Your feet and ankles are extremely important parts of your body. They support you and allow you to do countless activities that would be impossible to do without them. Because they are so important, it is imperative to take good care of them and get them examined if there is any issue with them. The person you need if they are not functioning properly or if they are injured is a podiatrist, which is a highly educated medical specialist who deals with problems in patients’ feet, ankles, and lower legs.
What are Some Things Podiatrists Do?
Although they are uniquely certified to work only with feet and ankles, a podiatrist may work in fields such as dermatology, geriatrics, pediatrics, surgery, orthopedics, neurology, sports medicine, and even forensics.
What are the Qualifications to become a Podiatrist?
Podiatry is a very well-paid job. Specialists’ income can average up to $250,000 per year. Someone who wishes to become a licensed podiatrist in Katy, TX, must receive a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree. To accomplish this, they need to go through four years of undergraduate education and four more of graduate education at a podiatric medical college. In addition, they will receive up to four years of hospital training. Student pursuing a podiatrist career will receive comprehensive education that includes human anatomy and physiology lessons. They also study the fields of pathophysiology, sociological and psychological perspectives, as well as general medicine. They would also be proficient in surgery and pharmacology.
What Conditions does a Podiatrist Treat?
If you have any disorder of the foot or ankle, the first thing you should do is talk to your family doctor or general practitioner about it and get it examined. If it is serious enough, the doctor will recommend you to a podiatrist, who will heal this problem. Podiatrists are trained to recognize, diagnose, and treat every known disease that afflicts the human foot or ankle. They can help with something relatively simple, like a sprain or a mild ingrown toenail, or they can perform complex surgeries and even amputations, if it is necessary. If the podiatrist has performed a surgery on you, they will discuss after care with you and, in some cases, suggest a physical therapist for you.
Are you or someone you care about suffering from injuries or disorders in the feet or ankle? Visit Advanced Ankle & Foot to find out about a licensed podiatrist who can help you.
