Footcare Services: The Podiatrist

Podiatrists offer the followings services for their patients: foot examination; gait analysis; treatment programs; and custom orthotic aids and products. The typical treatments provided by podiatrists are muscle therapy, gentle mobilizations of the bones and joints, stretches and exercise. A podiatrist will also provide information on proper footwear and home care for your feet.

Some of the common problems that are treated by podiatrists are corns, bunions, calluses, ingrown toenails, strained muscles and infections of the feet. Podiatrists also deal with problems associated with

In order to be seen by a podiatrist, you must first be referred by your family doctor. The podiatrist will make his/her own assessment of the problem and make recommendations as to the proper treatment. The podiatrist will probably take the measurements and impressions for orthotic aids that are custom made for each specific problem.

To be registered as a podiatrist, a person must graduate from a registered school of podiatry and pass a licencing examination. In order to get a podiatrist licence, he/she must have two years of college science courses and a four year degree program graduating with a Doctor of Podiatry diploma. The first two years of study leading to a career as a podiatrist consist of intensive classroom training and the last two years consist of working with a registered podiatrist in combination with classroom work.