Although all podiatrist jobs entail medically caring for the feet, the work of a podiatrist can range from routine tasks such as examination and consultation to much more complex endeavors such as surgery, prosthesis therapy, and management of foot injuries or deformities. Podiatry is a broad medical specialty that encompasses a wide range of podiatrist positions. The field of podiatry is, for the most part, adaptable. Doctors who specialize in podiatry are often able to work in a variety of settings at different times.
The human foot is made up of a complex system of bones and ligaments that must coordinate perfectly to support healthy growth, pain-free walking, and normal leg development, among other things. Podiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of foot problems. They do some preventative work, but they also do some restorative work. There are as many different podiatrist jobs as there are different types of foot problems.
The majority of podiatrist positions are in private practice, though some hospitals employ podiatrists. This is especially true in the case of podiatric surgeons. Podiatric medicine training usually begins with medical school and continues with a residency or fellowship in podiatric medicine. After becoming certified, podiatrists typically have a lot of freedom in determining the scope of their practice. One of the few exceptions is surgeons. To operate on the feet, doctors typically need to have a strong background in general surgery.
Some podiatrists specialize in children’s foot growth and gait problems. A pediatric podiatrist focuses his practice on assisting children’s feet in developing in ways that will allow them to walk and run safely later in life. Adults with unexplained foot pain or swelling are treated by other podiatrists.
Others work to rehabilitate foot injuries that have occurred as a result of an accident or disease. Podiatrists in this field frequently work as military doctors, treating soldiers and veterans with traumatic foot injuries. Fitting and monitoring foot prostheses for victims of amputation or deforming injury are possible jobs in these fields.
Jobs as a podiatrist can also be found in sports injury clinics. In comparison to the general population, athletes, dancers, and gymnasts have a disproportionately high number of foot injuries. Sports podiatrists not only treat injuries, but they also provide general injury prevention advice. Regardless of his or her specific podiatrist job description, keeping feet healthy is a top priority for any podiatrist.