Somehow podiatry came up ( I have no background in medicine) and I was wondering why in the world are feet doctors a specialty compared to a general surgeon or someone that might fix a broken arm or hand issues?
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Same reason dentists go through a separate school system and aren’t considered “real” doctors–because that’s how it evolved and has been that way for hundreds of years. Medical doctors will treat oral issues, although bony issues and soft tissue issues are generally treated by different fields (orthopedics vs ENT) , and still tooth issues are addressed by dentists (and some dentists so subspecialty training in oral surgery, still sometimes operating out of hospitals). Likewise, more complex bone issues are often treated by orthopedic surgeons specializing in foot/ankle care, but some podiatrists will still do bone issues–they tend to focus more of skin and nail issues, though, as well as less complex bone issues such as bone spurs.
Same reason dentists go through a separate school system and aren’t considered “real” doctors–because that’s how it evolved and has been that way for hundreds of years. Medical doctors will treat oral issues, although bony issues and soft tissue issues are generally treated by different fields (orthopedics vs ENT) , and still tooth issues are addressed by dentists (and some dentists so subspecialty training in oral surgery, still sometimes operating out of hospitals). Likewise, more complex bone issues are often treated by orthopedic surgeons specializing in foot/ankle care, but some podiatrists will still do bone issues–they tend to focus more of skin and nail issues, though, as well as less complex bone issues such as bone spurs.
I’ll answer with my own personal experience: I’m a 41 year old man (not 71) and I was walking around with a cane due to knee and ankle pain. Podiatrist found I had simply been walking wrong for too long on flat feet. He created insoles specifically designed for my feet to straighten my gait and heal the damage. Two months later I’m now back to jogging on the treadmill. They’re a very important part of the medical community….
I’ll answer with my own personal experience: I’m a 41 year old man (not 71) and I was walking around with a cane due to knee and ankle pain. Podiatrist found I had simply been walking wrong for too long on flat feet. He created insoles specifically designed for my feet to straighten my gait and heal the damage. Two months later I’m now back to jogging on the treadmill. They’re a very important part of the medical community….
I’ll answer with my own personal experience: I’m a 41 year old man (not 71) and I was walking around with a cane due to knee and ankle pain. Podiatrist found I had simply been walking wrong for too long on flat feet. He created insoles specifically designed for my feet to straighten my gait and heal the damage. Two months later I’m now back to jogging on the treadmill. They’re a very important part of the medical community….
So far no one has really answered your question properly and it annoys me. I think you’ll find it comes down to tradition. Same way dentists are teeth doctors but they don’t go to medical school, they go to dentistry. Yes there is oral-maxilla-facial surgeons who do dental surgery but went to medical school, just like there are podiatrists who study a doctorate of podiatry and there are foot and ankle surgeons who study a doctorate of medicine (then do an orthopaedic surgery residency followed by a foot and ankle fellowship)
So far no one has really answered your question properly and it annoys me. I think you’ll find it comes down to tradition. Same way dentists are teeth doctors but they don’t go to medical school, they go to dentistry. Yes there is oral-maxilla-facial surgeons who do dental surgery but went to medical school, just like there are podiatrists who study a doctorate of podiatry and there are foot and ankle surgeons who study a doctorate of medicine (then do an orthopaedic surgery residency followed by a foot and ankle fellowship)
So far no one has really answered your question properly and it annoys me. I think you’ll find it comes down to tradition. Same way dentists are teeth doctors but they don’t go to medical school, they go to dentistry. Yes there is oral-maxilla-facial surgeons who do dental surgery but went to medical school, just like there are podiatrists who study a doctorate of podiatry and there are foot and ankle surgeons who study a doctorate of medicine (then do an orthopaedic surgery residency followed by a foot and ankle fellowship)
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