One of the most challenging in life can be dealing with a health issue. However, it can become even more difficult if you do not know the right medical practitioner to see.
A typical example of this is being confused about whether to visit a foot doctor in Salt Lake City (a podiatrist) or an orthopedist.
Without a doubt, these two health practitioners have a lot in common. However, they’re not the same. Yes, they are both specialist physicians, but their individual specialties vary.
In this article, we cover the difference between a podiatristand an orthopedist. This will help you know when to visit each health practitioner.
Foot Doctors Vs. Orthopedists
To help you understand the difference between a foot doctor and an orthopedist, you need to have a knowledge of what each medical practitioner does.
Additionally, you have to know the medical conditions they treat.
So Who is a Foot Doctor?
A foot doctor, also known as a podiatrist, is a specialist physician focusing on foot and ankle care. They are experts in the musculoskeletal, neurological, dermatological, and vascular systems of the foot and ankle.
In other words, they don’t just take care of the part of the foot and ankle relating to the bones, soft tissues, and joints. They also manage foot and ankle dermatology and biomechanics.
Furthermore, podiatrists use both conservative and surgical treatments for issues relating to the feet. Below are some of the foot and ankle-related medical conditions and injuries that foot doctors treat:
- Bunions/hallux valgus (a bony bump at the base of the big toe which develops when the base of the big toe joint enlarges or becomes misaligned).
- Hammer toes (a disorder where the toe is bent abnormally like the shape of a hammer; it frequently affects the toe next to the big toe).
- Nerve inflammation near the toe (Morton’s neuroma).
- Toenail problems
- Heel problems
- Issues with growing feet
- Flat feet
- Diabetes-related foot issues
- Arthritis
Who is an Orthopedist?
An orthopedist is a specialist physician handling diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of medical conditions and injuries that affect the musculoskeletal system. They take care of general musculoskeletal treatment.
In other words, orthopedists take care of the bones, muscles, ligaments, and joints across the entire body, not only in the foot and ankle. An orthopedist handles other body parts, such as the knees, hips, and spine.
Here are some of the medical conditions and injuries that orthopedists treat:
- CTS- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (a neurological disorder resulting when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes pressed at the wrist)
- Fractures
- Sprains and strains
- Ligament tears
- Clubfoot (when the connective tissues between muscles and bones are shorter than usual)
- Spinal disc injuries
- Arthritic damage in joints
- Sports injuries like tendonitis and meniscus tears
- Back and neck pain
- Hip pain
- Shoulder pain
- Soft tissue injuries
- Scoliosis (abnormal lateral curvature of the spine)
What’s the Difference?
Foot doctors solely focus on the foot and ankle.
One of the key differences between the two is that an orthopedist can manage foot and ankle issues only to a certain extent. A foot doctor is more specialized at caring for the feet and ankles.
They treat issues relating to the bones, soft tissues, and joints of the feet. They also take care of the dermatology and biomechanics of these body parts.
On the other hand, an orthopedist only takes care of the part of the foot and ankle relating to the bones, soft tissues, and joints.
In essence, the latter generally covers a wider spectrum, while foot doctors are more medically advanced in everything pertaining to the foot and ankle.
Bottom Line
Both orthopedists and foot doctors are qualified to treat medical conditions and injuries related to the foot and ankle. But when it comes to foot and ankle health, a podiatrist is a better specialist physician than an orthopedic doctor.
Thus, it’s advisable to visit a podiatrist in Salt Lake City if you have a medical condition or injury posing a threat to the health of your feet or ankles.
On the other hand, you can visit an orthopedist if you suffer from an injury or medical condition affecting any other part of your musculoskeletal system.
