What is Podiatry?
Podiatry, known as podiatry medicine, is a medical specialty
concerning the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases, deformities
and disorders affecting the lower extremity parts of the body. The word
“podiatry” derives from the Greek words ‘podis,’ meaning foot and ‘iatria’
meaning healing or physician. The practice was known as chiropody in the late
19th and early 20th centuries. To overcome the confusion
with chiropractic practices, the word chiropody was changed to podiatry during
1970s.
A medical physician who specializes in podiatry is a
podiatrist. Podiatrists mainly focus on the prevention, diagnoses and
treatment of conditions associated with the foot and other lower extremity
parts. These can include minor and major disorders, diseases and deformities
of the feet and lower limbs such as bunions, corns and calluses, and ingrown
toenails. They also provide awareness about the importance of pedal care and
prevention of foot problems in the future. Podiatrists generally practice in
community health centers, hospitals, sports medicine clinics and nursing
homes. In podiatry, podiatrists adopt mechanical, surgical and other means of
treatment options.
The scope of podiatry is wide. Podiatry generally falls into
four main categories; general clinics, biomechanics, high risk patient
management and surgery. Foot and its associated problems can be the symptoms
of other health problems, including diabetes, various skin diseases,
arthritis, heart diseases, kidney ailments, vitamin deficiencies and vascular
problems. So, a podiatrist has to work in conjunction with other medical
specialties in treating those diseases affecting the patient as a whole.
Podiatry covers a number of medical specialties such as
sports medicine, dermatology, biomechanics, podopediatrics corrective surgery,
and radiology. Podiatry plays an essential role in sports medicine. These two
medical specialties practiced together for the treatment of sports injuries
such as Heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, muscle strains,
rigid high arches, flexible low arches, or other over-use syndromes.
