Why should I visit a Podiatrist?

Often, people say they have foot pain and do not know what to do! If your foot or ankle hurts, visit a podiatrist...a foot and ankle specialist! Podiatrists attend podiatry school after graduation from college, and this is a four year program, very similar to traditional medical school but focusing on the lower extremities (from the hip down). However, we still take the same medical school classes, like biochemistry, physiology, histology, gross anatomy of the entire body, pharmacology, and others. During podiatry school, we begin working in podiatry clinics, learning the basics of foot care and also get surgical exposure and training on how to assist in surgeries. After podiatry school, we enter a two or three year residency program that offers further and more intense clinical training, rotations with other specialties (dermatology, emergency medicine, internal medicine), and surgical education and training with the foot and ankle specifically. Podiatrists are specialized and highly trained with all conditions of the foot and ankle. There are some podiatrists that sub-specialize in certain areas, like dermatology, sports medicine, limb salvage or foot and ankle reconstruction, and pediatrics, and you may need to referred to one of those podiatry groups if you have a very specific condition that needs special care. If you have foot pain, choose a foot specialist and pick a podiatrist! Visit APMA.org for more information on podiatry! Dr. Bender, 6931 W. North, Oak Park, IL 60302.