Podiatry as a medical specialty has advanced significantly in the last 50 years. However, in some areas, the general public and even the medical community have not followed or understood this progress. No longer a business that simply treats toenails, corns and calluses, podiatry has become the most experienced branch of medicine in foot and ankle medicine and surgery. This article will discuss common myths about podiatry and the nature of this specialty in 2010.
Myth No. # 1: podiatrists only go to school for two years
After graduating from a four-year college, podiatrists go to school as a medical doctor (MD) or an orthopedist (DO). In fact, much of the first two years of academic study in podiatry school are identical to those grades. The difference begins in the third year, when podiatry students begin to develop their expertise in podiatry and ankle medicine. Upon graduation, new podiatrist in Wellington FL become hospital residents for two to three years, learn advanced medical and surgical techniques, and are generally assigned the same responsibilities as medical and surgical interns and residents at those institutions. Only after that do podiatrists go into practice.
Myth 2: a podiatrist treats nails and corns primarily
There was a time in the previous half century when podiatrists (then known as chiropractors) rigorously treated toenails, corns, and minor foot pain. That time has passed. For the past 40 years, podiatrists have treated all conditions that can affect the foot and ankle, from bunions and fractures to serious injuries and fractures and even severe birth defects. Podiatrists treat skin disorders, orthopedic disorders, nerve disorders, injuries, and even have a role in circulatory disorders. And yes, they still treat ailments, corns and calluses on the toes.
Myth No. 3: podiatrists do not operate
Podiatry is generally a surgical specialty, as many of the treatments performed by a podiatrist in the office or outside of the clinic involve some practical procedure. While some of this is not surgery in the sense of involving the operating room and general anesthesia (like in-clinic treatment for ingrown toenails, for example), much of what podiatrists do includes conventional surgery. Almost all podiatrists perform surgery in a hospital or surgery.
Podiatrists use both traditional orthopedic surgical techniques and pioneering procedures unique to this specialty to advance modern understanding of foot and ankle surgery. Podiatrists perform routine corrective surgeries, but they are also part of trauma teams and save lives through extensive surgical intervention for diabetic foot infections. Some specialize in pediatric surgery, while others focus on sports medicine.
Myth No. # 4: Podiatrists use expensive shoe inserts to treat everything.
Part of the unique advantages of a podiatrist over another specialist who has cross-treatment of foot problems is the podiatrist’s education and understanding in the field of biomechanics. The foot has a unique structural, physiological and engineering relationship with the Earth when it comes to body movement. Biomechanics involves the study of that relationship.
One of the greatest advances in this field in the last 50 years has been the development of orthotics. Although any store bought accessory is now called an orthosis, the traditional and more accurate description of an orthosis is a molded or composite plastic accessory that is molded to a foot model. This foot manipulated during the shaping process so that the foot joint that controls flattening and excessive arch is set in an acceptable position of zero degrees, thus ensuring that the resulting orthosis will maintain the arch in a biomechanically optimal position. Since many common injuries .
There was a time in the previous half century when podiatrists (then known as chiropractors) rigorously treated toenails, corns, and minor foot pain. That time has passed. For the past 40 years, podiatrists have treated all conditions that can affect the foot and ankle, from bunions and fractures to serious injuries and fractures and even severe birth defects. Podiatrists treat skin disorders, orthopedic disorders, nerve disorders, injuries, and even have a role in circulatory disorders. And yes, they still treat ailments, corns and calluses on the toes.
