Whether you face an injury or ailment, you need medical support to recover from your condition. However, people often need help deciding who to approach for a particular health problem because there are many doctors. Suppose you have a foot and ankle problem. Now, the question is: who should you visit between a podiatrist and an orthopaedist? People often think foot specialists and podiatrists are different, but they are the same. Podiatrists specialise in foot and ankle matters. Hence, you can visit them to resolve any feet or ankle issues.
Some believe orthopaedists are foot specialists because they can delve into any complexities arising in these body parts. But that’s partially correct. While they can treat foot and ankle conditions, orthopaedists possess an overall knowledge of the musculoskeletal system and tend to be surgeons. Nevertheless, clarifying these fundamentals is necessary to contact a suitable doctor on time. Otherwise, your treatment journey will be delayed until you find the right hands. You can pay more for a minor problem.
Difference between a podiatrist and an orthopaedist
Strong feet and ankles allow you to move freely without any support. They can balance your body weight through cartilage, joints, bones, ligaments, and tendons. However, any damage or disease in these parts can affect mobility, hindering regular life activities. Proper diagnosis and treatment can enable you to recover from your health issues. Since podiatrists and orthopaedists manage feet-related problems, you may wonder who to visit for a specific concern. If you face walking difficulty due to ankle or foot pain and discomfort, you need an expert podiatrist. These specialists know that anyone’s well-being depends heavily on their sound feet and ankle health. You can visit feetfirstpodiatry.com.sg for consultation.
Nevertheless, orthopaedists usually study for four years in a medical school and spend five or more years training as residents in orthopaedic surgical residency. They may also fellowship in muscular strength, skeletal, and lower leg to manage complex conditions. On the other hand, a podiatrist pursues three to four years of higher education from a reputable podiatry school for certification. After this, they may have to do residency programs of 2-3 years. Whether you or your kid has flat feet, ingrown toenails, calluses, or discomfort in muscles and tendons in the lower limb, they can help. An orthopaedist can mainly be sought for surgical needs, although they also do non-surgical procedures.
How do you choose between podiatrists and orthopaedists?
You require a podiatrist’s intervention when faced with any injury or ailment in the feet or ankles. They better understand the nuances and biomechanics of these body parts because of their targeted focus. However, an orthopaedic doctor can be more suitable for musculoskeletal systems and complex surgeries.
People often mistake orthopaedists for foot specialists because their extensive knowledge also covers this area. However, the actual foot specialists are podiatrists who tend to be explicitly involved with these body parts. If you have a kid with any foot or ankle problem, you will need support from a paediatric podiatrist. A well-trained ankle and foot doctor can also manage sports-induced injuries.