To Perfect Body

Podiatry is one of the branches of the medicine profession. It places more emphasis on human movement and medically caring for ankles, feet, and lower extremities. Podiatrists refer to the medical experts whose work is studying and medically caring for lower extremity in humans. In the United States, the distribution of these specialists is even allowing easy access to services by the public. Any podiatrist near Boulder is in a position to supply professional care for lower extremities. Other names for these practitioners are podiatric surgeons, doctors, or physician.

Doctors of podiatric medicine are well specialized in diagnosing, preventing, and treating foot conditions, diseases, injuries, and disorders. Their work allows them to provide independent judgment and order and/or apply many different diagnostic tests. Most diseases manifest first signs through feet, which puts these doctors in a unique position to identify them on time. In people who lack access to podiatric help, such signs normally go unnoticed.

The scope of practice of podiatrists varies depending on the demographical and geographical location one is situated. The job entails working with other health professionals within the society as a vital part of a team. Podiatric experts are capable of prescribing medications, treating sports related injuries, setting fractures, and performing surgical procedures. They also carry out or order physical therapy regimens and fit and/or prescribe insoles, orthotics, and customized shoes.

Diagnosis involves taking and interpreting results from X-rays and other imaging studies. A podiatrist may also need to do full physical examination and medical history to get deeper insight into a disease. These practitioners need license to perform full physical examination and medical history.

Further specialization and training allows practitioners the ability to carry out amputations in fullness or partiality. Such amputations prevent loss of life or further damage to the limb. Podiatric physicians are allowed to order or give anesthesia and sedatives. Anesthesiologists or certified registered nurse anesthetists are the primary physicians allowed to administer anesthesia and sedatives. Intravenous (IV) sedation is part of sedatives mostly used.

To become a qualified podiatrist, one must undergo several years of training, take tests, and attend hospital-based residency training. One can be admitted into a podiatric medical school at graduate or undergraduate level. First two years of studying in podiatric schools covers general courses similar to that of medicine students. Training takes four years with specialization starting at the third year.

Although hospital-based residency training takes two years in most cases, it can last longer. Among the areas podiatrists are trained in include general pathology, human gait, general medicine, pharmacology, non-surgical foot care techniques, surgical techniques, and general anesthesia. Surgical procedures include enucleation, cryotherapy, partial or full nail avulsions, wound debridement, cutaneous procedures, electro-surgical methods, and matricectomy. This training equips them with knowledge that allows them to handle a variety of foot problems.

Main branches contained in the field of podiatry include podiatric vascular specialist, orthopedic, rheumatology, medical physician, gerentological podiatrist, sports medicine, and neuro-podiatrist among many others. Some practitioners have specialty in a single branch while others specialize in several. Those with specialty in sports medicine avail themselves on-site where their clients engage in sports.