Podiatry
Podiatry is the branch of medicine concerned with diagnosing and treating conditions of the feet, ankles, and related lower-limb structures.
Diabetic foot: A range of foot problems associated with diabetes, including ulcers, infection, and tissue damage. Podiatrists help prevent and treat foot complications linked to diabetes.
Gait analysis: The systematic measurement and interpretation of how a person walks or runs. Movement patterns can reveal functional contributors to foot and ankle symptoms.
Foot anatomy: The structure of the foot, including its bones, joints, muscles, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels. Podiatric diagnosis depends on understanding the foot's interconnected structures.
Orthopedics: The medical specialty concerned with the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. Orthopedic surgeons and podiatrists may both treat foot and ankle conditions, with different training pathways and scopes.
Podiatric physician: A practitioner trained in podiatric medicine who diagnoses and treats disorders of the foot and ankle. This is the clinician role most directly associated with podiatry in the United States.
Plantar fasciitis: A common cause of heel pain involving irritation or degeneration of the plantar fascia. It is a frequent musculoskeletal condition evaluated and treated in podiatry.
Podiatric biomechanics: The study of mechanical forces and movement in the foot and lower limb. It informs assessment of loading, alignment, and movement-related pain.
Ankle anatomy: The structure of the ankle joint and its surrounding bones, ligaments, tendons, and soft tissues. Many foot complaints involve or originate in structures around the ankle.
Chiropody: A term for foot care used in some countries and professional traditions, often overlapping with podiatry. The two titles can denote similar services, but their regulation and usage vary by location.
Podiatric surgeon: A podiatric physician with specialist training and credentials to perform foot and ankle surgery. Surgical practice is one pathway within podiatric medicine, subject to local regulation.