The podiatry profession is the profession that deals with preventing, diagnosing, and treating medical conditions of the feet. A health professional who works in the podiatry field is known as a podiatrist. A podiatrist does not only treat conditions of the feet but also of the lower limbs. Some of the conditions that are treated by a podiatrist are: bone and joint disorders, foot and heel problems , skin and nail disorders and other foot infections and injuries.
In order to become a qualified podiatrist, you must obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in podiatry. This is very important because you need to be able to know which external and internal medicines are required to treat conditions that affect the feet. There are many job opportunities for a podiatrist. You can start your own private practice or you can work at health centers, nursing homes, clinics, and hospitals. A podiatrist is also needed in the sport industry especially by sports medicine clinics.
Sports normally involve excessive running, walking, and jumping which place greater physical demands on the body. Most injuries that occur during sporting are foot and lower limb injuries. A podiatrist has the knowledge and the experience that is needed to recommend proper footwear, to recommend training regimens, to diagnose foot conditions, and to recommend athletic movement and orthotic devices for sports shoes. Some of the most common sporting injuries that can be diagnosed and treated by a podiatrist are: ankle sprains, knee pain, shin pain, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures and Achilles tendonitis.
Working in a nursing home can be a very fulfilling experience for a podiatrist. Maintaining the mobility of the disabled and the elderly can be rewarding for a podiatrist. A podiatrist also helps those who have diabetes to prevent and manage complications that they might encounter with their lower limbs.
As a podiatrist, you are qualified to perform cutaneous and nail surgeries and based on your education, you can also perform foot surgery. There is a common misconception that podiatrists are not very important. Reality, however, has shown that podiatrists are needed by almost everyone – children, adults, the disabled, the elderly and those who actively engage in sports.
