If you are experiencing any sort of foot or ankle problems, the first step you should take is to make an appointment to have your feet examined by a podiatrist. A podiatrist is a specialist, a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), whose training focuses specifically on the total care of the foot and ankle.

To earn a DPM degree, a person must complete four years of undergraduate study (Bachelor's Degree), four years in a college of podiatric medicine (Doctorate), and up to three years in a post-graduate residency program at a hospital or university. The residency program allows the doctor-in-training to extensively diagnose and treat a large variety of foot and ankle disorders while maintaining, refining, and updating the medical and surgical skills necessary for this highly specialized field. In order to be licensed, the podiatrist must pass national and state license exams.

No other medical specialist is required to complete such an extensive program of study for the treatment of the most common medical and foot disorders to the most serious injuries, fractures, and deformities.