Podiatrist, a specialist who treats foot problems and diseases

Maybe you are familiar with specialists such as obgyn (obstetrician), pediatric (pediatrician), or internist (doctor of internal medicine). However, have you ever heard of a doctor who specializes in foot problems? The branch that specializes in foot health and problems is called podiatry, and the doctors are called podiatrists. Come on, find out more about podiatry below.

Podiatry is the branch of foot medicine

Podiatry is a branch of medicine that focuses on foot health problems, including the soles of the feet, nails and fingers, and the area around the ankles.

Doctors who specialize in foot problems are called podiatrists. The podiatric career path begins with studying medicine at a public or private university for 4 years.

After graduating with a bachelor's degree in medicine, aspiring podiatrists must undertake a residency in a hospital or clinic for 3-4 years and pursue specialist education in podiatry.

Podiatrists are doctors who examine, diagnose, and treat health problems surrounding the feet. This includes the bones of the foot, joints of the feet, skin, muscles, connective tissue, nerves, and circulation of the lower leg of the foot.

What health problems do podiatrists treat?

The area of ​​foot health that is the focus of podiatry is not just minor problems such as calluses or calluses. But also foot structural problems such as bunions and flat feet, to the treatment of diabetic foot wounds. Podiatrists can also treat foot injuries, including cases that require surgery, and post-problem care, such as walking therapy.

The conditions that a podiatrist must treat are as follows:

• Arthritis (especially osteoarthritis but also gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis)
• Diabetic foot disorders (including ulcers, infections, neuropathy, slow wound healing, and neurogenic arthropathy or Charcot's joints)
• Foot deformities (including flat feet, high arched feet, bunions, and hammertoes)
• Foot and ankle injuries (including sprains, strained legs, and broken leg bones)
• Heel and arch pain (including heel spurs, Achilles tendinitis, and plantar fasciitis)
• Morton's neurons (benign growths of nerve tissue that cause leg pain)
• Skin and nail conditions (including, calluses, ingrown or cannabis nails, plantar warts, athlete's foot or water fleas, and onychomycosis)
• Sports injuries (including bruises, sprains, leg fractures, tendon ruptures, ACL injuries)

Should you go to a general practitioner or a podiatrist?

In America, the title of podiatrist is DPM that is Doctor of Podiatric Medicine . But unfortunately, there is no specialist podiatry branch in Indonesia. So in Indonesia there is also no special title for doctors who study foot problems.

You may want to consider where to consult further on foot problems by asking yourself the following points:

1. Would you like to be treated by a doctor who has years of experience treating your specific disease (as opposed to doctors who only have basic knowledge)?
2. Do you think you need to have surgery on your foot or ankle?
3. Have you been to a general practitioner but your foot problem has not gone away?

If you answered "yes" to any of the three questions above, then you should ask for recommendations from a specialist who may be able to treat your specific problem.

Since there are still no podiatrists in Indonesia, for now, if you have foot problems, you can consult a general practitioner first. Then the general practitioner can refer you to a specialist doctor who is more appropriate for your problem.

If the problem is more specific, such as a wound on the leg due to complications of diabetes, you can consult a doctor who specializes in internal medicine (internist). If you have a sports injury, your GP may advise you to consult an orthopedic specialist.