All About Podiatrists
 Definition:
"Podiatry is that profession of the health sciences which
deals with the examination, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
of diseases, conditions, and malfunctions affecting the human
foot and its related or governing structures, by employment
of medical, surgical, or other means." - Adopted by American
Podiatry Association House of Delegates.
Education:
The prerequisites for admission and criteria used in the admissions
process by schools of podiatric medicine are identical to
those of the traditional medical schools. (Minimum three years
of pre-medical study at an accredited college or university
and satisfactory score on the New-Medical College Admissions
Test.) Better than 90% of those students entering a school
of podiatry have Baccalaureate Degrees or higher, prior to
the admission to the four-year course in a college of podiatric
medicine.
Colleges:
There are seven colleges of podiatric medicine in the United
States. They are located in: New York City, Philadelphia,
Cleveland, Chicago, San Francisco, Des Moines, and Miami.
Curriculum:
The curriculum at the colleges of podiatric medicine is, in
effect, a "single tract" medical education with special emphasis
on the lower extremity, but provides a general medical curriculum
parallel to that of traditional medical schools.
Podiatric
Residency:
Over 90% of the graduates from the college of podiatric medicine
enter post-graduate residency training programs (1-3 years
in duration) in teaching hospitals. Both the professional
and post-graduate education programs stress an awareness of
the vital need to promote cooperative relationships between
podiatry and the other primary health professions in the appropriate
delivery of quality health care services.
Licensing:
Podiatrists are licensed in all 50 states to treat the foot
medically, mechanically, and surgically. Foot and leg problems
seen on an everyday basis by podiatrists include:
A.
Infants
and children
- Foot
deformities requiring correction through bracing, casting
or surgery.
- Flat
feet
- Pigeon
toeing
- Leg
cramps
- Skin
conditions
B.
Injury
- Fractures
and dislocations
- Sprains
and strains
- Lacerations,
cuts and bruises
- Foreign
bodies; splinters, glass, stings
- Burns
C.
Skin conditions
- Fungus
infection (athlete's foot)
- Allergies
- Nail
disease
- Corns
and callouses
- Plantar
Warts
- Skin
tumors
- Foot
odor and excessive sweating
- Blisters
D.
Sports Medicine
- Prevention
of athletic injuries
- Treatment
of athletic injuries
E.
Bone and joint problems
- Bunions
-
Arthritis
- Heel
spurs
-
Hammertoes
- Arch
problems
F.
Aged
- Diabetic
foot problems
- Circulatory
problems
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