the diagnosis of problems that arise in the foot and ankle. The terminology of podiatry is very popular in western countries. Chiropodist or podiatrist is what you call a doctor who is an expert in the science of podiatry.

The history of podiatry dates back to roughly four thousand years back. It was practiced at that point of time in Egypt. Till the dawn of twentieth century, podiatry was considered as a separate form of medicine. The association of podiatrist was established way back in 1895.

The scope and popularity of podiatry in

predominantly on the rise. The popular Forbes magazine has listed this profession of treating feet as one of the best paid professions in the United States. The salary and pay package paid to podiatrist are definitely as good when compared to other medical streams.

Surgery performed by podiatrist is primarily to make sure that foot and ankles function properly. Patients having joint or ligament related issues are treated by podiatrist by performing surgery. Sport podiatry is a branch of podiatry which focuses on the treatment given to sports person to make sure they are fit and healthy.

The practice of podiatry varies from country to country. Podopaediatrics is a sub-division study which deals with the treatment of feet related disorders in kids and infants. The education mode and the courses vary predominantly across each country based on the demographic and other factors.

There are several inner level divisions in the field of podiatry itself. Some of the popular fields are forensic podiatry, podiatric rheumatology, dermatological podiatry etc. There are several associations and societies for podiatrist. There is a lot of interest required to pursue any degree and especially for podiatry it is even more essential as one needs a lot of dedication in inspecting and treating lower half of the body.

Most people in general are averse to even touching other people’s feet. Hence one should go for this study and profession only with sufficient interest and dedication. There are instances of students going for this study but not practicing it because of their aversion.

Some of the activities performed by a podiatric specialist include

Suggesting preventive measures for patients to keep their feet healthy and clean

Diagnosing the problems and suggesting them appropriate surgery or medicine options available.

Involving in minor surgeries

Interacting with sports persons and assisting them for a fit body. This involves sufficient expertise as the legs of sports persons are prone to getting into feet related problems.

Grooming the subordinates and support staff working under him to help the patients effectively

For example, a person staying in Canary Wharf wants to visit chiropodist in Canary Wharf then he has to first check for the list of chiropodists available and choose one among the chiropodist in Canary Wharf based on his expertise and skillset. The charges levied by chiropodists could be sometime more because of the lack of adequate experts in this field.

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