Podiatrist

What is a podiatrist?

A podiatrist, also called a doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM), is a physician who provides medical and surgical treatment for your foot and ankle problems. The foot and ankle surgeon completes a four-year accredited podiatric medical school. The curriculum not only covers the basic and clinical sciences like medical school but also provides rigorous education on all conditions of the foot and ankle.

After graduation, the podiatric surgeon enters a post-graduate residency. These residencies are similar to, and often integrated with, residencies for MDs and DOs. The critical difference is the higher volume of cases and time focused on the foot and ankle in residency programs for podiatric physicians and surgeons.

What are the common problems a podiatrist treats?

A podiatrist provides comprehensive medical and surgical care for a vast array of foot and ankle conditions in people of all ages. Some common and complex disorders and injuries treated include:

• Athlete’s Foot
• Ingrown toenails
• Warts
• Diabetic foot care
• Infections
• Wound Care
• Plantar fasciitis
• Bunions
• Flat Feet
• High Arch Feet
• Ankle Pain
• Heel Pain
• Trauma
• Hammertoes
• Neuromas
• Fractures
• Achilles tendon problems
• Heel spurs

Depending on the extent of your foot or ankle issue, your podiatrist at Kalmar Family Podiatry may fit you with custom orthotics or recommend advanced regenerative medicine such as shockwave therapy or platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

What can I expect during a podiatry visit?

When you visit Kalmar Family Podiatry, you as the patient are our primary focus. It’s important to remember that unlike visiting your general physician who may evaluate focus on several areas of your body, podiatrist focus solely on your feet and ankles.

If you’ve never been to Kalmar Family Podiatry before, we take your medical history and ask lifestyle questions prior to beginning the examination. It is important to tell your podiatrist all of your medical conditions as these almost always affect your feet and ankles. The reason for this is to see if you have medical issues like diabetes which can affect your feet. After taking your medical history, we examine your feet checking for things like circulation, sensation, foot type and muscle strength, to just name a few. At Kalmar Family Podiatry, we perform gait evaluations, take digital x-rays, perform laser therapy for muscle, tendon or joint pain all in a comfortable office setting environment.

It’s important to bring a pair of shoes that you typically wear so if you’re having problems with your feet, your podiatrist can better evaluate, diagnose and treat you.

Don’t hesitate and take the first step to alleviate your pain today. Call the office today or schedule your appointment online to meet with one of the highly experienced podiatrists at Kalmar Family Podiatry. We’ll be able to treat all your foot and ankle problems allowing you to walk normally since they alleviate you of your pain.