podiatrist
Meaning of podiatrist: Feet carry the whole body's weight and sit furthest from the heart, which is why problems there often announce a condition elsewhere.
Definition of podiatrist
A podiatrist is a healthcare professional who specializes in the foot and ankle, diagnosing and treating problems of the bones, joints, skin, nails and soft tissues of the lower limb. The work spans structural problems such as bunions and hammertoes, nail and skin conditions, sports injuries, and foot complications arising from conditions such as diabetes.
What does a podiatrist treat?
Much of the work is mechanical. Feet carry the body's weight through a small area, so the way load is distributed across them shapes a great deal of what goes wrong: bunions, hammertoes, flat or high arches, heel pain, tendon problems and stress injuries from running. Alongside this sits the care of skin and nails, including corns, calluses, fungal nail infection and ingrown toenails, and the assessment of gait and footwear. A healthcare provider in this field also fits orthoses, custom-shaped inserts intended to change how load passes through the foot.
Why are feet a window onto general health?
The foot is the furthest point from the heart and the end of the longest nerves in the body, so it feels the effects of poor circulation and nerve damage before most other places do. In diabetes the two problems combine: reduced sensation means an injury is not felt, and reduced blood flow means it heals slowly, so a small wound can progress unnoticed. That is why foot examination is a standard part of diabetes care and why podiatrists work closely with other clinicians. Cold feet, hair loss over the toes, slow-healing sores, changes in skin color and burning or numb sensations can all point to a condition that is not confined to the foot at all.
How is the profession trained and regulated?
| Aspect | What varies |
|---|---|
| Qualification | A dedicated podiatry degree in some countries; in others a separate professional doctorate followed by residency training |
| Title | Podiatrist in most English-speaking countries; the older term chiropodist persists in some |
| Surgical scope | Ranges from none, to minor procedures, to full foot and ankle surgery for those with further surgical training |
| Prescribing | Permitted in some jurisdictions, restricted or absent in others |
Because of this variation, what a podiatrist is licensed to do in one country cannot be assumed in another. Where surgical scope is broad, it overlaps with that of an orthopedic surgeon who focuses on the foot and ankle.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The patient was referred to a podiatrist for evaluation of a persistent foot ulcer.
Good to know
Podiatry training, prescribing rights and surgical scope differ substantially between countries, so the boundary between a podiatrist and an orthopedic surgeon specializing in the foot and ankle is not the same everywhere.
Word origin
Where “podiatrist” comes from
Formed from pod-, from Greek pous, podos, meaning foot, and -iatrist, from Greek iatros, meaning healer.