What is Podiatry?
Podiatry is that the health profession that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the foot and related problems by mechanical, surgical and pharmaceutical means. Just what podiatrists do, does vary from country to country and is reflected in the scope of practice laws of each country and the extent of training in each country.
In the USA, podiatry is a postgraduate degree of 4 years followed by a 2-3 year surgical residency. They have full medical and surgical privileges in the USA. Podiatry in the United Kingdom and Australia is a 3-4 year undergraduate degree but does not contain any surgical training. Those who want the surgical qualification take part in a post-graduate surgical program while working a as podiatrist. In some European countries it is a 2 year certificate course and the scope of conditions and treatment that they can use is very limited. Some Asian countries have no podiatry at all, or if they do there are a few that were trained in other countries.
Some of the common problems treated by podiatrists include corn and calluses, ingrown nails, bunions and hallux valgus flat feet, sports injuries, heel pain and plantar fasciitis. They treat all sorts of people from older persons to children, from occupational injuries to sports injuries. The also share a lot with other disciplines. They share the skin with dermatologists; they share the nerves with neurologists; they chare the bones and joints with orthopaedic surgeons; they share physical therapy with physical therapists; and they share the circulation with vascular surgeons.
