Dr. Michael Henry, MD, Podiatry | Wilmington, DE | WebMD (2024)

FAQs

What did podiatrist used to be called? ›

Ancient Forms of Podiatry

Up until the 20^th century, doctors who focused on feet, ankles, and legs were called chiropodists and considered separate from other types of organized medicine. It was still considered a respectable profession and became more established by the 1800s.

DPMs, also called podiatrists, diagnose and treat disorders, diseases, and injuries of the foot, ankle, and lower extremities. They can specialize in areas such as sports medicine, surgery, biomechanics, and diabetic foot care, among others. About 2,000 podiatric medical doctors practice in California.

The truth is that foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons have the most comprehensive training available for nonsurgical treatment options and have the highest level of qualifications to diagnose the root cause of any foot or ankle problem.

Your podiatrist can safely cut your nails and remove fungus without spreading it. They can also prescribe antifungal creams and sprays to help the nail heal.

Podiatrists specialize in foot and ankle care. Conversely, orthopedists cater to general musculoskeletal problems. Although an orthopedist technically has studied foot and ankle problems, a podiatrist specializes in them. This specialization allows a podiatrist to better address issues unique to your foot and ankle.

A podiatrist goes to Podiatric Medical School and earns the DPM degree. Like other medical schools, podiatric medical schools require the MCAT test and are competitive. However, pod schools get fewer applicants than general med schools, and are therefore easier to get into.

As a general rule, if foot pain is your only issue, a podiatrist is a great choice. If you have pain all throughout your body, such as the neck and back, you should see an orthopedic doctor. If you can find a doctor that is trained in both orthopedics and podiatry, that is much better in the long run.